Brunei celebrated the Hari Raya Aidil Adha or Feast of the Sacrifice with sunat prayers at all mosques and suraus nationwide yesterday.

In Bandar Seri Begawan, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Deputy Sultan, joined hundreds of Muslims who had converged at the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque to perform the Aidil Adha prayer.

Upon arrival, His Royal Highness was welcomed by Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Mohammad Zain, the Minister of Religious Affairs.

The Aidil Adha sunat prayer was led by Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Yahya, the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs.

Yesterday's sermon dealt on the significance and effects of the tsunami disaster that hit several countries.

It was delivered by Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin, who stressed on the effects and lessons drawn from the tsunami catastrophe.

Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin also touched on Allah the Almighty's desire to bring together his faithfuls and create a process of re-generation.

After the prayers, His Royal Highness received and exchanged greetings with those present.

The prayers were followed by the sacrificial ceremony yesterday morning.

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei, and members of the Royal Family sacrificed more than 14 goats and 32 buffaloes for Hari Raya Aidil Adha 1425 hijrah this year.

In a sacrificial ceremony, three of the goats were slaughtered at the compound of the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Jalan Menteri Besar while the rest of the goats and buffaloes were slaughtered at the Mulaut Abbatoir.

The sacrificial meat was distributed to 3,208 needy people from the four districts.

The slaughtering was held in the presence of Pehin Dato Dr Ustaz Haji Awang Mohd Zain, the Minister of Religious Affairs.

Members of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council and senior government officials were also present.

The distribution of sacrificial meat from His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei and other members of the Royal Family were also held in all the four districts.

In the Brunei-Muara District, the distribution of meat was undertaken by Dato Haji Adnan bin Haji Hanafiah, the district's officer.

The gifts were given to penghulu mukim and ketua kampong who, in turn, will hand them over to 2,071 recipients.

In the Belait District, 445 needy people received the gifts of meat from His Majesty.

Dato Haji Mohamad Yussof, the Belait District Officer, undertook the task of presenting the meat to the recipients and representatives of the recipients.

In the Tutong District, the distribution of sacrificial meat from His Majesty was presented by Awang Abdul Mutalib¸ the Acting District Officer, to 504 needy people in the district.

The function took place at the Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque in Tutong.

A total of 188 people in the Temburong District also got their share of the sacrificial meat from His Majesty and other members of the royal family.

Pengiran Abdul Harris bin Pengiran Haji Shabudin¸ the Disrict Officer, had the honour to present the meat.

The function took place at the Temburong District Office in Pekan Bangar.

Muslims in the country are urged to dismiss wild rumours circulated around through the Short Messaging Service (SMS) or e-mail that the door of the Ka'abah in the Holy City Mecca could not be opened during the Haj season as Muslims all over the world gathered in Mecca to perform the Haj.

Dato Haji Saman bin Haji Kahar, the Ambassador of Brunei to Saudi Arabia, strongly denied the rumours regarding the Ka'abah.

He stressed the matter in an interview with a Radio Television Brunei (RTB) representative in Mecca.

The interview was broadcast in the Rampai Pagi show yesterday.

The Ambassador said that he and several other Muslim foreign diplomats in Saudi Arabia entered the Ka'abah itself on December 27.

He said that there had never been an incident in which the door of the Ka'abah could not be opened as mentioned on the same date.

Dato Haji Saman warned Muslims against making such a false report so as to safeguard themselves from deviating from the true teachings of Islam.

He also called for the rumours to be stopped immediately to avoid them from spreading further.