Muslims observe holy Day of Sacrifice

Muslims observe holy Day of Sacrifice

JAKARTA (JP): Most of the country's Muslims celebrated Idul
Adha (the Islamic Day of Sacrifice) on Thursday, as calm returned
to the restive territories of Aceh and Maluku.

The government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) marked the
holiday by holding unprecedented peace talks. State television
TVRI's Thursday evening news reported that State Secretary Bondan
Gunawan had met with Acehnese rebel commander Tengku Abdullah
Syafi'ie in Sigli, about 110 kilometers east of the provincial
capital of Banda Aceh.

Syafi'ie, who was reported to have been killed by security
authorities recently, complained to Bondan about the ongoing
campaign by security forces to stamp out the insurgency.

The celebrations were peaceful despite the disagreement over
the holiday's date. On Saturday the country's largest Islamic
organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) announced that the festival
would fall on Friday.

But some members and noted figures of the 40 million-strong
organization joined the celebration on Thursday, defying NU
chairman Hasyim Muzadi's statement.

President Abdurrahman Wahid, grandson of NU's founding father
Hasyim Azhari and Muzadi's predecessor, attended Idul Adha
prayers at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque. Afterwards, he presented
two large sacrificial cows to the crowd in the mosque's
courtyard.

Abdurrahman played down on Wednesday the differences between
NU, the government and other Islamic organizations over the
holiday's date, saying it should be regarded as a blessing.

"I am an NU member, but as a government official I have to
follow the government's decision. If I don't respect the
decision, then what do you what will happen?" the President said.

"When I am no longer president, I will follow the old ways."

Students and senior clerics at Islamic boarding schools in
NU's East Javanese strongholds, including in Langitan in Tuban
and in Tebuireng in Jombang, were also seen packing mosques for
Idul Adha morning prayers on Thursday.

Syaifudin, a staffer at the Langitan boarding school, told
Antara that respected cleric Abdullah Faqih had himself decided
that the holiday be celebrated on Thursday.

"Some days ago we asked him (about the date for Idul Adha) ...
and he said he was more convinced that the prayers should be held
today (Thursday)," Syaifudin said.

Faqih is an influential cleric to whom Abdurrahman sought
approval before running for presidency last year.

NU declared that Idul Adha fell on March 17 after its
observation team failed to see the moon that marks the start of
Dzulhijjah month in the Islamic calendar. Idul Adha is celebrated
on the 10th day of the month.

During the holiday, livestock are slaughtered to commemorate
the Prophet Ibrahim's offering of his son to God. The animals are
then cut into pieces before being distributed to the needy.

Confusion also marked celebrations in Surabaya and other
neighboring NU strongholds.

Subur Achiyat, an NU member in the Surabaya subdistrict of
Margo Rejo, said he was surprised that President Abdurrahman said
Idul Adha prayer fell on Thursday.

He said he acknowledged NU headquarters' letter deciding that
the holiday fell on March 17.

"Many NU people said prayers at NU mosques in Surabaya," he
said, citing the Sunan Ampel, Kemayoran and Kembang Kuning
mosques.

People also thronged many other small mosques in kampongs,
including mosques in Wonokromo and Kenjeran.

Subur will celebrate Idul Adha on Friday, but his son Ali
Ramadhan, 16, celebrated it on Thursday.

East Java Governor Imam Utomo, accompanied by Surabaya Mayor
Sunarto Sumaprawiro, East Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Dai Bahtiar
and Brawijaya Military chief Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi said prayers
on Thursday at the Masjid Agung (Grand Mosque) in Menanggal,
South Surabaya. Former finance minister Mar'i Muhammad was the
preacher.

Some mosque managements said they were also confused by the
split over the Idul Adha date. The Jami' mosque in Sidoarjo
announced that Idul Adha prayer would be held on Thursday and
Friday.

The Chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) Sidoarjo
chapter, Achmad Salman, told The Jakarta Post that the policy was
adopted for the sake of all Muslims. "We welcome those who want
to say prayers on Thursday. For those who want to celebrate on
Friday, just go ahead. Make it simple," Achmad said.

In the Aceh capital of Banda Aceh, people thronged the mosques
and celebrated Idul Adha with prayers and hopes for a brighter
future.

"This Idul Adha we pray that peace and harmony will return to
our land," said a local resident, adding that all Muslims there
celebrated Idul Adha on Thursday.

The situation also remained calm in the restive Pidie regency
capital of Sigli, one of GAM's main strongholds. People thronged
the mosques at the crack of dawn to pray and prepare for the
animal sacrifice.

"Many of us have been in the mosque since the dawn prayer," a
local woman said. Security officers also guarded the roads and
secured the parking, she said.

Differing from other provinces in the country, the staunch
Muslims in Aceh share a tradition of meugang, which suggests that
they slaughter animals two days prior to the holiday to allow
them the time to bring the meat to their relatives and friends in
remote hometowns.

The region was quiet on Thursday as soldiers and rebels put
down their weapons and prayed.

In Makassar, some 60,000 people thronged the Al Markas Al
Islami mosque for Idul Adha prayer. A local Muslim figure, M.
Darwis, said the number had fallen from 100,000 in previous years
because the remaining Muslims were NU members who would celebrate
the holiday on Friday.

Due to the split on the celebration date, the number of
animals slaughtered at the Al Islami mosque also decreased.

"Last year we had 16 cows and hundreds of goats. On Thursday
we got 16 cows and only 32 goats." (27/50/51/edt/nur/prb/sur)