Moslem leaders call for patience

JAKARTA (JP): Religious leaders urged millions of Indonesian Moslems celebrating Idul Adha yesterday to remember the virtues of sacrifice and called on them to pray together for the strength to lift the nation out of its economic crisis.

Perseverance and altruism were the common themes of many sermons after Moslems gathered to attend their early morning Idul Adha prayers.

Thousands arrived at the Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta to join President Soeharto and cabinet ministers listen to a sermon by Ahmad Sukardja, deputy rector of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN).

In his sermon, Ahmad underlined the importance of unity and love for the nation which could be reflected in the strong will to serve and sacrifice for the country.

Also seen in attendance at Istiqlal was former vice president Try Sutrisno. Try's successor, B.J. Habibie, did not attend because he was in Saudi Arabia performing his haj pilgrimage.

After the sermon, President Soeharto handed over cattle to the mosque to be slaughtered as a sacrifice. The meat was later distributed to the needy.

Idul Adha, the Day of Sacrifice, coincides with the 10th Islamic month of Dzulhijjah. It marks the peak for those on the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Many people also sacrifice animals -- a goat or a cow -- and later donate the meat to the poor.

In provincial capitals, the most crowded gatherings for prayers were usually ones attended by the governor or local religious leader.

In Bali, an island in which the Hindu religion predominates, 15,000 Moslems attended prayers at Puputan Badung field in Denpasar.

In attendance was the head of the local chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and deputy governor SH Adnan. Antara reported that 435 goats and 22 cows were contributed for sacrifice.

In Dili, East Timor, the head of the local MUI chapter, Abdullah M. Sagran, praised in his sermon the Christian community's cooperation which helped ensure that the prayers could be held.

Residents on the island are mostly Christians.

"The Christian community in East Timor has supported us in our endeavor. This shows that there is sound cooperation and harmony between the different faiths here," Abdullah remarked. (mds)