MAULID AKBAR FOSTERS LOVE AND DEVOTION TO PROPHET MUHAMMAD ﷺ

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Friday, 4 September 2026 – The Majlis Maulid Akbar, held in conjunction with the Maulidur Rasul celebration at Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (BKISHHB) last night, provided an opportunity for Muslims to strengthen their love and devotion to Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, while reflecting on his life, teachings and struggles.

Present at the ceremony were Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (R) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin Haji Mohd. Yussof and spouse, Datin Hajah Kalshom binti Haji Suhaili; Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Security and Law), Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu; Minister of Development, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid and spouse, Datin Dayang Fadzlin binti Haji Hashim; Minister of Religious Affairs, Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohammad Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan; and Deputy Minister of Education, Dato Seri Paduka Dr. Awang Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal.

Also present were Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and concurrently Director of BKISHHB, Dr. Haji Mohammed Hussain bin Pehin Penyurat Haji Ahmad; and Rector of UNISSA, Associate Professor Dr. Awang Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani.

The ceremony commenced with the congregational Maghrib prayer, led by Acting Secretary of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB), Ministry of Religious Affairs, Pengiran Ahmad Faris Ramadhani bin Pengiran Haji Sellahuddin.

The programme also featured a Qasidah performance by Munsyid Kyrel Al-Gayauwi and Ahmad Muaiyyad Az-Zubair bin Haji Umar Abdul Hakim, accompanied by Kumpulan Ad-Dhiyaul Lami’ As-Syarif and the Prisons Department.

The ceremony was further enlivened by a religious talk delivered by Adjunct Lecturer at the Faculty of Usuluddin, UNISSA, Professor Dr. Ustaz Abdul Somad, entitled “Building an Ummah of Faith, Knowledge, Good Deeds and Noble Character.”

In his talk, Professor Dr. Ustaz Abdul Somad emphasised the importance of strengthening Muslims’ love for Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, while nurturing a generation grounded in faith, knowledge, good deeds and noble character.

He also reminded Muslims of the importance of studying history, particularly the history of the struggles and development of the Muslim community in earlier times, so that historical events can be understood within the context and circumstances of their respective periods.

Among the topics discussed was the history of Maulidur Rasul celebrations, including an account by Imam Al-Jazari on the gathering of Muslims around the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam in Makkah on the night of the Maulid.

Professor Dr. Ustaz Abdul Somad also highlighted the practice of sending Selawat upon Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, which is rooted in the Quran and Hadith, as well as the various forms of Selawat practised by Muslim scholars.

He further called on Muslims to continue upholding practices that strengthen their love for the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, with the hope of attaining his intercession and nurturing an Ummah that is steadfast in faith, knowledge, good deeds and noble conduct.

The ceremony concluded with a question-and-answer session with Professor Dr. Ustaz Abdul Somad, providing members of the audience with an opportunity to seek further clarification on matters discussed during the religious talk.