The exhibition Pameran Astronomi: Kaedah Penentuan Awal Bulan Hijri was officially launched at Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (BKISHHB) this afternoon.
Present as the guest of honour at the ceremony held at the Ruang Legar, BKISHHB was the Timbalan Mufti Kerajaan, Yang Mulia Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji Japar bin Haji Mat Dain@Maidin.
The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat by Pegawai Penyelidik Bahasa Arab Skim Perantisan Perkhidmatan Awam (SkiPPA), Awang Muhammad Haziq Ariffin bin Haji Muskapah.
This was followed by welcoming remarks delivered by the Pengarah BKISHHB, Dr. Haji Awang Mohammed Hussain bin Pehin Penyurat Haji Awang Ahmad, who explained that “His Majesty (Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam) is of the view that building collaboration or partnerships with various parties will have a significant impact on the image of BKISHHB and ensure that it can operate sustainably in the long term."
The field of astronomy is not new to BKISHHB, as it is one of the exhibition galleries in the establishment — Galeri 8: Astronomi — which showcases various instruments used by Muslim astronomers in the past.
He further added, “In addition, BKISHHB, in collaboration with Persatuan Astronomi Brunei Darussalam (PABD), is also active in organizing astronomy-related activities such as the Bengkel Penggunaan Peralatan Falak Tradisional Rubu' Mujayyab, Cerapan Fenomena Gerhana Bulan Penuh, Mencerap Bintang (Stargazing) and observations of planets such as Marikh (Mars), Musytari (Jupiter), and Zuhal (Saturn), as well as the Bengkel Latihan Penggunaan Teleskop."
According to him, one of the innovations introduced during the Cerapan Gerhana Bulan Penuh on 7 September 2025 was giving participants the opportunity to take part in a camping (glamping) activity in open areas, aimed at providing a different experience for the public, school students, and learners from educational institutions — thereby attracting greater public interest in participating.
He added that the camping activity would once again be opened to the public during the observation of the Fenomena Hilangnya Cincin Planet Zuhal or Saturn's Rings Disappearance on 7 November 2025.
At the event, the guest of honour officiated the exhibition launch with a video presentation and later presented certificates of appreciation to the exhibition participants.
The exhibition will run for a month, from 1 to 30 November 2025, and for the first time involves collaboration with five agencies and associations: Bahagian Perhubungan Awam, Antarabangsa dan MABIMS (Malaysia, Republik Indonesia dan Republik Singapura), Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama; Jabatan Kehakiman Negara; Jabatan Mufti Kerajaan; Jabatan Ukur and PABD.
The exhibition is held in line with the royal command and noble aspiration of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia, who envisions the importance of BKISHHB in building collaborations with various sectors — including government and private agencies — to position the establishment as a centre of knowledge treasures that can attract cooperation and visitors from both within and outside the country.
In addition to the Pameran Astronomi: Kaedah Penentuan Awal Bulan Hijri, several side activities will also be held throughout November 2025. Among the planned activities are the Water Bottle Rocket Launcher Activity; Cerapan Matahari (Sunspots, Sunflares); Fenomena Hilangnya Cincin Planet Zuhal (Saturn's Rings Disappearance); a briefing on the Kaedah Penentuan Awal Bulan Hijri by the Jawatankuasa Teknikal Falak Syar'ie Negara Brunei Darussalam (NBD); Rukyah Hilal Bulan Jamadilakhir 1447 (practical hands-on); colouring and crossword activities (Mix and Match Planets, Islamic Significant Numbers); and a Kahoot Quiz Activity.
One of the main objectives of the Pameran Astronomi: Kaedah Penentuan Awal Bulan Hijri is to provide public awareness — including among school students and learners from educational institutions — about the process and methods of Hilal observation in Islam and to highlight the role and significance of the Hilal in determining important Islamic calendar dates practised in NBD, such as the beginning of Ramadan for fasting, the sighting of the Syawal crescent for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and the determination of Zulhijah for wukuf Arafah and Hari Raya Aidiladha.
It also aims to learn about and understand the various methods of determining the beginning of the Hijri month used by other countries, such as the MABIMS criteria, the Rukyah method (Saudi Arabia), and the method based on the altitude of the crescent above the horizon and the elongation angle (arc distance) between the sun and the moon (Turkey).
At the same time, the exhibition is hoped to provide understanding to the public, particularly citizens and permanent residents of NBD, about the method of determining the Hijri crescent used in the country and how it differs from the methods practised in other nations — thereby dispelling public misconceptions and negative perceptions regarding the credibility of official Hijri crescent determinations, especially for the months of Ramadan, Syawal, and Zulhijah, which sometimes differ from neighbouring countries.
