Bandar Seri Begawan - In an effort to encourage youths` interests in Islamic poetry, the Mosques Affairs Department held an Islamic Poetry Recital at the Sultan Sharif Ali mosque in Sengkurong yesterday.
The poetry recital was held in conjunction with the Maulidur Rasul celebration, where the guest of honour was Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Jawatan Luar Perkerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Awang Mohd Zain Hj Serudin.
Apart from to enliven the Maulidur Rasul celebrations, the event was also to strengthen ties among youths through religious activities.
"The recital event is hoped to open a path for students into having a deeper understanding of poetry, its not just reading or writing about it," said Abd Rahim Hj Durahman, an officer from Department of Mosque Affairs.
The eight male participants from mosques in the district had undergone training two weeks prior the event. "There have been talks of including females into the event, but when that happens, it would be exclusively a female event," said Abd Rahim.
During the event, participants recited several poems by local writers, among which was by Haron Hj Hamzah titled: Mencari Damai Di-Hati which all could be found in a book with a title Puisi Hidayat.
Yesterday`s event was the second to be organised by the department. Similar event will be held on April 18 at the Mohammad Jamalludin Mosque in Belait.
Source: www.brudirect.com (15 April 2008)