Preparations for Hijrah celebration well under way

BRUNEI Darussalam is all ready to usher in the new year of Hijrah 1429 on Thursday, January 10.

In the sultanate the new year of Hijrah is usually welcomed on a large scale with the intention to further strengthen the syiar or eminence of Islam in the country.

At the same time the celebrations are also to commemorate Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) hijrah from Mekah Al-Mukarramah to Madinah Al-Munawarrah.

As in previous occasions, the celebrations will comprise of religious events where they all started off with the recital of the prayers for end-of-year of 1428 Hijrah and the beginning for the year 1429 Hijrah in mosques, suraus and prayer halls nationwide, tomorrow commencing at 5.30pm.

The focal point of the celebrations will be at the Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kampong Kiarong. Following the recital of the Doa Akhir Tahun 1428 Hijrah and the Maghrib prayer, the ceremony will continue with the reading of Doa Awal Tahun 1429 Hijrah to seek blessings from Allah SWT and performing the Solat Hajat to ask for protection and prosperity for the country and the people.

The highlight at the occasion will be the announcement and presentation of the Anugerah Tokoh Ugama/Jasawan Ugama (religious figure award) and the Anugerah Bakti Tahun Hijrah 1429 Hijrah.

To ensure that the ceremony goes without a hitch, a a two-day full dress rehearsal were conducted, the final of which was held yesterday at the Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah.

Present to witness the rehearsal was the Religious Affairs Minister, Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain Hj Serudin, who is also the Chairman of the Executive Committee of National Islamic Holy Days for 1429 Hijrah.

Also in attendance were Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awg Othman, the deputy minister who is also the deputy chairman of the said committee, as well as the Grand Chamberlain, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Penggawa Laila Bentara Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana Pengiran Hj Alauddin Pengiran Paduka Tuan Pengiran Hj Abu Bakar.

The theme for this year's celebration for the new year of Hijrah is "Tunas Bangsa Berakhlak Al-Quran". The Ministry of Religious Affairs has listed a number of events in conjunction with the new year.

On January 10, there will be the Riadah Hijrah to be held in mosques nationwide with the focus at Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah. There will also be a kuliah Subuh or dawn lecture, followed by a walkathon.

Babies born at all government hospitals on the first of Muharram (from the onset of Maghrib on Wednesday, January 9 until the same time on Thursday), will be given prizes on January 11. Other programmes include a Forum Perdana, Youth Syarahan Competition / Uswah, nationwide assembly of mosques youths and the presentation of Hadiah Skim Galakan al-Quran for religious and arabic schools' students under the age of 10.

The Brunei Times