"While we are celebrating Eid al-Adha, our brothers and sisters in Palestine are currently facing trying times. Hence, I would like to invite everyone here to pray for their safety and the independence of Palestine," he told Indonesian Muslims attending the Eid al-Adha prayers.
Akhmadi performed the prayers with more than three thousand Indonesian Muslims at the Indonesian Mosque in Tokyo. In his speech, the ambassador said that Eid al-Adha and the Qurban ritual are a reminder to Indonesians to strengthen their bond.
"We need to continue to help one another, especially those in need. When abroad, it is important for us to solidify our unity and brotherhood," he added.
Chairperson of the Family of Indonesian Islamic Community (KMII), Muhammad Zahrul Muttaqin, said that KMII and the Indonesian embassy held the Eid al-Adha prayers in five batches to accommodate the large number of Indonesians keen to perform the prayers.
"We held five batches of Eid al-Adha prayers, with over three thousand people in attendance. Thank God, everything went well, owing to synergy between the KMII and the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo," he said.
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Meanwhile, Nasril Albab Mochammad, a preacher who chaired the prayers, reminded the congregants of the essence of Qurban and Hajj pilgrimage in his sermon.
He said that Qurban teaches people about sincerity and reminds them about Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice even his son to God, while the Hajj pilgrimage constitutes a holy ritual rather than a tourism trip for worldly purposes.
In addition to holding Eid prayers, the KMII and embassy organized a children's activity to acquaint kids with the story of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Ismail.