Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo encouraged Muslims to make the most of the current Islamic year of 1446 to improve their faith and piety to the Almighty God.
His remarks were conveyed through his official Instagram account on the occasion of the 1446 H Islamic New Year, as observed here on Sunday.
"Let us welcome the 1446 Islamic year by improving our faith and piety to Allah SWT," he stated.
Through his Instagram post that has amassed more than 41 thousand likes by Sunday afternoon, Jokowi expressed hope that peace, happiness, and success will be abundant in the current Islamic year.
"Happy Islamic New Year. I hope our steps will be blessed by Him," the president said.
The Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, was established in 622 CE to commemorate the Hijrah --the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina.
The Religious Affairs Ministry's 2024 Indonesian Islamic Calendar declared the first day of the 1446 Islamic year to fall on Sunday, July 7. According to a joint ministerial statement passed earlier this year, Islamic New Year's Day is declared a public holiday.
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Meanwhile, Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has urged all Muslims in Indonesia to mark the 1446 H Islamic New Year by reflecting on self-evaluation and self-improvement.
"At this valuable moment, let us all strengthen our gratitude to God for his countless blessings. Let the Hijrah inspire us to continuously improve ourselves and contribute meaningfully to our nation and religion," Qoumas said in a statement on Saturday (July 6).
