“Indonesia is a state promoting tolerant, moderate, and calm Islam, the same as Saudi Arabia,”Jakarta (ANTARA) – Grand Imam of Nabawi Mosque Sheikh Ahmad bin Ali Al-Hudzaifi is visiting Indonesia on October 8-11 for several activities, including promoting tolerant and moderate Islamic values.
Director General of Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Kamaruddin Amin, stated that the tolerant and moderate Islamic values echoed by Sheikh Ahmad were in line with the government’s efforts to strengthen religious moderation in every aspect of life.
“Indonesia is a state promoting tolerant, moderate, and calm Islam, the same as Saudi Arabia,” he remarked on Tuesday.
Amin noted that Sheikh Ahmad arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Monday (October 7) at 22:45 local time.
On arrival, he was welcomed by Amin, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia Faisal Bin Abdullah H. Amodi, Director of Islamic Information at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Ahmad Zayadi, and representatives of Islamic Community Organizations.
Amin said the visit was made in keeping with the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Indonesia has an emotional connection with the Imam of the Nabawi Mosque.
“We respect each other and pray that his visit will bring benefits and blessings to Indonesia,” he stated.
Several activities covered in the official visit of the Nabawi Grand Imam to Indonesia include meeting with President Joko Widodo and Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas along with leading prayers and delivering Friday sermons at the Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, Amin remarked.
According to Amin, this visit was carried out with supervision by Saudi Arabian Minister of Islamic Affairs, Da’wah, and Counseling, Sheikh Abdul Latif bin Abdul Aziz Al-Syaikh, to highlight the message of the two holy mosques and strengthen cooperation between the Saudi Kingdom and Islamic countries to spread the values of moderation, balance, and tolerance.
Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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