Religious Affairs Minister Comments on President Prabowo's Sacrificial Cattle Distribution

Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar has responded to President Prabowo Subianto’s distribution of 1,098 sacrificial cattle for this year’s Eid al-Adha.

Nasaruddin did not address the funding source of the president’s sacrificial cattle but stressed that no one should go hungry during Eid al-Adha celebrations. He explained that the spirit of Eid al-Adha aligns with Eid al-Fitr, ensuring communities can enjoy meals on the festive day.

“We aim for Eid al-Qurban to be like Eid al-Fitr. As the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, no one should go hungry or eat nothing on Eid,” he stated at Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta on Thursday, 28 May.

Nasaruddin noted that while zakat fitrah ensures carbohydrate needs are met during Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha complements this with animal protein from sacrificial meat.

“Zakat fitrah aims for everyone to be full on Eid al-Fitr through carbohydrate consumption. For Eid al-Adha, the counterpart is animal protein. It is hoped that during the sacrificial months, no one goes without meat,” he added.

He also stated that sacrificial animals can be given to anyone, including non-Muslims, provided the intent is to assist those in need.

The cost of procuring 1,098 sacrificial cattle for the president this year amounted to approximately Rp100 billion, sourced from the state budget via the presidential community assistance programme.

Deputy State Secretariat Minister Juri Ardiontoro said the programme has been ongoing for years.

“The president’s sacrificial cattle initiative is government assistance to the public. Its aim is for needy citizens to celebrate Eid al-Adha by collectively slaughtering sacrificial animals,” Ardiontoro stated on Wednesday, 27 May.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) stated that the president’s purchase of sacrificial animals using the state budget is not problematic under Islamic law.

“In the current state context, the state budget acts as a modern Baitul Mal (public treasury), so national sacrificial offerings are purely for the public welfare. There is no issue under Islamic law,” said MUI Fatwa Commission Chairman KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh in a statement on Wednesday, 27 May.