Royalty at new mosque

HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday joined hundreds of congregants in the first Friday prayers at a newly-completed mosque, named after the monarch's late mother, in Mukim Kilanas.

Accompanying the Sultan at the Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Mosque were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, and His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik.

Welcoming the monarch and his sons was Religious Affairs Minister Yang Berhormat Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Muhammad Pg Hj Abdul Rahman, who also led the customary takbir of Allahu Akhbar (Allah is Great) three times, and repeated by the mosque-goers, once His Majesty signed a plaque to inaugurate the new mosque.

With the congregants, young and old, eagerly lining up to greet the monarch, who recently celebrated his 66th birthday, and the royal family members, His Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses made their way to the front of the congregation.

Alongside cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and other senior government officials, His Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses performed Sunat prayers before the azan was sounded. Chief Syar'ie Judge Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Yahya Hj Ibrahim read out a special Friday sermon, highlighting the significance of opening a new mosque.

Pehin Dato Ustaz Hj Yahya said that the establishment of the mosque constituted as yet another sign of Syiar Islam or the propogation of Islam in this country as well as ketaqwaan (piety and being conscious of) Allah SWT and a means to bring oneself closer to The Almighty.

The construction of the mosque commenced on April 14, 2010 and was completed on July 9, 2012, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement yesterday.

The mosque was a project under the ninth National Development Plan 2007-2012, the press release said, adding that it has the capacity to accommodate 1,000 worshippers. Among the facilities of the mosque include a main prayer hall (for male congregants), and a smaller prayer hall for female congregants. It also has a room for mosque officers and imam, a room for special visitors and VIPs, an IT and resource room, a lecture room, a room for funeral preparations and respective female and male ablution facilities, among others.

The Friday prayers were led by Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Abdul Hamid Bakal.

The week before, His Majesty and several royal family members also joined the inaugural Friday prayers at the new Ash-Shaliheen Mosque of the Prime Minister's Office complex, which is still under construction.

The Brunei Times