Indonesia Hopes its Citizen can Become Imam at Masjidil Haram

Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin has expressed hope that in the future, an Indonesian citizen can become an imam at the Masjidil Haram or Nabawi mosque. "I hope and will propose the appointment of an Indonesian citizen as the imam of Nabawi or Masjidil Haram mosque," he stated while accompanying President Joko Widodo at a meeting with the high priest of the Haram grand mosque Sheikh Abdul Rahman As Sudais at the State Palace compound here on Friday. Lukman Hakim remarked that many Indonesian citizens are proficient in reading the Koran and are qualified to become prayer leaders. "We have many imams who can recite the Koran very well," he pointed out. Besides being imams, Lukman was optimistic that an Indonesian citizen could also become a "muadzin" (a prayer caller) at the Masjidil Haram or Nabawi mosque. Sheikh Abdul Rahman As Sudais met Vice President Jusuf Kalla after holding a meeting with President Joko Widodo. He then left for the Istiqlal Mosque, the country's biggest mosque, to conduct a Friday prayer along with Vice President Jusuf Kalla and other Muslims. (*) Reporting by Panca Hari Prabowo