Bantul, NU Online
40 days post Saturday’s earthquake hit Yogyakarta and Central Java, Bantul’s nahdliyin (called as NU followers) commemorated the aftermath by conducting istighosah kubra (joint prayer) in Karang Anom, Wonokromo, Peret, Bantul, Thursday (6/7). The istighosah attended by millions of Bantul’s residents was located in the yard of al-Huda mosque.
The joint prayer was intended to pray for 27 May’s quake victims. Thousands of the participants respectfully celebrated it under the command of KH Abdul Khaliq, a member of Supreme Council of Bantul’s Nahdlatul Ulama Branch Board (PCNU). Present also at the occasion General Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Hasyim Muzadi.
<>Hasyim, in his speech, expected the local residents to bring themselves closer to Allah Almighty by dzikr, and prayer. Indonesians within the last two years have been tested by Allah through any disaster almost thoughout the country such as Aceh’s Tsunami, Yogyakarta and Central Java’s earthquake, South Sulawesi and Kalimantan’s flash flood, and the recent hot mudflow in Sidoarjo.
“No any nation has never been tested by God. The great nations of the world have ever experienced such a test claiming millions of lives, such as in America, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, and so forth. Now is Bantul, Indonesian are being tested by Allah, of course He has good purpose of all that He gives to entirely humankind,” Hasyim said.
“The people must immediately revive by their own power, never expect relief, for actually it just stimulates economic activity to immediately be started,” Hasyim added.
After delivering religious sermon, Hasyim went visiting to Islamic Boarding “Ponpes” School al-Wahbi, Wonokromo Pleret, supervised by KH Mujab Abdul Wahab and Ponpes an-Nikmah, Kanggotan, Pleret, supervised by KH Dalhar. Both NU Ponpes reportedly damaged as a result of the quake. (ron)