The 12th of Rabiulawal marks the birth date of the noble Prophet Muhammad Sallalllahu Alaihi Wasallam and it is the time when mosques, suraus and prayer halls across the country is enlivened with zikirs and selawats for 12 days in a row commencing on the 1st of Rabiulawal. In remembrance of the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday, the Prime Minister’s Office and the department under it held the opening ceremony of the Dikir Maulud at the Jame ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah. The Guest of Honour for the opening ceremony wasthe Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof.

The event began with a mass Maghrib prayer followed by the recitation of Surah Al[1]Fatihah, Dikir Assalamualaika and Dikir Syarafil Anam. The event proceeded with a mass Isyak prayer, a Dikir Marhaban, a recitation of Doa to seek blessings and protection from Allah the Almighty followed by the recitation of Doa Peliharakan Sultan dan Negara Brunei Darussalam and concluded with a hand over of waqaf by the guest of honour to a representative of Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque.

Around 250 people attended the ceremony made up of Deputy Ministers, special invitees, Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Head of Departments and divisions, officers and staff of the Prime Minister’s Office and its departments. On the same night, the Prime Minister’s Office and its departments held the Opening Ceremony of the Dikir Maulud at Masjid Ash-Shaliheen whereby the Guest of Honour was Yang Mulia Pengiran Haji Jamra Weira bin Pengiran Haji Petra, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Energy) at the Prime Minister’s Office. In attendance were Head of Departments Divisions, Senior Officers, Officers and staff of the Prime Minister’s Office and its departments.