THOUSANDS OF JAKARTANS HOLD ISTISQA PRAYER TO ASK ALLAH FOR RAIN

Jakarta, 18 Muharram 1437/2 Novmber 2015 (MINA) – Thousands of Jakartans including high ranking government officials prayed for rain Sunday in hopes that it would bring forest and land fires in Sumatra and Borneo to end.

Known as Istisqa, the ritual was carried out at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque, Jakarta, after three months of the fires, which have spread a thick, smoky haze over parts of South East Asia.

Religious Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin told Antara News that he hoped “God will send down blessings in the form of rain across the country” and that “all the experiences of the last few months would end”.

Indonesia Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla had also participated in the Istisqa prayer at the Jakarta main mosque. Sunday morning.

“The prayer is initiated by the vice president himself with a hope that God will immediately give rain and end the current long dry season in Indonesia,” assistant deputy for communication and public informtion of the vice presidents secretariat Rusmin Nuryadin said in a written statement.

Several cabinet ministers were seen attending the event including Education Minister Anies Baswedan, Minister of National Planning and Development/Head of the National Development Planning Board, Sofyan Djalil, and Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir.

Forest and peat land fires have ravaged in many locations in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Papua and others causing haze that has made many people suffer from respiratory problems and disrupted public activities.  (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)