His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to grant audience to the male-half of the intending Hajj pilgrim. | PHOTOS: INFOFOTO
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohammed Alam, yesterday consented to grant separate audiences to Brunei’s male and female intending Haj Pilgrims and receive their Junjung Ziarah, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.
Performing the Haj is the 5th pillar of Islam and is an annual religious obligation that must be performed by every able Muslims in terms of finance, health, travel and other facilities. Sufficient budget is required not only for the person performing the haj, but also for his dependence he is leaving behind. Becoming Allah’s guests in the Holy City of Mekkah Al-Mukaramah is a great sacrifice as it involves leaving family members and relatives entirely in responding to the sacred call to perform the haj.
Before the Junjung Ziarah, the intending pilgrims were treated to a sumptuous meal provided. The care and attention shown by His Majesty and Her Majesty towards the would-be pilgrims are highly appreciated and received with heartfelt gratitude.
After enjoying the special meal, the intending haj pilgrims performed the mass Fardhu Zuhur prayer.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to grant an audience to the male intending haj pilgrims and receive their Junjung Ziarah.
Also present was His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office. His Majesty’s care for the well-being of the country’s intending pilgrims is discernible through the conferment of His Majesty’s personal gift of haj fares and the government haj fares award as well as haj fares for converts.
A total of 400 intending pilgrims from the country will perform the fifth pillar of Islam this year. They comprise 204 male and 196 female would-be haj pilgrims.
The number of the country’s Haj pilgrims is subject to the quota provided by the Saudi Arabian government, which determines the numbers of pilgrims from each country to ensure that the religious performance will take place in an orderly manner, besides making the pilgrims’ safety, well-being and comfort their priority, in view of the ongoing works to upgrade the two Holy Mosques – the Masjidil Haram in Mekkah al Mukarramah and the Nabawi Mosque in Madinah Al-Munawwarah.
The first flight for the country’s haj pilgrims is scheduled to depart for Mekkah on August 30, while the second flight will depart the next day, August 31.
In another part of the Istana, Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri consented to receive in audience the women intending haj pilgrims. Accompanying Her Majesty were Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah.
In taking care of the welfare and health of the haj pilgrims, six medical officers, 14 nurses and 15 haj officers are assigned to provide their services in Mekkah and Medinah. A number of them who form an advanced party will leave the country early to make the necessary preparations. At the same time, the Ministry of Health reminds the health officers on duty to provide effective services by running mobile clinics to ensure stable health conditions of all the pilgrims, especially the senior citizens and those with chronic diseases.
Apart from taking the Darussalam Holdings Package, intending pilgrims are also using the Package offered by Straits Central Agencies Brunei Sendirian Berhad which has been authorised by His Majesty’s government to manage haj package.
As another sign of His Majesty’s care for the welfare of the intending pilgrims, His Majesty also awarded the Ihram (pilgrimage attire) to the male intending pilgrims and telekong or prayer robes to the female intending pilgrims. His Majesty’s attentiveness is highly appreciated by all the intending pilgrims. They expressed their gratitude and thankfulness for His Majesty’s continuous attention.