ID :
33558
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 15:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/33558
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RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS MINISTER ARRIVES IN SAUDI ARABIA
Jeddah, Dec. 2 (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni in his capacity as the leader of the Indonesian Hajj pilgrimage this year arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday evening.
Minister Basyuni was greeted among others by Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Salim Segaf Al-Jufri, and Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah Gatot Abdullah Mansyur at the airport.
The minister was accompanied by the secretary general of the Religious Affairs Ministry, Bahrul Hayat, and six members of the Regional Representaives' Council (DPD), namely La Ode Ida, Sumardi Taher, KH Nuruddin, Nur Andriani, Amir Adam and Hamdani.
On Tuesday morning, he was scheduled to chair a coordinating meeting on the implementation of Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia with related officers.
Having the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia sends a large number of Hajj pilgrims to Mecca and Madina, Islam's two sacred cities, every year.
A total of 208,928 Indonesians are to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia this year, according to data from the religious affairs ministry.
The Hajj pilgrimage is the fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation that must be carried out at least once in the lifetime of every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.
Last year, Saudi Arabia received at least 1.2 million Hajj pilgrims.
At the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca), Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). In 2008, Eid al-Adha will begin on approximately December 8th, and will last for three days.
Minister Basyuni was greeted among others by Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Salim Segaf Al-Jufri, and Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah Gatot Abdullah Mansyur at the airport.
The minister was accompanied by the secretary general of the Religious Affairs Ministry, Bahrul Hayat, and six members of the Regional Representaives' Council (DPD), namely La Ode Ida, Sumardi Taher, KH Nuruddin, Nur Andriani, Amir Adam and Hamdani.
On Tuesday morning, he was scheduled to chair a coordinating meeting on the implementation of Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia with related officers.
Having the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia sends a large number of Hajj pilgrims to Mecca and Madina, Islam's two sacred cities, every year.
A total of 208,928 Indonesians are to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia this year, according to data from the religious affairs ministry.
The Hajj pilgrimage is the fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation that must be carried out at least once in the lifetime of every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.
Last year, Saudi Arabia received at least 1.2 million Hajj pilgrims.
At the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca), Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). In 2008, Eid al-Adha will begin on approximately December 8th, and will last for three days.
