Grand Sermon at Siak Police Station: Ustaz Abdul Somad Addresses Ecological Sin and Green Policing

Siak Police Station held a grand religious sermon featuring the prominent cleric Ustaz Abdul Somad (UAS). In his address, UAS discussed ecological sin and the Green Policing programme.

The grand sermon, themed “Ramadan Strengthens the Synergy Between the Police and the Community in Maintaining Public Order,” was held at Siak Police Station on Friday evening, 20 February 2026. The event was attended by Riau Provincial Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan, Deputy Police Chief Brigadier General Hengki Haryadi, Siak Police Chief Senior Commissioner Sepuh Ade Irsyam Siregar along with senior officials from Riau Provincial Police and Siak Police Station, as well as Siak Regent Afni.

Opening his sermon, Ustaz Abdul Somad greeted the Provincial Police Chief and Deputy Chief by their shared initials “HH.”

“These are all very busy people. Inspector General Herry Heryawan, Riau Provincial Police Chief, ‘HH’. Beside him is also ‘HH’, Deputy Chief Brigadier General Hengki Haryadi,” UAS quipped.

UAS then spoke about the source of police strength. He argued that the strength of the police lies not in their weapons or forces, but in public sympathy.

“Where does the strength of the police lie? Is it in their uniforms, their pistols, their forces? No. The strength of the police lies in public sympathy,” said UAS.

“And where did Ustaz Somad learn that? It’s written right there on that banner — ‘the strength of the police is public sympathy.’ I’m not making it up. That’s the nice thing about giving a sermon at Siak Police Station — the material has all been prepared for me,” UAS said, drawing laughter from the audience.

UAS then discussed Green Policing, a programme initiated by the Riau Provincial Police Chief. He emphasised that the police are not only tasked with maintaining public safety but also with protecting nature and its ecosystems.

“The police are planting trees, integrating and uniting their duties with protecting nature. Are all of you ready to protect this natural environment?” UAS said.

Ustaz Somad noted that Ramadan is historically a month of great struggles, with several major events having occurred during the holy month.

“What are we in Siak going to fight against? Against those who cut down trees — and with what? With Green Policing,” UAS said.

Ecological Sin

UAS then addressed sins committed during the fasting month. Beyond eating and drinking, which invalidate the fast, he argued there exists a far greater transgression: ecological sin.

“Is drinking alcohol a sin? Yes. Is gambling a sin? Yes. But there is an even greater sin — what is it? Ecological sin, the sin of destroying nature, the sin of cutting down trees,” UAS said.

UAS then referenced the recent flooding in Aceh, which he described as a consequence of ecological sin.

“The flooding in Aceh — water rushing down from the mountains carrying boulders and logs,” he said.

“Those trees weren’t uprooted by elephants. An elephant can only pull up five trees. But a human, with a single signature, can fell an entire hectare,” he continued.

Similarly, regarding the forest and land fires that frequently occur in Riau, UAS said these disasters are sins committed by humans.

“That’s why I have never accepted invitations to lead rain prayers. Why not? Because the very people who cut down the forests are there praying alongside everyone else. And when the rain doesn’t come, it’s Ustaz Somad who gets the blame,” he said.

Green Policing

He went on to praise the Green Policing programme initiated by the Riau Provincial Police Chief. He said the tree-planting campaign championed by the police chief would yield long-term benefits.

“Thank God for Green Policing — planting trees together. Ustaz Somad, the Police Chief, Rocky Gerung all planting trees. God willing, by the time our children have grown, those trees will have grown tall. God willing, we shall take shelter beneath the trees we planted, in the year 2055, thirty years from now,” he explained.

Citing a hadith, UAS noted that planting trees has been taught since the time of the Prophet, and that it constitutes an act of worship.

“Worship is not limited to reciting prayers, reading Yasin, reading the Quran, or fasting. Planting trees is worship, and cutting them down is a sin. Destroying nature is an even more terrible sin. How many homes were lost in Aceh? One hundred and forty thousand homes destroyed — that figure came from the Deputy Governor himself. May Riau remain safe, peaceful, cool, calm, and tranquil — a good land blessed by a forgiving Lord,” he concluded.