PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO RECIVES ISLAMIC SCHOLARS
Jakarta, 27 Shafar 1434/9 January 2013 (MINA) – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received a courtesy call from a number of international Islamic scholars (expert in the interpretation of Al Qur’an) led by Sheikh Muhammad Ali Ash-Shobuni.
“May our meeting give a blessing for all of us,” President Yudhoyono was quoted as saying when receiving his guests at Bogor Palace on Monday, according to a press release made available to Mi’raj News Agency (MINA), here, Wednesday.
President Yudhoyono was accompanied by State Secretary/Minister Sudi Silalahi, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam, and Presidential Staff for International Relations Teuku Faizasyah.
Sheikh Ash-Shobuni, a Syrian-born academic at King Abdul Azis University in Arab Saudi, during the meeting was accompanied by H. Kechik (Malaysia), Salin Hasan Barakwan, Nopel Abdullah Al-Kaff (Arab Saudi) and Kamal Hasan (Indonesia).
President Yudhoyono said he wished that the ideas and advices he had received from Sheikh Ash-Shobuni could also be given to all those bearing the (governmental) duties, in particular the Muslim ones, so that they can embrace their duties the best they can.
He also expressed his appreciation of Sheik Ash-Shobuni for having contributed in forging fortitude and goodness among the people all over the world.
Meanwhile, Ash-Shabuni appreciated the leadership of the President and expressed a hope that Indonesia would be able to be more advanced in the future.
Sheikh Ash-Shobuni who was born in Aleppo in 1930 also expressed his concern over the fall of victims in the on-going conflict in Syria, of which President Yudhoyono said he had also the same concern and therefore would like to see the conflict immediately settled.
After the visit to Jakarta, the Islamic scholars are scheduled to also visit other places in Java. (T/R-022/R-005/R-002).
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
