Religious Affairs Minister Urges Public to Perform Wudu at Home Before Eid Prayer at Istiqlal Mosque

Religious Affairs Minister (Menag) Nasaruddin Umar has urged the public to perform wudu at home if they plan to attend the Eid al-Fitr 1447 H prayer at Istiqlal Mosque tomorrow. This measure aims to anticipate overcrowding at the mosque’s wudu facilities. “I just want to remind everyone that to avoid crowding at the wudu area, please perform wudu at home. Unless it becomes invalid, in which case there are designated wudu areas for men and women if needed,” said Nasaruddin Umar at Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta on Friday (20/3/2026). Nasaruddin also urged the public to arrive early and wear modest clothing. He further advised bringing a personal bag for shoes and safeguarding personal belongings during tomorrow’s Eid prayer. “I urge everyone to arrive early because of the dense crowds and the public’s enthusiasm to attend Istiqlal Mosque. Even before the Subuh prayer, people are already securing spots inside the mosque. So, if you want a place inside, arriving early would be better,” he stated. Nasaruddin also reminded those who have not yet paid zakat fitrah. Additionally, he noted that Istiqlal Mosque has prepared information centres in case of any undesirable incidents during tomorrow’s Eid prayer. “Then, if there are issues such as lost items, lost children, or if you need information, we have prepared information centres at Istiqlal Mosque. And our hope is, God willing, many VVIP guests will attend Istiqlal, so we ask everyone to prepare themselves properly and come to Istiqlal Mosque with full sincerity and devotion to bid farewell to the holy month of Ramadan,” he said. For information, the Eid al-Fitr 1447 H prayer at Istiqlal Mosque will commence at 07:00 WIB. The khatib will be the Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Prof Noorhadi Hasan, with the theme ‘The Victory of Eid al-Fitr Sowing Goodness, Achieving Blessings’. The officials for the Eid al-Fitr 1447 H prayer at Istiqlal Mosque include Ahmad Husni Ismail as imam and Ahmad Rofiuddin Mahfudz as backup imam. Ustaz Harmoko will serve as Bilal I and Ustaz Ahmad Achwani as Bilal II. Here is the complete guide to the procedures for the Eid 1447 H prayer at Istiqlal Mosque tomorrow: 1. Arrive early, as the Eid al-Fitr 1447 H prayer will start at 07:00 WIB. 2. Wear clothing that covers the aurat and is modest. 3. Bring personal prayer equipment and mats. 4. Bring a personal plastic bag for sandals/shoes. 5. Bring only necessary personal items. 6. Safeguard your belongings at all times and places. 7. Participate in maintaining cleanliness, security, and comfort for worship. Access Gates for Congregants: For congregants attending the Eid al-Fitr 1447 H prayer at Istiqlal Mosque, please enter through Gate 2 Al-Ghaffar from Jalan Perwira, Gate 3 Al-Aziz and Gate 4 Al-Jabbar from Lapangan Banteng, Gate 5 Al-Fattah from Gereja Katedral, and Gate 6 Al-Mukmin from Stasiun Gambir, Pasar Baru, and surrounding areas. Parking Areas for Congregants: For those arriving by vehicle, parking is available at the following locations: 1. Basement Parking Area of Istiqlal Mosque B1 and B2 (600 cars), 2. Parking Area of Pertamina Building (300 cars, 300 motorcycles), 3. Parking Area of Kemenag (200 cars, 300 motorcycles), 4. Parking Area of Lapangan Banteng (300 cars, 200 motorcycles), 5. Parking Area of Gereja Katedral (150 motorcycles), 6. Parking Area of Kantor Pos (150 cars and 100 motorcycles), 7. Parking Area of Santa Maria (75 cars and 50 motorcycles), 8. Jakarta Arts Building (50 cars), and 9. Rear Parking Area of TNI AD Building (50 cars and 50 motorcycles). 10. Parking Area of Santa Ursula (100 cars and 100 motorcycles). 11. TNI AD Headquarters (Reserved for ministers and ambassadors).