Moslems greet new year with prayers for end to crisis<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Moslems in Central Java greeted the beginning
\nof the 1419 Islamic year of Hijr on Monday by holding mass
\nprayers for an end to the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
In almost all mosques and small prayer houses, residents
\nlistened to sermons urging them to be patient. They chanted
\nAllahuakbar (Allah is the Greatest), recited passages from the
\nKoran, and ended their gatherings with prayers, many tearful,
\nthat God end the hardship they have faced since last year.<\/p>\n
In several mosques, the gatherings were also used to present
\npackages of new clothing, school supplies and cash for orphan
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Central Java chapter of the Indonesian Council
\nof Ulemas said his office had advised all ulemas and their
\ncongregations to pray together for an end to the crisis.<\/p>\n
In several West Java towns, including Depok and Sawangan,
\ngroups of youths held torchlit processions around their kampongs
\nand chanted Allahuakbar.<\/p>\n
Yesterday marked the start of Muharram, the first month of the
\nIslamic lunar calendar which begins with hijr, the flight of
\nProphet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.<\/p>\n
In the Islamic year coinciding with 579 AD, Prophet Muhammad
\nled his followers out of Mecca, where growing numbers of Moslem
\nconverts were suffering persecution at the hands of unbelievers,
\nand took them to Medina, where local Moslems opened their arms to
\nthe migrants, and Muhammad continued to spread the word of Islam.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Minister of Religious Affairs Quraish Shihab
\ngreeted the new year by calling on all Indonesian Moslems to show
\neven greater faith, to work harder, and to remain optimistic in
\nthe face of hardship.<\/p>\n
\"In light of the situation facing our nation, Moslems need to
\nunderstand, and to follow the values contained in the hijr
\n(flight of Prophet Muhammad),\" Quraish said.<\/p>\n
The hijr teaches Moslems the value of struggling to turn a bad
\nsituation into a better life.<\/p>\n
\"Just before the flight, Moslems were in a weak and persecuted
\nposition, but they continued to believe that some day their
\neternal victory would be delivered,\" Quraish said.<\/p>\n
On Monday, when he opened the Muharram Week at the Istiqlal
\nGrand Mosque, Quraish expressed his belief that Indonesia will
\nsee an Islamic revival, despite the crisis now facing it.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is the largest Moslem nation on earth. Moslems make
\nup 87 percent of the 202 million population.<\/p>\n
\"Moslems need to consolidate their forces and face the
\nhardship together,\" the minister said, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, around 10,000 residents marked the Islamic new
\nyear on Monday, which was also the start of the month of Suro on
\nthe Javanese calendar of Saka 1931.<\/p>\n
Antara said that some residents greeted the new year by
\nperforming tapa bisu (silent meditation), circling the kraton
\n(the Sultan of Yogyakarta's palace) in complete silence. The rite
\nwas undertaken by those seeking divine blessing.<\/p>\n
Others sat and waited for the day to change.<\/p>\n
\"It is in this situation that we can reflect on what we have
\ndone in the past year, and resolve to do better in the future,\"
\nTaryono, 43, from nearby Bantul, said. (swe\/har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moslems-greet-new-year-with-prayers-for-end-to-crisis-1447893297",
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