"The Idul Adha festivity is expected to offer a momentum to drive our government's spirit to fight the novel coronavirus disease," according to Abdul Azis, a Muslim preacher, who became the khateeb of the Idul Adha mass prayer at the mosque on Friday.
Addressing some 400 Muslims partaking in the mass prayer and sermon at the mosque, Azis drew attention to two key religious practices of the hajj pilgrimage and "qurban" or sacrificing animals that all Muslims need to understand.
Regarding "qurban" on Idul Adha or "the Day of Sacrifice", all Muslims should strive to emulate the obedience of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, he affirmed.
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Amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Mujtahidin mosque goers partaking in the Idul Adha mass prayer on Friday morning wore face masks, brought along their own prayer rugs, and washed their hands as part of their duties and responsibilities in the nation's fight against COVID-19.
"May the coronavirus pandemic in Indonesia soon end, so that our community members are again able to conduct their indoor and outdoor activities normally," he stated.
This year, Idul Adha, marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage for Muslims in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, is being celebrated amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
During this religious festivity, Muslims in Indonesia sacrifice a goat, sheep, and cow. Their meat is then donated to the poor people and other segments of communities.
Coronavirus infections initially surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019.
Since then, COVID-19 has spread to over 215 countries and territories, including 34 provinces of Indonesia, with a massive spurt in death toll.
The Indonesian government officially confirmed the country's first cases on March 2 this year.
As of July 27, 2020, as many as 43 Indonesian districts and cities had been declared "free from the pandemic", according to the Task Force on COVID-19 Response.
Data from the task force also showed that less than 100 cases were until now recorded in 66.3 percent or 341 districts and cities.
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Translator: Muhsidin, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
