Bandar Seri Begawan - The Tahsin As-Solat workshop came to a close yesterday at Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

Some 44 participants completed the course, comprising officers and staff of Divisions III, IV and V at the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The three-day event that ran from June 25 to 27 was the first of its kind being held, and will be extended to other ministries.

The workshop is the brainchild of the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs ands is seen as heeding the titah of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam who wishes to see more citizens reciting Al-Quran and also performing prayers perfectly, thereby fulfilling the monarch's aspiration to make the country a Nation of Zikir.

The closing ceremony yesterday was attended by the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Pg Dato Paduka Hj Bahrom bin Pg Hj Bahar as the chief guest.

Also present were two Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dato Paduka Awg Sa Bali bin Abas and Awg Hj Abd Aziz bin OKML Hj Mohd Yusof, as well as directors, heads of divisions and senior officers at the ministry.

The workshop was handled by the Islamic Eminence Division as the Secretariat for major national events on the Islamic calendar.

The event was aimed at enhancing awareness on the correct way to perform prayers; deepening and fine-tuning requirements of prayers in a practical manner; fine-tuning the recitation of surah al-Fatihah; learning more about the benefits of prayers and finding out more of the positive effects on one's physical health when performing prayers.