With this new office, I am optimistic that the DMI would be more enthusiastic in making mosques as a place of prayer for Muslims as well as a center for education, dawah, and deliberationJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the new office building of the central board of the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) here on Friday.
"With this new office, I am optimistic that the DMI would be more enthusiastic in making mosques as a place of prayer for Muslims as well as a center for education, dawah, and deliberation," Jokowi said at the DMI inauguration broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube Channel.
In addition to the mosques' function as places of worship, the president is sanguine that mosques can be a place for learning, sermon, social welfare, and discussions that strengthen the nation's unity and bond.
According to the president, a mosque is a place for dawah that disseminates religious wisdom for the people to realize charity and kindness. Mosque also becomes a place for sowing Islamic values as blessings for the universe.
"Hence, mosques can contribute to our country's civilization that builds great human resources with noble character," Jokowi added.
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Furthermore, the president was on the same page as DMI Chairman, Jusuf Kalla, who believes that mosques should function to bolster the economy among Muslim communities.
"Mosque really develops a mutamaddin community that is empowered economically, politically, and culturally," he pointed out.
Hence, Jokowi explained that mosques can work along with the government to reduce the rates of unemployment, poverty, and social inequality to enhance the aspect of togetherness.
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The DMI's new central board office is located in Matraman Sub-district, Jakarta, which is considered to be a suitable location owing to its proximity to offices of other religious institutions.
At the inauguration, DMI Chairman Kalla, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, and Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) Sofyan Djalil were also present.
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Translator: Indra P, Kenzu T
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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