By Azlan Othman & Lyna Mohammad
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday attended a bertahlil ceremony marking the 20th Anniversary of the demise of his late father, Al-Marhum Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien.
It was also for His Majesty's late mother, Al-Marhumah Duli Raja Isteri Pg Anak Damit.
Also present were His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, HRH Prince Abdul Malik and HRH Prince Abd Mateen.
His Majesty was greeted on arrival by the Chief of Adat-Istiadat, Pg Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pg Anak Hj Abd Aziz, as well as officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The Fatihah recitation, led by State Mufti Pehin Dato Ustaz Hj Abd Aziz, marked the start of the ceremony.
The State Mufti later also led the congregation in reciting the tahlil and reading the Doa Tahlil.
His Majesty then sprinkled the Ayeng Asah-Asahan or scented water on the tomb of His Majesty's late parents, Al-Marhum Sultan Hj Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien and Al-Marhumah Duli Raja Isteri Pg Anak Damit.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also sprinkled the Ayeng Asah-Asahan, followed by other members of the royal family.
Al-Marhum Sultan Hj Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien passed away on September 7, 1986.
Al-Marhum was the 28th ruler of Brunei and was fondly referred to as "The Architect of Modern Brunei".
Al-Marhumah Duli Raja Isteri Pg Anak Damit passed away September 13, 1979.
Pengiran Cheterias, Pehins, Pengirans, cabinet ministers, council members, deputy ministers and senior government officials were also among those present at the ceremony.
Following this, another bertahlil ceremony took place in the evening. It was carried out at the Istana Nurul Iman and attended by state dignitaries, ministers, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, as well as government senior officers and other distinguished guests.
It started with mass recital of the Fatihah followed by the Yassin recitation led by Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Abd Hamid Bakal.
The event concluded with a doa read by the State Mufti.
- Borneo Bulletin
(3rd Feb 2006)
