Iftar at the Presidential Palace, Ulama Deliver Messages to Prabowo

A number of ulama and religious figures used the Ramadan Iftar with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, 5 March 2026, to convey prayers, hopes and inputs on a range of issues including developments in the Middle East. Prominent preacher Muhammad Subki Al Bughury, addressing the gathering, said he was accompanying a group of umrah pilgrims and focusing on those unable to depart, including the Emirates ticket he held that has yet to be used for departure. He urged that conditions improve so that pilgrims stranded abroad can return home, and that prospective pilgrims can fly soon. He emphasised that prayer is the community’s strongest weapon, especially in Ramadan. Buya Yahya, for his part, said Ramadan should be a moment to bring goodness and peace amid global turmoil, and urged the public to pray for leaders, including President Prabowo, noting that guiding a country is a heavy responsibility. Nabiel Al Musawa, Chairman of the Board of Patrons of Majelis Rasulullah Pusat, said he hoped to convey several views to the President if given the opportunity, and that the President might wish to hear input from religious figures on global developments, including the dynamics of the conflict involving Iran and the United States. On Indonesia’s position in the Board of Peace (BoP), Nabiel argued that the forum’s existence is, in his view, ineffective, adding: “In our view, the BoP’s existence is not effective. So perhaps the President should re-examine this; if possible, stepping down would be better,” he said.