Accompanying His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.

Upon arrival at the new mosque built on a five-acre plot of land, His Majesty was greeted by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar, and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar.

To mark the opening of the new mosque, His Majesty signed on a plaque, which was accompanied by the Takbir led by the Minister of Religious Affairs.

His Majesty also consented for the mosque to be officially known as Ar-Rahim Mosque.

The Azan for the first Friday prayer at the mosque was performed by Imam Haji Hasmali bin Haji Talip.

The Friday sermon was read by Syariah Court of Appeal Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin, while the Friday prayer was led by the Chief Syar’ie Judge.

Construction for the approximately BND3 million Ar-Rahim Mosque commenced in May last year, with funds derived from the Brunei Darussalam Mosque Construction Fund, making it the second mosque in Brunei Darussalam to be built with funds drawn from public donations.

In the Friday sermon, Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Suhaili noted that since its inception four years ago, the Brunei Darussalam Mosque Construction Fund has received encouraging responses from the public, with BND8 million collected so far, up to April this year.

In the sermon, he also cited Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) encouragement for Muslims to built mosques, as they form an essential part in the expansion of Islam.

“As ordained in a Hadith by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the construction of mosques is a responsibility of all Muslims living in settlements, whether in cities, towns, mukims and villages,” he said.

Able to accommodate around 800 to 1,000 congregants, the new mosque includes a main prayer hall for male congregants, a female prayer area, a lecture room, a library and information technology room, administration offices, a guest-receiving room, Imam and Bilal office-rooms, an ablution area for those with special needs, and a funeral rites room.

https://borneobulletin.com.bn/sultan-officiates-ar-rahim-mosque-opening-2/