The Meaning of Eid al-Adha for Jokowi and Anwar Usman
Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo described Eid al-Adha as an opportunity to sacrifice and share with others. He made the remarks during a brief interview after performing the Eid prayer at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Solo, Central Java, on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. When asked about the meaning of Eid al-Adha to him, Jokowi replied succinctly: “Yes, sacrifice, sharing for humanity.”
Similarly, former Constitutional Court Chief Justice Anwar Usman, who is also Jokowi’s brother-in-law, echoed the same message about this year’s Eid al-Adha. Anwar mentioned sacrificing for the nation and state, stating: “As mentioned in the sermon, ready to sacrifice for the nation and state.” When questioned about his current location in Solo, Anwar simply replied, “Yes, everywhere,” before smiling.
Jokowi attended the Eid prayer with his wife, Iriana, and family members, including Anwar and his wife Idayati, along with Jokowi’s other siblings. The former president and Iriana arrived at the mosque at 5:47 am WIB in a car. Jokowi wore a cream-coloured koko shirt with a brown woven sarong and black peci, while Iriana exited the vehicle wearing a mukena.
Upon arrival, Jokowi and Anwar walked to the mosque’s porch before entering the male prayer line, while Iriana and other female family members proceeded to the female section. Jokowi’s presence drew attention from crowds gathered at the mosque since morning, with residents greeting him and capturing the moment on their phones.
The Eid prayer began at 6:30 am WIB, led by Imam KH Ibrahim Asfari, with Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Director Munajat delivering the sermon. This year, the mosque prepared 71 sacrificial animals—54 cows and 17 goats—including one cow donated by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The animals will be handed over on Wednesday afternoon, with slaughtering scheduled for Thursday and Friday, 28-29 May 2026.
Munajat stated that this year’s Eid celebrations were accompanied by the Sheikh Zayed Mosque’s Hajj Month Festival, featuring events such as the Eid al-Adha Festival, Zayed Mantu, and the Solo Smart Waste management festival.