A National Youth Tadarus al-Quran Assembly was held yesterday involving an estimated 9,000 youth nationwide, which was held simultaneously in the four districts.

In the Brunei-Muara District, the event was held at two venues, for male youth the Tadarus ceremony was held at Jame' 'Asri Hassanil Bolkiah in Kampong Kiarong, while for female youths it was held at Omar 'Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan.

At the SOAS Mosque, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah (see photos in page 5) consented to grace the National Youth Tadarus al-Quran gathering.

Upon her arrival, HRH Princess Hjh Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah was greeted by Datin Paduka Hajah Adina Haji Othman, Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the spouses of the Minister of Religious Affairs, Minister of Education, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports and committee members.

The National Youth Tadarus al-Quran Assembly was organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs and was coordinated under the Youth and Sports Department of MCYS.

The religious ceremony began with a recital of surah al-fatihah, followed by a 'Khatam al-Quran' session led by youth representatives from Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan.

Among the objectives were to uphold and enliven the spirit of the holy month of Ramadhan and to bring active participation and involvement from youth in various religious activities especially reading the holy al-Quran. Aside from that, the ceremony aimed to fill the time of the youths with beneficial activities.

At the ceremony, a religious and motivational talk was delivered by Ustazah Hajah Noor binti Haji Mohadi, a specialist from Family Counselling Section of the Syariah Affairs Department. The talk was about 'Belia Berjiwa al-Quran' or literally translated as 'Youth With the Soul of the al-Quran'. The talk mainly described the importance of upholding and appreciating the meaning of the al-Quran. After the Khatam al-Quran, HRH Princess Hjh Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah consented to join the mass Zohor prayer before leaving the ceremony.

The National Youth Tadarus al-Quran Assembly involved several youths from higher educational institutions, secondary schools, uniformed associations, secondary schools and individuals. The ceremony was also designed to strengthen and reflect the determination of the youths in realising His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's vision to make Brunei as a 'Zikir Nation'. - Borneo Bulletin (14th August 2011)