A ceremony to mark the completion of the 66-time Khatam Al-Quran was held yesterday, involving an estimated 1,980 students and youths nationwide. The event was organised by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

It was also held in conjunction with the 66th birthday celebration of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and was held simultaneously in all four districts.

In the Brunei-Muara District, the event was held at two venues. For male participants the Khatam Al-Quran was held at Jame' 'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kampong Kiarong, while for the female participants the ceremony took place at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam Mosque.

At the UBD Mosque, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah attended the 66-time recitation of Khatam Al-Quran, accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah.

HRH Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah was greeted on arrival by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Datin Paduka Hjh Adina binti Othman; the spouses of the Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports; the Acting Director General of Education, Pg Hjh Sarah binti Pg Hj Kamaluddin and the Deputy Vice Chancellor of UBD, Associate Professor Dr Hjh Zohrah binti Hj Sulaiman as the co-chairpersons of the ceremony; as well as other organising committee members.

The event proceeded with a mass recitation of Surah al-Fatihah followed by a Khatam al-Quran session led by the female students and youth representatives comprising 632 participants. A total of 1,500 female students were involved in the Khatam al-Quran.

Among those who participated in the event was the granddaughter of HRH Princess Hajah Masna, Pengiran Nur'Azeezah binti Pengiran Anak Haji Mohammed Al-Mokhtar.

It was then followed by the recitation of Doa Khatam, read by Dyg Wafizah binti Hj Daim from Sayyidina Hassan Secondary School, the champion of the Inter-School and College Quran Reading Competition for the year 2012.

The recitation of Doa Selamat and "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" was led by Dyg Majeedah @ Bazilah binti Hj Ali from the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College.

It was then followed by the presentation of Dikir Marhaban by the students and youth representatives to bless the ceremony.

After the Khatam al-Quran, HRH Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah and HRH Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah joined the mass Zohor prayer before leaving.

The 66-time Khatam Al-Quran was specially dedicated to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and was regarded as a special gift for His Majesty from the students, youths as well as the ministries' personnel, who all prayed for the continued good health and longevity of their beloved monarch.

The religious ceremony was also held to show the nation's gratitude in upholding His Majesty's vision in shaping Brunei to be a Zikir Nation, as well as to seek blessings from Allah the Almighty in sustaining the country's peace and prosperity.

Aside from that, the Khatam al-Quran was also held to glorify and enliven the spirit of the holy month of Ramadhan and to invite active participation of students and youths in various activities, especially in reading al-Quran.

The ceremony was also designed to strengthen and reflect the determination of students and youths in the country as well as to be regarded as a medium of gratitude for His Majesty's efforts towards the betterment of the country's education system.

The initiative of the 66-time Khatam Al-Quran taken by the Ministry of Education was launched on June 28 by the Minister of Education, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awg Abu Bakar bin Hj Apong.

During the recitation, a total of 50 schools from pre-school up to higher educational institution levels under the Ministry of Education were given respective Juz from Al-Quran so that it could be recited 66 times. - Borneo Bulletin (7 August 2012)