Ahead of Islamic New Year, Minister Calls for Hijrah Through Compassion

Ahead of the 1448 Hijri New Year, the Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs, Prof Nasaruddin Umar, has invited the Muslim community to treat the Islamic New Year as a momentum for self-transformation and strengthening social concern, rather than merely a change in the calendar.

The Minister made these remarks while attending the welcoming ceremony for the 1448 Hijri New Year at the Al Jabbar Mosque in Bandung on Tuesday (9/6/2026). Addressing thousands of worshippers, he asserted that the spirit of ‘hijrah’ must be manifested through concrete actions that benefit society.

“Hijrah is not merely a physical movement from one point to another, but a spiritual and social transformation towards a better self. Our current spirit of hijrah must be reflected in how much we care for others, how we protect the environment, and our commitment to always bring public welfare to the community,” Nasaruddin stated in a press release on Tuesday.

The Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta emphasised that the essence of religious practice is to foster compassion and brotherhood, rather than spreading hatred that could divide the nation.

“If we want to measure our religiosity, look at how much love we have for our fellow human beings. If someone speaks about religion but spreads hatred, then they are truly moving away from the very substance of religious teachings,” he said.

During the event, Nasaruddin also called for the reinforcement of the mosque’s function as a centre for the community’s civilisation. According to him, the spirit of the Prophet Muhammad’s hijrah, which serves as the basis for the Hijri calendar, was a milestone in the birth of a new civilisation where the mosque plays a very broad role.