Jakarta (ANTARA) – Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar emphasized the need to continue expanding the functions of mosques across Indonesia, positioning houses of worship as centers for social and humanitarian activities while supporting community empowerment and national development.
“It is not people who empower mosques, but mosques that empower people,” he remarked in a statement cited here on Monday.
Umar underscored that the mosque transformation initiative had been underway nationwide, pointing to the growing use of mosques as public service facilities for travelers during Eid al-Fitr homecoming periods in recent years.
He noted that the expansion of functions is in line with the example set by Prophet Muhammad, who leveraged mosques as hubs for community and governmental affairs.
“We know that the Prophet’s mosque functioned as the state secretariat. All governmental matters were resolved there. In other words, the mosque is a common house for humanity,” Umar stated.
In this context, the minister highlighted the increasingly strategic role of mosque imams, saying they are entrusted not only with leading worship but also with maximizing the potential of mosques to serve and empower communities.
Inspired by that development, he continued, the government is preparing to organize the International Grand Imams Conference 2026 in September in Jakarta.
He noted that the conference is partly intended to encourage Indonesian imams to become “Indonesia’s ambassadors for peace” by sharing the nation’s Islamic best practices with the international community.
Umar further said that around 400 international delegates are expected to attend, including Sheikh Abdurrahman as-Sudais, grand imam of the Great Mosque of Mecca, and Ahmed el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar.
“Grand imams from America, Europe, Japan, Korea, and other major countries will come to Indonesia on symbolic visits,” he stated.
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Translator: A. Firmansyah, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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