Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin encouraged Indonesian Muslims to optimize the current Islamic year of 1446 to contribute positively to the Indonesian nation and 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.
"I convey my 1446 H Islamic New Year greetings to all Muslims in Indonesia," the vice president stated.
"I hope we can make the most of the new Islamic year by continuously improving our faith and piety (to Almighty God) and contribute positively to the society, the nation, and the country," he added.
In a similar tone with Amin, President Joko Widodo also encouraged Muslims to improve their faith and piety to the Almighty God in welcoming the Islamic New Year.
"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.
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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.
