International community

lauds Indonesian imams

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Deputy Chairperson of the
Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) H. Syafruddin said that the
international community had recognized Indonesian imams for their
good qualities. "Evidently, there are many requests from the
international community, thus prompting Indonesia to send priests,"
HSyafruddin remarked in his official statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He gave an example of the Emir of Qatar who, through the DMI,

requested Indonesian priests to teach and become leaders in their
mosques. "Even when I visited the United Arab Emirates, our
ambassador (Indonesia) said that the demand for priests from
Indonesia was very high," Syafruddin stated.

According to him, this is a good opportunity for Indonesia to show the

world that Islam is peaceful.

Earlier, Syafruddin inaugurated the Ittihad Center Management

Mosque Priesthood Brotherhood (IPIM) during the 2019-2024
ceremony at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta. Syafruddin, who is also
the IPIM Protective Board, explained the strategic functions
possessed by an imam.

The imam of a mosque is the driving force for creating human beings
who are faithful, devoted, and noble.

"Building a mosque is important, but building a human who wants to

prostrate is far more important and requires more time than building a
mosque," Syafruddin, who is also the minister of administrative and
bureaucratic reform, revealed.

He gave an example from history of the Nabawi Mosque, which had

an important role in the development of Islam, because it had a priest
with a strong character, namely the Prophet Muhammad. The
inauguration of the Central Executive Board of IPIM was attended by
the Chairperson of IPIM, who was also the High Priest of the Istiqlal
Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar; Acting Secretary of the DMI, who was
also the administrator of IPIM, Arief Rosyid; and all of the 75 new IPIM
administrators.

On that occasion, Syafruddin also explained the work program carried

out by DMI so far, namely for the progress and prosperity of the
mosque. In addition, the DMI succeeded in uniting all youth and youth
mosques in Indonesia today.