| Azlan Othman |

THE Glorification of Sacred City of Makkah Al-Mukarrammah exhibition opened at the Brunei International Airport yesterday.

The exhibition, held in conjunction with Bandar Seri Begawan’s selection as the Asian Capital of Islamic Culture 2019 by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), was officiated by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman.

Open to the public until May 6, the inaugural exhibition is jointly held between Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), ISESCO, the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), and Jam’iyah Marakiz al-Ahya Makkah al-Mukaramah.

Delegates from Jam’iyah Marakiz al-Ahya Makkah al-Mukaramah led by Dr Talal bin Mohammad Abu al-Nur, the Vice Chairman of the Board cum Director General of the ‘Glorification of Sacred City of Makkah Al-Mukarrammah’ exhibition, along with four officers and FUIW General Secretariat Officer from Morocco Mohamed Cheikhi, were also present.

The exhibition is organised to glorify the sanctity of the holy land. Allah the Almighty uplifted Makkah al-Mukarramah as a sacred city, designating Kaabah as the direction of prayers for Muslims and calling for followers to glorify the city as the site of His revelation to His last messenger, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

In a show of support for conserving and respecting the sacred land of Makkah al-Mukarammah, ISESCO strives to showcase and introduce several projects relating to upholding the holy land and expand its ties with the organisations and universities that have made the exhibition a success.

Among the projects planned include knowledge talks and exhibitions related to conservation of the holy land.

Fourteen poster photographs illustrating the majesty of the holy land are being displayed at the exhibition.

Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang; Rector of UNISSA Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal; Ra’es of Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) Dr Haji Adanan bin Haji Basar; as well as senior officers from UNISSA and travel agency representatives also attended the exhibition launch.