| Izah Azahari |
THE atmosphere was full of excitement and joy as relatives and friends received the first batch of pilgrims who came back yesterday after performing the blissful Haj from Jeddah, at the Brunei International Airport, Berakas.
Present to greet the returning pilgrims was Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman, Minister of Religious Affairs.
Also present were Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs; Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA); Haji Harun bin Haji Junid, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Principle and Religion) at the MoRA; Roslan bin Haji Taja’ah, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Administrative and Financial Affairs) at the MoRA; Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in his capacity as the Director of TAIB; and Hisham bin Abdul Wahab bin Zar’ah, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Brunei Darussalam as well as members of the Haj Advisor delegation, directors, assistant directors and senior officers at the MoRA.
To receive the pilgrims, a recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah was held followed by a Doa Selamat led by Mudim Haji Tamin bin Haji Puting.
One of the first time pilgrims, 23-year-old Haji Hazwan bin Haji Salim who went to the holy land with his parents and sister through the Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd Haj package, told the Bulletin he felt elated to be able to go to the holy land to perform the Haj as it is one of the most important religious tasks.
ABOVE & BELOW: Haj pilgrims in a group photo with their families. – PHOTOS: DEAN KASSIM
ABOVE & BELOW: Haj pilgrims’ emotional reunions with their respective families
Haji Hazwan added that they faced many trials and tribulations in the holy land that required extreme patience and caution, especially in terms of health.
Narrating the recent mishap in Mina east of the holy city of Makkah, he said all the Bruneian pilgrims were heading back towards the city when the tragedy struck.
“I was shocked and saddened to hear the news as it reminded us all that death does not wait for us and it can happen at any time and anywhere.
“The Haj surely makes us more conscious of our deeds and is a very humbling experience no matter what a person’s background is,” Haji Hazwan said.
The first flight BI4212 comprised 206 pilgrims of which 146 were booked with Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd and 49 under the Straits Central Agencies (B) Sdn Bhd besides six officers from the Medical Haj Affairs College, three officers from Darussalam Holdings and two officials from Straits Central Agencies.
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