JAKARTA'S "212" MASS FRIDAY PRAYER FOR NATIONAL UNITY by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 5, 2016 (Antara) - A mass Friday prayer held in downtown  Jakarta on December 2, 2016 was a historic event for the Muslims of Indonesia as it was believed to be the largest ever Friday prayer held on the streets with several million people attending.

        Muslim men and women who participated in the prayer came not only from Jakarta but also from other provinces throughout Indonesia. No flags of political parties or banners of any gubernatorial candidates were seen during the mass prayers. Several non-Muslim sympathizers, including those of Chinese descent, were also present.

        Most of the audience came on its own, bearing their own expenses, and many of them claimed they were moved to join the prayer because of their love for Islam and in particular for its Holy Book, Al Quran, and for maintaining the unity and diversity of Indonesia.

        Even the organizer of the mass Friday prayer, the National Movement of Guardians of the Indonesian Ulema Council's Fatwa (GNPF-MUI) did not make any claim that bringing together so many people was in any way their success.

        The GNPF-MUI leaders believed that no figure or party or organization could have mobilized such big numbers. The crowd turned up because of an appeal to their conscience.

        No one could have the exact count of audience's numbers but the GPMUI estimated it to be around 7.5 million. Different media, however, came out with different estimations, varying from hundreds of thousands, one million, two million, or even three million.

        The 80-ha National Monument (Monas) area was full, and so were the Istiqlal Grand Mosque and surrounding areas, forcing the crowd to spill on to Thamrin and part of Sudirman avenue; South, East and West Merdeka Streets; Tugu Tani (Farmer'ss Statue) square, part of Kwitang, Gondangdia, Jaksa and Wahid Hasim streets.
    The Friday prayer was held at almost noon, but people had begun gathering at 8 a.m. local time. The audience listened to the sermons by several noted ulemas (Islamic scholars), and prayed for the nation, the country's leaders, and the people.

        They also listened to the explanation by the Indonesian Police Chief, General Tito Karnavian, who was sitting among the ulemas since morning.

        And just a few minutes before the Friday prayer, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), flanked by Vice President M Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto, Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Gatot Nurmantyo, walked from the Palace to join the Friday prayer at Monas, amid some drizzle.

        The president's unannounced presence was a surprise for the audience, who lauded the fact that their Head of State finally decided to join the prayer alongside them.

        The people, the president and ulemas then prayed solemnly without moving even an inch despite the rain.

         After the Friday prayer, Jokowi thanked the ulemas and the audience for the peaceful mass prayer, and particularly for praying for the safety of the nation and the state.

         On the occasion, the president shouted "Allahu Akbar (God is Great), Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, " and the crowd in response also chanted: "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar."
   Finally, the president called on the people to return to their respective places in an orderly and peaceful fashion.

        Earlier, in his remarks, General Tito Karnavian called on the people to support the ongoing legal process against non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, widely known as Ahok, for committing alleged blasphemy against Al Quran.

        "Let us pray together that the legal process continues. We will guard (the process)," he added.

        The president expressed gratitude to those who participated in the event, and said the move would help build a sense of togetherness.

        Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin explained that the president decided to attend the event after considering the views of many sides.  
  "It was the president himself who decided (to join the devout) after considering views of many sides," he revealed.  
   The Head of State took the decision shortly before adzan (call) for Friday prayers, the minister noted.

        The minister hoped that people who took part in the mass prayer, would not organize another rally while the law enforcement agencies were still handling the Quranic blasphemy case involving Ahok.

         "We should wait for the court to decide the case," he stressed.

        In the meantime, the Director of Trisakti Study Center, Fahmi Habsee, explained that one should not doubt the commitment of President Jokowi to Islam.

        "The president sees Islam in Indonesia as not only a religion but also a socio-political power which is part of the national diversity," Habsee pointed out in Depok, West Java, on Dec 5.

         He held that he was not surprised at Jokowi joining the mass Friday Prayers on Dec 2.

        "His argument is that Islam in Indonesia was not only the religion of the majority but also denotes a civilization that influences national history and culture," he added.

          The sense of nationalism and Islam should not be contradictory, because it is like two sides of the same coin, he remarked.

        As a majority, Indonesian Muslims have always respected and protected the non-Muslims in the country and live side by side with them harmoniously, he stated.

        Muslims constitute over 80 percent of the 250-million population of Indonesia. They are a significant factor in unifying Indonesia and in maintaining national unity.

         The fact that they turned out in large numbers for the mass Friday prayer peacefully, in an orderly manner and with a strong sense of brotherhood and unity, demonstrated that they love their country and are united in defending their nation.
   The presence of President Jokowi among the crowd was also an important incentive that left them satisfied, happy and proud of their president and of being Indonesians. ***4***
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(T.F001/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 05-12-2016