President Prabowo's Qurban Distribution Part of Presidential Assistance Programme
Jakarta - The distribution of qurban cattle by President Prabowo Subianto to the public for this year’s Eid al-Adha is part of the long-standing Presidential Social Assistance (Banpres) programme, according to Deputy State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro, who addressed public queries regarding the use of state funds for the President’s qurban cattle procurement on Wednesday.
He stated that the qurban cattle constitute government assistance to ensure citizens, particularly those in need, can celebrate Eid al-Adha and enjoy sacrificial meat.
“The President’s qurban is a government assistance initiative aimed at enabling those in need to partake in the Eid al-Adha sacrifice,” he said.
Juri revealed that 1,098 cattle were distributed nationwide by President Prabowo Subianto this year.
As public assistance, the allocation of Banpres funds is standard practice and has been consistently applied in previous administrations.
He stressed the qurban cattle are not for the President’s personal benefit but entirely distributed to communities across regions.
The government seeks to directly connect with citizens through religious occasions with high social value, such as Eid al-Adha.
Juri also noted that personally, President Prabowo performs his own qurban using private funds, with the animal slaughtered and distributed to the public.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has stated that the national leader purchasing sacrificial animals using state funds or the national budget (APBN) is permissible under Islamic law.
MUI Fatwa Board Chairman Prof KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh explained the procurement model has strong fiqh foundations in Islamic history.
According to Prof Niam, citing a Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, a leader or imam is encouraged to purchase sacrificial animals through Baitul Mal or state funds.
In modern contexts, the national budget is understood as a contemporary Baitul Mal managed for public interest.
“In today’s governance, the national budget functions as a modern Baitul Mal. Thus, state-sponsored qurban is solely for the welfare of the wider community. There is no Islamic legal issue,” he said.
He added that the mechanism is bureaucratically sound, similar to other social assistance programmes provided by the government.
The difference is that this assistance is delivered in the form of sacrificial animals distributed to regions.
“Like Banpres funds allocated for staple food items distributed to the public, the logic is the same – the qurban cattle are not consumed personally by the President but directly distributed to regions,” he added.
The distribution of the President’s qurban through Banpres is viewed as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen social compassion, enhance religious outreach, and ensure communities nationwide share in the joy of Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah.