President Prabowo Assists Quraish Shihab from Stage Following Religious Sermon

President Prabowo Subianto was observed assisting Islamic scholar and former Religious Affairs Minister Quraish Shihab down from the stage following his sermon at a Nuzulul Quran commemoration event. The moment, which was captured on camera, drew attention for demonstrating Prabowo’s respect towards the senior religious figure.

The Nuzulul Quran event was held at the State Palace in Jakarta on the evening of 10 March 2026. Quraish Shihab delivered his sermon during the occasion.

Following his address, Shihab was initially assisted by two event staff members in descending from the stage. Prabowo then rose from his seat and approached Shihab. The President proceeded to help Shihab down the stage stairs. During this moment, Shihab spoke with Prabowo, who listened attentively with his head slightly bowed. At the conclusion of their conversation, Prabowo made a namaste gesture whilst expressing his thanks to Shihab, before assisting him back to his seat.

During his sermon, Quraish Shihab offered a special prayer for Prabowo, supplicating that God grant him divine assistance in fulfilling his leadership mandate, particularly in upholding peace and justice.

“I wish to pray. First, for the President. Sir, I had a teacher, sir, named Sheikh Mutawalli Sha’rawi. He once offered a prayer to the President of Egypt. His prayer began with the phrase that power originates from God. No one is given power except by God’s will, whether the ruler honestly follows God’s guidance or the ruler is disobedient. All power originates from God,” he stated.

He then conveyed a prayer that he deemed pertinent for Prabowo in his duty to lead the nation.

“Then he said, and this is what I wish to pray for you, sir, he said I do not know; it may be that we shall not meet again. I can only pray; if His Excellency is our people’s destiny, meaning God has ordained His Excellency to undertake activities that benefit the people, then we pray that we may help you, sir,” he continued.

Shihab also expressed the hope that Prabowo would continually receive God’s assistance in upholding the values of justice and peace.

“But if His Excellency, if you, sir, holds this position because it is your destiny to help establish justice and peace, then we shall pray that God assists you and we shall help as well. That is our prayer for you, sir,” he concluded.