Expatriates Enjoy Brunei Ramadan

Cairo, Egypt - With Tarawih prayers and Qur`an recitation sessions, the holy fasting month of Ramadan tastes special for Muslim expatriates in the Sultanate of Brunei.

“I am able to concentrate more on prayers and observe Ramadan in a better way,” Hj Tasliman, an Indonesian, told The Brunei Times on Monday, August 24.

Since he arrived in Brunei to see his son, Tasliman was impressed by Ramadan flavour across the Sultanate.

He has been keen to perform the Tarawih, a special nightly prayers in Ramadan, in Bruneian mosques.

Most expatriates perform the prayers at Jame `Asr Hassanil Bolkiah and other mosques.

“The Tarawih is performed with 20 rakaats and the participants complete the listening of full Qura`n during the month of Ramadan,” said Dr. Hj Ali Khan, a senior Indian medical practitioner.

Ramadan, the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar, began Saturday in most world countries.

During Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those travelling, abstain during daylight hours from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.

The Sultanate of Brunei has a population of less than half a million, hailing mainly from Malay origin, and 90 percent of them are Muslims.

Festive Ramadan

Muslim expatriates also host sessions for Qur`an recitation and Tafseer (exegesis of Qur`an and Sunnah).

“I like the way people invite others for sungkai and recite Qur`an and engage in zikir before breaking fast,” said Hj Ismail Shah, a Pakistani marine engineer, using the local name of the iftar.

Shah used to attend sungkai dinner with Bruneian friends and colleagues during the holy month to observe the local culture.

It is customary for Muslims during Ramadan to host iftar banquets for the poor and needy people.

Many Muslim expatriates also enjoy the festive atmosphere in Brunei during the dawn-to-dusk fasting month.

Pakistani professor Mohammad Yousuf Sani said the festival atmosphere in the Sultanate makes Ramadan a pleasant experience.

He is also fascinated with Malay food that is offered at special stalls, set up all over the country during the fasting month.

“It`s always a pleasure to be in a Muslim country like Brunei during Ramadan so that we can observe the month with complete dedication.”

Source: http://www.islamonline.net
Photo: http://blog.its.ac.id

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