BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha yesterday consented to receive in separate audiences and junjung ziarah from the country’s intending haj pilgrims at Istana Nurul Iman, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.
The care and attention from His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam towards the intending pilgrims is greatly appreciated and welcomed with joy. Prior to the audience and junjung ziarah ceremony, the intending pilgrims were given special attention and served with various delicacies.
After enjoying the meal, the intending pilgrims performed a mass Fardhu Zuhur prayer. The country’s intending pilgrims are scheduled to depart for the Holy land of Makkah Al-Mukaramah on September 10 and 11 this year.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to receive in audience and junjung ziarah from the male hajj pilgrims. Also in attendance was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik. The care and attention of His Majesty towards the intending pilgrims can clearly be seen through the award of His Majesty’s personal hajj passage, government air-fare as well as hajj passage for new converts.
Four hundred citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam will perform the fifth pillar of Islam. From the total number of hajj pilgrims, two hundred and five are male pilgrims while one hundred and ninety five are female. The number of hajj pilgrims in the country is according to the set quota given by the government of Saudi Arabia introduced since 2002 which is point one percent of the total number of Muslim residents.
The government of Saudi Arabia limited the number of pilgrims from each country to implement its responsibility of ensuring that the hajj ritual programme will be carried out properly for the sake of safety, wellbeing and comfort of the intending pilgrims while they are in the holy land in view of the upgrading works being carried out at the two holy mosques namely Masjidil Haram in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the Nabawi Mosque in Madinah Al-Munawwarah.
In another part of the Istana, Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha consented to receive greetings from female intending pilgrims. Also present was Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah.
The welfare and health of the intending pilgrims during their stint in the holy land is a priority of His Majesty’s government. For their comfort in performing the haj thoroughly, the government has sent six medical officers and fourteen nurses as well as five Hajj Liaison officers in Makkah and Madinah to see to the health and haj management affairs of the Brunei Darussalam pilgrims. They will depart the country today to make preparations.
Apart from using the Darussalam Holdings package, intending pilgrims also took the hajj packages from Straits Central Agencies Brunei Sendirian Berhad which was given approval to conduct hajj packages by His Majesty’s government.
His Majesty also consented to present the male pilgrims with Ihram Clothing, and a suit of praying attire to the female pilgrims. The gesture is testimony of the Monarch’s love for the rakyat and residents, a unique and special bond between the King and his subjects. Such bond creates a sustainable and harmonious society, enjoying peace and prosperity, and within that society lays a genuine strength in upholding the religion and the nation.