Soeharto performs 'umrah'<\/p>\n
MECCA (JP): President Soeharto performed an umrah (minor
\nhaj) pilgrimage at the Grand Mosque here on Monday evening, after
\ncompleting a two-week working trip which took him and his
\nentourage to Colombia, the United States and Suriname.<\/p>\n
Soeharto started his performance of the religious duty by
\nwearing two pieces of white cloth in Jeddah before leaving for
\nMecca, where he was required to walk around the holy shrine of
\nKaabah seven times.<\/p>\n
Afterwards Soeharto and his party performed the ritual of Sa'y
\n(slow running between the As-Safa and Al-Marwah hills seven
\ntimes), within the grounds of the mosque. The total distance of
\ncovered was about three-and-a-half kilometers.<\/p>\n
Soeharto performed the Islamic duty unassisted, but First Lady
\nTien Soeharto was pushed in a wheel-chair by her son Bambang
\nTrihatmodjo.<\/p>\n
Son Bambang, daughters Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana and Siti
\nHediyanti Prabowo, son-in-law Indra Rukmana and several grand
\nchildren flew from Jakarta to accompany the president in the
\nrituals.<\/p>\n
Cabinet members included in Soeharto's entourage were Foreign
\nMinister Ali Alatas, Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono and
\nMinister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher. Tarmizi joined the
\npresident after the latter arrived in Jeddah on Monday.<\/p>\n
Mecca Deputy Governor Su'ud Abdul Muhsin, who welcomed
\nSoeharto to the city, opened the door of the Kaabah for the
\nIndonesian President and his entourage to pray inside the
\nstructure, which is always covered with a black cloth.<\/p>\n
This is for the third time Soeharto has entered the shrine,
\nwhich Moslems revere as the House of God. The last time he did it
\nwas when he performed his haj pilgrimage in 1991.<\/p>\n
At least five times each day Moslems in every part of the
\nglobe face towards the Kaabah when they pray.<\/p>\n
Soeharto and his entourage, who left Jeddah yesterday
\nafternoon, are expected to back home this morning. (riz)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-performs-umrah-1447893297",
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