Iduladha Sermon at Istiqlal Mosque: Nurturing Environment and Humanity

The Iduladha prayer for 1447 Hijriah at Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque championed environmental care through an eco-theology and theology of love theme titled ‘The Spirit of Sacrifice: Nurturing Environment and Humanity’. The rector of State Islamic University (UIN) Alauddin Makassar, Professor H. Hamdan Juhannis, delivered a sermon titled ‘Strengthening the Spirit of Sacrifice: Caring for Environment and Humanity’. The solemn and orderly prayer service was attended by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, cabinet ministers, and thousands of Muslims under tight security. Alongside Gibran, senior government officials including Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, and Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar were present in the front rows. The event was also attended by foreign dignitaries, including Palestine’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdulfattah A.K. Al-Sattiri. High public enthusiasm prompted organisers to enforce stricter measures for order and comfort. Attendees underwent rigorous checks by joint security personnel and the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) before entering the main prayer hall. Organisers estimated 100,000 to 150,000 attendees filled the mosque, Southeast Asia’s largest, which has a maximum capacity of 250,000. Emotional scenes were witnessed among worshippers, including 60-year-old Jatinegara resident Sofian, who expressed gratitude for performing the prayer at Istiqlal with his two children recently returned from Malaysia. ‘In previous years, I usually prayed at my local mosque with my wife only,’ Sofian said at the mosque grounds. To ease congestion in Central Jakarta, organisers divided entry points into two categories. Pedestrians were directed through Al-Fattah Gate opposite the Cathedral Church, and As-Salam 1 and As-Salam 2 gates opposite Juanda Bus Stop. Private vehicle users were directed via Al-Aziz and Al-Mukmin gates to basement parking areas.