Thousands were seen attending the prayer service t the Al Azhar Mosque in South Jakarta including national figures such as Deputy Chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly Hajrianto Tohari, former minister of religious affairs Tarmizi Taher, former chief of the National Mandate Party Sutrisno Bachir and former legislators Suripto and Ali Mochtar Ngabalin.
Preacher KH Hidayat Nur Wahid, former chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR), said he had to take a motorcycle taxi in order to come on time due to a long line of traffic to the venue.
In his sermon Hidayat called on all Muslems in the country to be grateful to God for all the blessings he had given to us including the country`s independence.
"(We have to be grateful) seeing that many Muslems in other parts of the world such as Palestine and Kosovo are now still struggling," he said.
Meanwhile. some other countries despite their independence had failed to consummate the independence due to continuing national conflicts, he said.
"Thank God, Indonesia is already independent and has in principle been able to maintain its independence," he said.
The executive board of Muhammadiyah Islamic organization had set the date for Idul Fitri on August 30. Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali on behalf of the government meanwhile on Monday declared August 31 as the date for Idul Fitri following a meeting with representatives of Islamic organizations in the country and reports of failure to make a sighting of the new moon.
When making the announcement the minister called on the people to respect the difference in the date of Idul Fitri.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
