Indonesia’s iconic Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta became a focal point for the nation’s Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijri celebrations, proudly receiving sacrificial animals from both President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. This significant contribution underscores a long-standing tradition during the annual Festival of Sacrifice, marking a moment of spiritual reflection and community giving.
The formal handover of these esteemed animals took place on Tuesday evening, May 26th, directly at the majestic Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta. Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, confirmed these details to reporters after the Eid al-Adha prayers on Wednesday, May 27th. He specifically highlighted the impressive size of the presidential and vice-presidential contributions, noting, “We have officially received the cows from the President and Vice President. The President’s cow weighs a remarkable 1.3 tons, while the Vice President’s is a substantial 1.2 tons.”
Ensuring public health and religious compliance, Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar further confirmed that both sacrificial animals had undergone rigorous health examinations. “We have checked, and there is also a sort of certificate confirming they have been examined by a health team from the Ministry of Health, and all are healthy,” he stated, assuring their suitability for the sacred ritual. These robust health checks are a critical step in the Eid al-Adha qurban process, affirming the mosque’s commitment to quality and safety.
According to Nasaruddin, the cows contributed by the President and Vice President stood out as the largest among the dozens of sacrificial animals received by Istiqlal this year. He emphasized the traditional significance of these donations, stating, “The official ones here every year are the cows from the President and Vice President. Their cows are indeed the largest among what we have right now.” This yearly tradition highlights the nation’s leaders’ commitment to religious observances and community welfare.
Beyond the esteemed contributions from the nation’s top leaders, Istiqlal Mosque proudly accepted sacrificial animals from a diverse array of benefactors. These included generous donations from companies, respected community figures, and even interfaith institutions, reflecting the broad societal participation in Eid al-Adha. In total, up to the day of the Eid al-Adha prayers, the mosque had received a considerable sum of 63 cows, 18 goats, and 1 sheep, showcasing a robust community response to the call for sacrifice.
Grand Imam Nasaruddin clarified the meticulous distribution process for the qurban meat. Rather than a direct, open distribution to the general public in the Istiqlal area, the meat is strategically channeled through an established network of mosque-affiliated institutions. “There will be no open distribution here,” he explained. “We will distribute to mosques and prayer rooms affiliated with Istiqlal, orphanages, Islamic study groups (majelis taklim), Islamic universities, Islamic boarding schools (pondok pesantren), and madrasahs that have a relationship with Istiqlal.” Additionally, a portion of the sacrificial meat is also allocated to the dedicated internal staff and employees of Istiqlal Mosque.
Regarding attendance, President Prabowo Subianto was notably absent from the Eid al-Adha prayers at Istiqlal Mosque this year, as he was undertaking a state visit to France. Conversely, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka was present in person, attending the prayers alongside several officials from the Red and White Cabinet, ambassadors from friendly nations, and various Indonesian representatives, underscoring the government’s participation in the significant religious event.
Summary
Istiqlal Mosque has received sacrificial cows from President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, weighing 1.3 tons and 1.2 tons respectively. These animals were certified healthy by the Ministry of Health before being formally handed over for the Eid al-Adha celebrations. These contributions represent the largest among the 82 sacrificial animals received by the mosque from various benefactors this year.
The sacrificial meat will be distributed through a network of affiliated institutions such as orphanages and schools rather than through an open public distribution. While Vice President Gibran attended the prayers at the mosque, President Prabowo was away on a state visit to France. This annual tradition underscores the commitment of the nation’s leaders to religious observance and community support.