Egypt’s Muslim Council of Hukama is collaborating with the Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Mosque Welfare Agency in the Propagation of Ramadan 1446.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar welcomed the collaboration between  Egypt's Muslim Council of Hukama and the Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Mosque Welfare Agency in the Propagation of Ramadan 1446.

The program presents three qiraat (recitation) experts and three preachers from Al-Azhar, Egypt. The Minister of Religious Affairs said that the Al-Azhar scholars share the same views with those of Indonesia.

The six delegates of Egypt's Muslim Council of Hukama from Al-Azhar are expected to preach in seven provinces during Ramadan 1446 H, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs in a written statement quoted by Indonesia Window on Tuesday.

In addition to Jakarta, they will give religious studies, workshops on Al-Quran and yellow book (kitab kuning), Al-Quran talaqqi, give book certificates, and become Tarawih Imams in capital Jakarta, provinces of Central Java, Yogyakarta, South Sulawesi, Riau, North Sumatra, and West Nusa Tenggara.

The yellow books (kitab kuning) are Islamic religious books in Arabic which are the main reference for learning in Islamic boarding schools. They are the works of previous scholars.

Tarawih prayers are sunnah (non-mandatory) prayers that are performed specifically only in the month of Ramadan

“Welcome to Indonesia. Please come and give studies at the Istiqlal Mosque (Indonesia's largest mosque located in Jakarta)," said the Minister of Religion when receiving the council delegation from Al Azhar, Egypt at the Ministry of Religion's head office, Jakarta, Monday (March 3).

"Thank you for the arrival of the Sheikhs. In the future, we hope not only six, but maybe 60. If possible, a year until the coming Ramadan," the minister said.

"The scholars of Al-Azhar, Egypt have religious views that are in line with Indonesian society. We chose Egypt because it has a moderate Islamic approach and is in line with religious values ​​in Indonesia. We want to avoid understandings that are too hardline, because for us, hardline Islam will be unacceptable in the future," he continued.

"I will tell the Grand Sheikh, don't just do it for a month. But it could be a year or two years. If there are any problems (while in Indonesia), tell me," he said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window