The Indonesian President and Vice President, SBY and Boediono, enter the Istiqlal Mosque to join Eid al-Adha prayer, Nov.27, 2009 (KOMPAS.com/Caroline Damanik)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Islam was forged from three characteristics, namely egalitarianism, love for scientific pursuits and simple living, and progressiveness, a preacher at an Idul Adha service here said.
In in his sermon to a congregation of thousands who included President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque in central Jakarta, Prof Ridwan Lubis of the Hidayatullah State Islamic Univeristy, said Islam treated all its adherents equally regardless of their race, descent , wealth or power in society.
"The only thing that differentiates one Moslem from the other is his or her devotion to Allah," said Ridwan, adding that egalitarianism was perceptible in all aspects of Islamic life and most of all in the hajj pilgrimage.
Islam was also a religion that encourages its followers to love knowledge and science. "If before Islam came, society often lived in ways contrary to science, Islam entered people`s lives in a pro-knowledge and pro-science spirit," he said.
Islam, he added, also promoted the belief that all human actions should be accountable before God and that knowledge must not be detached from the values of religion.
The third thing characterizing Islam was progressiveness which Islam had been promoting in human life for the past 600 years.
"Islam introduced a new concept of development. Since 600 years ago the religion has contributed many instances of progress to human life," he said.
The Idul Adha service at the Istiqlal Mosque on Friday was led by Istiqlal Imam (prayer leader) Hasanuddin Sinaga while Ridwan Lubis, professor of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN), acted as preacher.
Cabinet ministers who also attended the Idul Adha service included Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Radjasa, Education Minister M Nuh, Maritime and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad, and Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Syarif Hasan.
A number of foreign ambassadors also took part in the Idul Adha service along with thousands of other Muslims from Jakarta and environs.
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People waiting at Hidayatullah Mosque in South Jakarta on Friday morning to obtain coupons entitling them to meat. (Photo: Jurnasyanto Sukarno, JG)
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