By Yusrin Junaidi & Sim YH –
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 4 SEPT – The 12th of Rabiulawal is the date of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and it has become a common practice for mosques, worship centers and suraus throughout the country to pray and count for 12 consecutive nights starting today. .
Tonight, the Opening Ceremony of Dikir Maulud was held at Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque, thus marking the beginning of Dikir Syarafil Anam for 12 nights.
Present as the guest of honor was the Minister of Religious Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Director Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman.
The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah in large numbers led by the guest of honor, followed by a tazkirah entitled The Advantages of Prayer delivered by the Speaker of the Islamic Dakwah Center (PDI), Awang Muhammad Abdul Haziq bin Haji Hanafi.
The Dikir prayer was recited by the Mosque Officer, Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Awang Khairul Ariffin bin Haji Yusof. While the Prayer for the Protection of the Sultan and the Nation of Brunei Darussalam was read by the Mosque Officer, Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque, His Eminence Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Emran bin Haji Kunchang.
The ceremony was held as one of the teachings of Islam to prosper the mosque in addition to strengthening the relationship between the people of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (KHEU) and the congregation of the mosque and the villagers.
Also present were members of the National Assembly, Honorable Awang Lawi bin Haji Lamat; Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan; KHEU Permanent Secretary, Haji Mohammad Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim and his wife; as well as KHEU Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance), Awang Misle bin Haji Abdul Karim and his wife.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) and the departments under it also held the same ceremony at Jame ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah.
Present as the guest of honor was the Minister at JPM and the Second Minister of Defence, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (R) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof.
The ceremony started with the congregational Fardu Maghrib Prayer, followed by the recitation of wirid and prayer, Surah Al-Fatihah and then the recitation of Dikir Assalamualaika and Dikir Syarafil Anam.
The ceremony continued with the congregational Fardu Isyak Prayer, followed by Dikir Marhaban and recitations asking for protection from Allah SWT as well as Prayers for the Protection of the Sultan and Brunei Darussalam.
The event ended with the handing over of the waqf donation by Yang Berhormat Pehin to the representative of Jame ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah.
The ceremony was attended by about 250 people consisting of the Chief Syarie Judge, His Highness/Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar; Deputy Minister (Securities and Law) at JPM, Dato Seri Paduka Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu; Deputy Minister (Director of Public Services) at JPM, Dato Seri Paduka Mohammed Riza bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohammed Yunos; Deputy Minister (Energy) at JPM, Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohamad Azmi bin Haji Mohd Hanifah; Chief Registrar of the High Court, Judges of the Syariah High Court, heads of departments and divisions, officers and staff of JPM and departments under them.
Ash-Shaliheen Mosque also held a similar ceremony and was attended by the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Energy) at JPM, Pengiran Haji Jamra Weira bin Pengiran Haji Petra and members of JPM and departments under him.
While the Maulud Dikir Ceremony held at Baitur Rahmah, Istana Nurul Imanattended by the Minister at JPM and the Second Minister of Finance and Economy, the Honorable Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Amin Liew bin Abdullah.
The ceremony started with a tazkirah titled Appreciating the Sunnah of the Prophet which was delivered by Awang Ahmad Muzafar bin Marsidi from PDI.
The ceremony continued with the recitation of Istighfar and Surah Al-Fatihah read by the Mosque Affairs Officer, JHEM, Awang Muhammad Amin bin Haji Salim and Dikir Assalamualaika delivered by the mosque officials and mosque imams.
Also present at the event was a delegation from Basmida, Sultan Sharif Ali Muslimah Council, Department of Islamic Studies and KBM Supreme Committee Members.
