SRTLDB Celebrates Hari Raya Aidilfitri 1429H

Pupils and teachers of Sekolah Rendah Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (SRTLDB) celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri today (8 October 2008) at their school’s assembly hall.

This is the time the pupils to wear their new Hari Raya Aidilfitri clothing in school. And so do their teachers.

The pupils also have to opportunity to shake hand and exchange Aidilfitri greetings with all SRTLDB teachers. The pupils are also given duit raya (money gift given in conjunctions with the Aidilfitri) by the teachers.

Lastly, all pupils (which are grouped according to their respective class), eat and drink together. The foods and drinks are brought by themselves, then shared and served among their class members. Therefore, each class will have a variety of foods and drinks.

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(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 8th October 2008)

18th Teachers’ Day Celebration Ceremony Will Be Held On 18th October 2008

Negara Brunei Darussalam celebrates Teachers’ Day on the 23rd September every year. However, this year the date falls in the month of Ramadan and the celebration ceremony has to be postponed after Ramadan.

National level Teachers’ Day 2008 Celebration Ceremony will be held on 18th October 2008, Saturday, 8.00am at the Plenary Hall, International Convention Center, Berakas. This year’s Teachers Day theme is “Guru Pembentuk Tunas Bangsa” (Teachers Shape the Nation’s Youth).

As usual, some teachers from every schools are invited to come to the ceremony. One of the teachers is me. I get the invitation card this morning.

Luckily, my house is just a few minutes drive to the venue. Just wake up and start my car at the usual time as in every school days.

The invitation card

A car pass. If you have Car Pass B, you have to park your car at National Sports Complex Car parking area.

Invitation details in Jawi writing

If you cannot read Jawi, there is the Rumi (Roman) version.


For souvenir, I guess





(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 7 October 2008)

Visiting My Father’s Grave on the 3rd Syawal 1429H

I went to my late father’s (and also his late father, mother, brothers,and sisters) grave at Pengkalan Jalur, Lubok Pulau, Tutong on the 3rd Syawal 1429H/4th October 2008. There, I recited the Surah Yassin and Doa Arwah.

Then, I poured the aying asah-asahan (water mixed with scented wood) on my father’s grave as well as on the graves of his parents, brothers, and sisters. The ritual is followed by my wife and my two children.

The following photo shows my son and my daughter are pouring the aying asah-asahan. Actually, this is not my father’s grave. They are pouring the extra aying asah-asahan on other people’s graves, after they have poured aying asah-asahan to their late grandfather and his late family. Just, to do a good deed to the others.


p/s: I forgot to reset my camera setting. The above photo is taken at ISO1600 (it should be ISO100), in the bright sunny afternoon. Af first, it is very overexposed. Then, I adjusted the photos using DPP software.

(Photo: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 4 October 2008)

Related articles:

Aidilfitri Menu on 1st Syawal 2008 at a Family Gathering

Every year my wife families from her mother’s side held an Aidilfitri gathering at her grandfather’s house at Rimba. However, this year the gathering is held at our house here in Anggerek Desa. The ‘must-have’ dish is soto (soup noodle), not missing from the menu list from year to year.
This year, the soup is cooked by my wife’s grandfather while the other ingredients are prepared by our housemaid (amah) under the supervision of my mother-in-law. The soto is only available on the first day of Syawal at the family gathering (and a few other occassions).

The soto taste so good that I take it a number of times: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The others in the families (some) also take a number of times, usually the bowls are full.

THE SOUP NOODLE

This is my breakfast after I come back from the mosque
Bean sprout a.k.a tauge
Yellow noodle
Fried onion
Lime a.ka. limau kasturi
Eggs
Spring onion
?- I need to ask somebody what this is. There is some food that I only know to eat, but do not know their names.
Chilli and soy sauce
OTHERS

Vegetables

Nasi himpit or ‘express ketupat’

Fish fillets

Fried satay in the peanut sauce Crabstick spring rolls
Hot drink option: CNI Kopi Tongkat Ali plus Ginseng and RADIX coffee.
A kind of roll cake


EXTRA:Kek Tapak Kuda (Horse Shoes Cake)

I ate and took photo of this cake when I visited my wife’s cousin at Rimba. Its taste is better than the usual one. This one have bits of peanuts in the Nutella chocolate which give the crunchiness in its texture.

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 2nd October 2008)

Doa Tahlil – Malay Version

I hope this posting will bring benefit for those who prefer to recite Doa Tahlil (Tahlil prayer – a prayer for the well being of the departed one) in Malay language.

Doa Tahlil

Segala puji-pujian itu bagi Allah, Tuhan pentadbir seluruh alam. Puji-pujian yang melengkapi segala tempatnya, dan membalas segala limpah kurnianya. Ya Allah ya Tuhan kami, untukMu jua segala puji-pujian sebagaimana yang sayugianya lagi sesuai dengan kebesaran zat dan kebesaran kerajaanMu.

Ya Allah, cucurilah rahmat dan sejahtera kepada junjungan kami Nabi Muhammad sebagai rahmat yang akan menyelamatkan kami daripada segala macam ketakutan dan kehuru-haraan, Engkau tunaikan dengan sebab selawat itu daripada segala macam maksud dan hajat. Engkau bersihkan kami dengan sebabnya di sisiMu setinggi-tinggi darjat dan Engkau sampaikan dengan sebabnya sejauh-jauh tujuan kebajikan baik semasa kami hidup mahu pun sesudah kami mati.

Maha suci Engkau ya Allah, tiada terhingga kami memuji-mujiMu sebagaimana Engkau sendiri memuji-muji akan zatMu.

BagiMu kepujian sebelum keredaanMu, bagiMu kepujian sewaktu keredaan dan bagiMu kepujian selepas keredaan.

Ya Allah, cucurilah rahmat dan sejahtera atas junjungan kami Nabi Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wassalam dalam kerajaanMu yang maha tinggi hingga hari kiamat, cucurilah rahmat dan sejahtera atas junjungan kami hinggalah Engkau mempusakai bumi ini berserta orang-orang yang berada di atasnya. Engkaulah Tuhan sebaik-baik yang mewarisi.

Ya Allah ya Tuhan kami, jadikanlah dan sampaikanlah serta terimakanlah pahala segala yang telah kami baca daripada ayat-ayat al Quran, tahlil, perkataan istighfar, kalimah-kalimah zikir, dan juga perkataan-perkataan selawat pada saat yang berkat ini sebagai hadiah yang sempurna sampai daripada kami dan sebagai rahmat daripadaMu yang mencucurinya, berkat yang meliputi, sedekah yang dipersembahkan, yang kami hidang dan hadiahkan ke hadrat junjungan kami Nabi Muhammad bin Abdullah sallallahu alaihi wassaalam, serta isteri-isteri baginda, keluarga, sahabat-sahabat, pengikut-pengikut, dan pengikut-pengikut kepada pengikut-pengikut baginda dari masa ke masa hinggalah hari kiamat.

Ya Allah ya Tuhan kami, jadikanlah pahala seperti pahala yang tersebut tadi serta ihsan yang berlebih-lebih kebaikan kepada sekalian roh orang-orang yang dengan sebab mereka kami berkumpul di sini, lebih istemewa lagi kepada roh Allahyarham/Allahyarhamah ______ bin/binti________, asal-usulnya, anak cucunya, dan setiap orang yang ada hubungan dengannya.

Persampaikanlah ya Allah pahala bacaan-bacaan seperti yang tersebut tadi daripada kami kepada roh-roh mereka dan jadikan pahala-pahala bacaan itu sebagai suatu cahaya menerangi dan bersinar di hadapan mereka. Gandakan ya Allah akan rahmat dan keredaanMu kepada kami dan juga roh-roh mereka.

Ya Allah wahai Tuhan kami, jadikanlah juga pahala-pahala bacaan itu sebagai suatu perisai mengelakkan mereka daripada azab neraka, penyelamat, pendinding dan juga penebus daripada azab neraka.

Ya Allah wahai Tuhan kami, ampunilah mereka, kasihanilah mereka, selamatkan mereka serta maafkanlah mereka. (3X)

Dan di dalam keadaan yang seperti itu juga ya Allah sampaikan pahala kami yang telah kami katakan itu kepada arwah sekalian datuk ninik kami, guru-guru kami dan juga kepada sekalian kaum muslimin dari timur hingga ke barat walau di mana mereka berada.

Ya Allah wahai Tuhan kami, jadikanlah kami dalam suratan kami dan suratan ibu bapa kami dan saudara mara para hadirin sekalian merata semuanya dengan pencucuran rahmat dan keredaan, masukkanlah kami dan juga mereka itu sekaliannya ke dalam keluasan syurga – Ya Allah, Tuhan yang memberi berkat, ya Allah, Tuhan yang yang mengurniakan rahmat, ya Allah, Tuhan yang mencipta tujuh petala langit dan bumi – Tuhan yang empunya kebesaran dan kemuliaan.

Ya Allah wahai Tuhan kami, pindahkan mereka itu sekalian daripada kesempitan lubang kubur dan liang lahad pergi ke syurgaMu – syurga yang kekal abadi – pergi ke perlindungan naungan yang berpanjangan, air yang sentiasa mengalir, mendapat buah-buahan yang tiada bersukatan, lagi tidak terhenti dan tidak pula terlarang mendapatkannya, mendapat tempat-tempat tidur yang tertinggi keadaannya bersama dengan orang-orang yang Tuhan kami telah kurniakan kepada mereka itu nikmat-nikmat iaitu daripada golongan nabi-nabi, orang-orang yang taat setia, orang-orang yang mati syahid, orang-orang yang saleh yang mereka itu ialah sebaik-baik kawan.

Mohon limpah kurniaMu jua, ya Allah, Tuhan sebaik-baik yang mengurniakan rahmat.

Selawat dan salam Allah ke atas junjungan kami Nabi Muhammad serta keluarga dan sahabat-sahabatnya sekalian. Dan segala pujian itu bagi Allah, Tuhan pentadbir seluruh alam.

Source and reference:

1. Wirid dan Doa, Haji Jamaluddin bin Hashim, Lembaga Penerbitan Jabatan Agama Johor, Malaysia.

2. Surah Yassin dan Peraturan Membacanya dan Tahlil, Jawatankuasa Sambutan Ulangtahun Hari Kebangsaan Negara Brunei Darussalam bagi Tahun 1988, Kementerian Kebudayaan Belia dan Sukan Negara Brunei Darussalam. Diusahakan oleh Kementerian Hal Ehwal Agama Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Aidilfitri Prayer at Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien on 2nd October 2008

BEFORE THE PRAYER

Some of the female jemaahs who come to the mosque to perform the Aidilfitri prayer Male jemaahs
Some of the jemaahs are waiting for the Aidilfitri prayer to begin
The jemaahs prepare the prayer mats
The arrival of His Majesty and royal family
KDYMM Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam
His Majesty
DYTM Paduka Seri Pengiran Perdana Wazir Sahibul Himmah Wal-Waqar Pengiran Muda Mohammad Bolkiah (Prince Mohammad Bolkiah)
Minister of Trade and Foreign Affairs
and
YTM Paduka Seri Duli Pengiran Muda Abdul Malik (Prince Abdul Malik)

AFTER THE PRAYER

YB Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman
Deputy Minister of the Religious Affairs

YB Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr.) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned
Mufti Kerajaan Brunei Darussalam

Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin
Timbalan Mufti Kerajaan Negara Brunei Darussalam

Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Awang Haji Salim bin Haji Besar
Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Syari’ah Negara Brunei Darussalam
KDYMM Paduka Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan dan Yang Dipertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam (His Majesty) dan DYTM Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah (Crown Prince)
His Majesty, Crown Prince, and Prince Mohammad Bolkiah
Crown Prince (back), Prince Abdul Mateen, and Prince Abdul Malik

VISITORS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE PHOTO INSIDE THE MOSQUE
Time to put back the prayer mats
My black Suzuki Swift is parking at Yayasan carpark

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 2nd October 2008)

Photos of Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien Taken on 1st Syawal 1429H

The followings photos were taken before and after I performed the Aidilfitri prayer:

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
Photo 8
Photo 9
Photo 10
Photo 11
Photo 12
Photo 13
Photo 14
Photo 15

and

Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien
is
50 Years Old Now

FACTS

Construction began:
4 February 1954

Official opening:
The mosque is officially opened by Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien on 26 September 1958. Now, on 26 September 2008, Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien turns 50.

Cost:
BND7.7 million (1954-1958 value)

Location:
At 5 acres site near the Sungai Brunei

Capacity:
The mosque can accommodate up to 3000 people.
(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 2nd October 2008)

My Favourite Food: Murtabak

Murtabak is one of my favourite food. Yesterday (29 September 208), I accompanied my wife to buy juadah persungkaian (food for breaking the fast) at Gerai Ramadan Stadium (Ramadan foodstalls at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium’s parking area).

The following photos show the murtabak we bought:

We bought three murtabaks i.e two with beef fillings and one with chicken fillings

A closer look at the murtabaks

Each murtabak (which is smaller when compare to the one that is available at the restaurant) costs BND2.00 each OR BND5.00 for 3 murtabaks. There are two option of fillings i.e chicken or beef.

p/s: I usually eat murtabak with the curry gravy given when buying the murtabak, and with some chilli sauce. I prefer using Maggi, Kimbal, or Life brand chilli sauce.

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 29 September 2008, using Sony Cybershot W130)

The Dates That I Eat In This Month of Ramadan: Mozafati Dates

You can eat dates not only in the month of Ramadan but also during the other months. Due to that, eventough today (30 September 2008) is 29 Ramadan, I still buy a packet od dates for bersungkai (breaking the fast).

I only eat (my other members of family do not eat dates, except my father-in-law) a few dates when breaking the fast. The remaining dates will be consumed in the next few days in Syawal.

The dates that I bought today is Mozafati dates from Islamic Republic of Iran. I bought it at Jaya Hypermart, Gadong Centerpoint for BND3.50 per 650g packaging.

The dates is sold under the label of “Desert Dates” and Benelux brand. It is imported by Benelux Flowers and Food Private Limited (Address: 245, Pandan Loop, Singapore 128428).

The packaging

The brand: Benelux The importer and country of origin
Nutritional information
Mozafati dates
Top view of the packaging
Bottom view of the packaging
A recipe using Mozafati dates: Spiced Date Cookies

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 30 September 2008)

p/s: I do buy dates throughout the year. Once a month or a few months, I do drop by at a fruit shop in Kiulap to buy a few dollars worth of Medjul dates. I usually buy about about 5-6 dates which costs about BND2.00-BND2.50 (which is depended upon its weight and its current market price).

My previous articles a.k.a postings on dates:

1st Syawal 1429H In Brunei Darussalam Is on 2nd October 2008M

1st Syawal 1429H in Brunei Darussalam will be on 2nd October 2008M, Thursday. This was announced by Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah Brunei Darussalam through Radio Televisyen Brunei before the Isyak prayer tonight, due to the Syawal moon is not sighted. And, tomorrow is still the month of Ramadan i.e 30 Ramadan 1429H.

Muslims in Brunei Darussalam will perform Aidilfitri Sunnat prayer at all mosques and surau at 7.30am on 1st Syawal 1429H/2nd October 2008M, Thursday.

The following photo shows Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Awang Haji Salim bin Haji Besar, Brunei Darussalam’s Syar’iah High Court Judge, is announcing that the Syawal moon is not sighted:


(Photo: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 30 September 2008, using Sony Cybershot W130)

Related articles a.k.a postings: