A peaceful celebration
Muslims mark Hari Raya Haji festivities with prayers and humility
KUALA LUMPUR: Muslims in the country celebrated Hari Raya Haji in peace and moderation in the spirit of sacrifice and gratitude.
The fine weather in most parts of the country enabled Muslims to attend in comfort prayers and the sacrificial slaughter of animals at the mosques, villages and districts.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V attended Hari Raya Haji prayers, along with thousands of worshippers, at Masjid Al-Ismaili in Tumpat, Kelantan.
His Majesty was accompanied by Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob and Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad.
In Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali went to Masjid Negara, along with more than 10,000 worshippers.
They were accompanied by two of their children, Tan Sri Mokhzani and Datuk Seri Mukhriz, and were welcomed upon arrival by the Grand Imam of Masjid Negara Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad and the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.
Syaikh Ismail, in his sermon, urged Muslims to place their trust in God and strive to be a loving community.
In Selangor, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, attended Hari Raya Haji prayers with worshippers at Masjid Tengku Ampuan Jemaah in Bukit Jelutong.
Accompanying their Royal Highnesses were Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah, Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari, Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad and the Selangor Mufti Datuk Mohd Tamyes Abd Wahid.
In Negri Sembilan, state Ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir and the Tunku Ampuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud performed prayers at Masjid Diraja Tuanku Munawir, Seri Menanti in Kuala Pilah with their sons Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin and Tunku Datuk Seri Zain Al-’Abidin.
They also witnessed the sacrificial slaughter of 19 animals and visited the Royal Mausoleum where the tahlil prayers were held, led by the Mufti Datuk Mohd Yusof Ahmad.
In Johor Baru, more than 1,000 worshippers performed the prayers with Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim and other members of the royal family at Masjid Pasir Pelangi.
Over at Masjid India Johor Baru, 500 packets of food were distributed to migrant Muslim workers, courte- sy of Sultan Ibrahim in appreciation of their service as they were unable to celebrate the occasion with their loved ones back home.
In Penang, some 150 volunteers at Jamek Shaik Eusoff Mosque in Datuk Keramat celebrated Hari Raya Haji by sacrificing a one-tonne Brahman bull.
Nine other cows and bulls and 19 goats were sacrificed at the mosque compound and the meat was distributed to some 200 families. — Bernama