Thousands offer special prayers at Istiqlal mosque

Thousands offer special prayers at Istiqlal mosque

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of Moslems gathered at the grand
Istiqlal mosque yesterday to praise God on the 50th anniversary
of Indonesia's independence.

Men and women, old and young solemnly bowed in surrender to
God's will after their Friday prayers, led by the mosque's leader
Nasrullah Jamaluddin.

Among the attendants was Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi
Thahir, chairman of Indonesian Ulemas Council Hasan Basri and one
of Indonesia's most popular preachers, K.H. Zainuddin M.Z.

Chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas Hasan Basri read
out the offering of gratitude to God after the religious rituals.

All Indonesian Moslems deeply thank God for the 50th
anniversary of Indonesia's Independence, Hasan said.

To give thanks for the 50th anniversary of our country we have
to do more than just speak and have joyful activities. We have to
make a real effort to give substance to our independence by
increasing ukhuwah Islamiyah, or Islamic solidarity, harmony
among religious believers and social conscience, Hasan said.

Ritual

Meanwhile, Minister Tarmizi Thahir pointed out that about
600,000 Moslems all over the country performed a similar ritual
to commemorate the country's golden anniversary.

The minister also reminded the Moslems of Indonesia, the
nation with the largest Moslem population in the world, of their
role.

"Indonesian Moslems, as the majority, not only have greater
prerogatives but also greater obligations to give substance to
independence," Tarmizi said.

The ceremony closed with a sermon by K.H. Zainuddin M.Z, known
as the "preacher of a million followers".

In his sermon, Zainuddin put stress on future challenges faced
by Indonesian Moslems to give meaning to the country's
independence.

"Indonesian Moslems should not be off guard concerning
independence. We have to give substance to our independence by
engaging in useful activities for the sake of national
development. It is one of our ways to appreciate what the
founding fathers have done for this country," Zainuddin said.

To mark the 50th anniversary, Indonesia's Catholics also plan
to hold a mass congregation, sponsored by the Indonesian Catholic
Council and the Indonesian Armed Forces.

The mass is to be held today at the former Air Force
headquarters and will be led by archbishops Darmo Juwono and Leo
Sukoto.

A similar commemoration for Protestants is to be held on
Friday at the POUK church in Sunter, West Jakarta, sponsored by
the Council of Churches in Indonesia (PGI).

The commemoration will be attended by Minister of Religious
Affairs Tarmizi Thahir and PGI chairman Reverend Sularso Sopater.
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