KUALA LUMPUR: Maal Hijrah 1436H was yesteday celebrated throughout the country on a moderate scale but with a meaningful message for the guidance of Muslims.
The national-level celebration was held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak addressed a gathering.
Najib invited Muslims to emulate the hijrah of Prophet Muhammad in uniting and befriending the Muhajirin and Ansar communities as a guide to managing the diversity of communities in this country.
The event, which carried the theme of ‘Perpaduan Nadi Transformasi Negara’ (Unity, the Pulse of National Transformation), saw Syariah legal advisor in the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Tan Sri Sheikh Ghazali Abdul Rahman, 76, named the national ‘Tokoh Maal Hijrah’.
Also present at the event were Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom; Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa; cabinet ministers and heads of foreign missions.
In MELAKA, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron called on Muslims to strengthen unity to thwart negative elements bent on tarnishing the image of the religion.
“Emulate the success of Prophet Muhammad who forged the unity of the ummah as a guide to develop the nation-state based on unity of the people,” he said when addressing the state-level Maal Hijrah gathering in Ayer Keroh.
At the event, Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob presented the Melaka Tokoh Maal Hijrah award to freelance preacher Dr Zahazan Mohamed, 40.
In PENANG, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas reminded Muslims not to allow themselves to be influenced by thinking which had strayed
from the Sunnah Wal Jamaah ideology.
Former Penang mufti Datuk Seri Hassan Ahmad, 72, was announced as the Penang Tokoh Maal Hijrah.
In KEDAH, about 3,000 people attended the Maal Hijrah celebration at the Dewan Seri Negeri where the chairman of the Kedah Council of Regency, Tan Sri Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, addressed the gathering.
Tunku Sallehuddin called on Muslims to foster unity, brotherhood and mutual assistance, make sacrifices and have devotion to God.
Kedah Syariah Appeals Court judge Syeikh Hassan Ariffin received the Kedah ‘Tokoh Maal Hijrah’ award while Langkawi Vocational College staff Mohd Ismail Eh Abdullah received the ‘Tokoh Saudara Kita’ award.
In TERENGGANU, the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, said unity was key to the success of Muslims for without unity there would be no peace, stability and prosperity.
Kuala Terengganu City Council retiree Mamat Osman, 60, received the ‘Tokoh Keluarga Mithali’ award for having raised four children by focusing on their education. — Bernama
In JOHOR, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin called on Muslims to help enhance the sanctity of Islam.
At the Maal Hijrah celebration attended by about 1,500 people at the Pusat Islam Iskandar hall, Syariah Appeals Court judge Morsyid Mahrof, 66, was presented the Johor Tokoh Maal Hijrah award.
In SABAH, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin called on the people to respect the diversity of communities and not raise sensitive issues that could incite the people and lead to undesirable incidents.
“Foster understanding and mutual assistance, engage in healthy competition, work hard, exercise discipline and remain united for the religion, community and nation,” he said in his address at the state-level Maal Hijrah gathering in Papar.
In SARAWAK, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud and Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem attended the Maal Hijrah celebration at the Dewan Suarah Limbang. On Friday, Abdul Taib attended prayers at the Limbang Division Mosque.
In PERAK, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, and the Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, attended the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration at the Amanjaya Convention Centre, Casuarina @ Meru, in Ipoh.
The sultan presented the Darul Ridzuan Special Award to Tun Dr Abdullah Ayub who had served as the chief secretary to the government from 1979 to 1981 before retiring from the civil service.
The ruler presented the Perak Tokoh Maal Hijrah award to Yunus Alias, 62, former principal assistant director (research) of the Perak Islamic Religious Affairs Department.
In NEGERI SEMBILAN, the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, and the Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud, attended the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration at the state mosque in Seremban last night.
Tuanku Muhriz presented the Negeri Sembilan Tokoh Maal Hijrah award to Raja Tan Sri Muhammad Alias Tengku Mohd Ali for scholarly and scientific research.
In KELANTAN, teacher Muhammad Taufiq Abdullah, 35, who embraced Islam 17 years ago, was awarded the state-level Tokoh Hijratul Rasul award in the ‘Saudara Kita’ category in Tumpat last night.
The Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan, Datuk Tengku Mohamad Rizam Tengku Abdul Aziz, presented the award. — Bernama