Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka performed the Eid al-Adha prayer at Jakarta’s iconic Istiqlal Mosque on Wednesday, May 27. The Vice President was accompanied by his son, Jan Ethes Srinarendra, as they arrived at the national landmark. The father and son duo appeared in matching attire, wearing crisp white shirts paired with formal black trousers for the religious occasion.
The national-level Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah celebration drew a massive crowd of worshippers who began filling the mosque’s courtyards as early as 3:30 AM. Among the prominent figures in attendance was the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Indonesia, Abdulla Salem Al Dhaheri, who arrived ahead of the main service.
The mosque management scheduled the Eid prayer to commence at 7:00 AM WIB, making the event open to the general public. To ensure a smooth flow of activities, the Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, had previously advised congregants to arrive well before the proceedings began. The mosque gates were opened at 3:30 AM, allowing many to perform their Fajr (dawn) prayers on-site while waiting for the main ceremony.
“We urge prospective worshippers at Istiqlal Mosque to come early. Insha’Allah, the sequence of events will begin at 6:45 AM,” Nasaruddin Umar stated during a press conference held at the mosque on Monday, May 25.
For this year’s service, the Rector of UIN Alauddin Makassar, Prof. Hamdan Juhannis, served as the Khatib (preacher). He delivered a sermon titled “Strengthening the Spirit of Sacrifice, Nurturing Nature and Humanity,” which focused on the spiritual and social dimensions of the holiday. The congregational prayer itself was led by Ahmad Anshoruddin Ibrahim, a resident imam of the Istiqlal Mosque.
Summary
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and his son Jan Ethes performed the Eid al-Adha prayer at Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque. They arrived in matching white shirts and joined a massive crowd of worshippers, including the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates. The mosque management opened the gates at 3:30 AM to accommodate the public for the national-level celebration.
The religious service was led by Imam Ahmad Anshoruddin Ibrahim and featured a sermon by Prof. Hamdan Juhannis. The sermon focused on strengthening the spirit of sacrifice and nurturing both nature and humanity. The prayer officially commenced at 7:00 AM after congregants gathered for the dawn prayers and the main ceremony.