PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysia #QuranHour programme kicked off today, with Muslims around the country congregating in mosques to recite the Quran en masse for one hour.
At the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque in Putrajaya, some 5,000 Muslims from all walks of life came together to recite verses from the holy Quran.
The event began with Federal Territories Mufti Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri leading the recitation of the Surah Al-Fatihah.
Twenty-four participants then took to the stage in turns to recite their selected verses of the Quran from Surah Asy-Syams to An-Nas.
Among the participants was Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali who recited the Surah Al-Zalzalah.
Themed 'Bangsa Berbudi dan Penyayang', Malaysia #QuranHour was carried out simultaneously at 1,660 locations nationwide.
Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah also graced the event.
A total of 14 media companies also came together to promote reading of the Quran among Muslims.
The media agencies include Media Prima Bhd, Sinar Harian, Utusan Malaysia, Kosmo!, Astro, RTM and Bernama.
The World #QuranHour will be held at the Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque at the International Islamic University (IIUM) from 12pm to 1pm on Aug 31 (9 Zulhijjah).