Preaching Peace and Human Security at Eid al-Adha

Habib Chirzin
November 27, 2009
President, Islamic Forum on Peace and Human Security
Jakarta, Indonesia

Yogyakarta, Indonesia -- For the recent Eid al-Adha festival on November 27, I was invited by the Indonesian Committee of the Islamic Holy Days to deliver the sermon (khutba). I conveyed the message of peace, integrity, and human security after the prayer at the Sultanate town square in Yogyakarta.

According to organizers, this prayer in the town square and surrounding area was attended by 45,000 people. The congregation was organized by the Indonesian Committee of the Islamic Holy Days.

After the Eid al-Adha prayer, we had a courtesy meeting with the Ulama Council, the Sultan's family, government officials, and civil society leaders at the Indonesian Hajj Association building.

Yogyakarta is the only province in Indonesia governed by a Sultan, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. Three million people live in the city on the southern coast of Java. It is a center of higher education and classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry and puppet shows.

Note: Eid al-Adha, the "Festival of Sacrifice," is a holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Eid al-Adha begins with a short prayer followed by a sermon. Eid al-Adha occurs the day after the pilgrims conducting Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat.