Moslem leaders call for patience

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)