HER Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hjh Saleha yesterday attended the Majlis Bersanding (sitting-in-state ceremony) of Yang Amat Mulia Pg Anak Mujaabah Safaaul Bulqiah Pg Anak Hj Tahiruddin and Amirul Zahrein Hj Ahmad yesterday. YAM Pg Anak Mujaabah, 36, is the eldest daughter of Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Amal Rakiah.
Her Majesty was accompanied by her daughters-in-law, HRH Pg Anak Isteri Pg Anak Sarah and YAM Pg Anak Isteri Pg Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah. Also present were HRH Pg Anak Isteri Pg Anak Hjh Zariah and YAM Pg Anak Isteri Pg Norhayati and other members of the royal family. The lighting of the dian empat, or four ceremonial candles by ‘Awang-Awang’ signalled the start of the ceremony, followed by the placing of a two-piece cushion, kasur namat, between the candles. The bride, dressed in a purple-coloured brocade gown, first entered the hall for the sitting-in-state ceremony that was steeped in tradition. The thundering of hadrah and recital of dikir accompanied her arrival at the hall. Hadrah are sets of small hand-held drums used in Islamic devotional music such as dikir, dance music, and other types of traditional Malay music in Brunei.
YAM Pg Anak Mujaabah Safaaul Bulqiah bowed in front of Her Majesty before taking her seat at the dais. She was accompanied by an entourage of 25 Dayang-dayang, with nine carrying royal ornaments and 16 carried the dian enam belas or sixteen ceremonial candles.
The 38-year-old groom, Amirul Zahrein, then entered the hall accompanied by Imam of Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Hj Suhaili Hj Metali Al-Hafiz and proceeded to the dais. Pehin Dato Hj Suhaili then placed the groom’s right hand on the head of YAM Pg Anak Mujaabah for a ‘menapak tangan’ ceremony to signify their matrimony before leading the groom to his seat on the dais. Acting Chief Syarie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Salim Hj Besar then recited the doa (supplication) to bless the couple. All raised their hands in unison to offer doa for the couple and for Allah (SWT) to bless the marriage. The ceremony took place at bride’s mother
residence at Chateau AR in Beribi, Gadong. The couple married in a nikah (solemnisation) ceremony on August 20, two days after the Majlis Berbedak and Berinai (powdering ceremony) on August 18.