Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Religious Affairs yesterday conducted a full rehearsal for the golden jubilee celebrations of Sultan Omar `Ali Saifuddien Mosque.
The purpose of the rehearsal was to prepare for His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam`s visit to the mosque for the mass Friday prayers, which will be held tomorrow. An estimate of more than 2,000 people, including members of the royal family, ministers, and government officers, were expected to attend.
Yesterday, the officers from the Religious Affairs ministry performed a run-through for the monarch`s arrival to the mosque.
A hadrah (traditional Malay music instrument) performance, along with students from religious schools will line up near the entrance to welcome His Majesty to the mosque.
Upon arrival, Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain Hj Serudin would be present to greet the monarch.
His Majesty would then greet with the 50 people who have completed reading the al-Quran as a commemorative act for the mosque`s golden jubilee celebration. The readers have been coming to the mosque to recite three jun per day since September 16.
Tomorrow, they will each complete one reading of the holy book, thus conducting 50 turns of the Khatam Al-Quran, which marks the 50 years that have passed since the mosque was constructed.
His Majesty will also be invited to sign a large commemorative plaque, made out of marble, to signify the inauguration of the mosque`s golden jubilee. This would then be followed by the recitation of Surah Yaasin and a tahlil (prayers for the deceased) ceremony.
A special sermon would be delivered to the congregants of the Friday prayers, in light of the celebrations. The prayers will be led by Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Abd Hamid Bakal.
Construction of the mosque began on February 4, 1954 and was completed on September 26, 1958. Encompassing an area of five acres, the 225 by 86 feet mosque can accommodate about 3,000 worshippers. Outside prayer areas were also set up yesterday to facilitate the large expected turnout.
Source: http://www.brudirect.com (September 25, 2008)