Quraish Shihab's prayer for Prabowo: If this is the people's destiny, hopefully we can help

Muslim Cleric and Scholar, Prof. Muhammad Quraish Shihab/screen capture

JAKARTA - Muslim scholar and intellectual, Prof. Muhammad Quraish Shihab, offered a personal prayer for President Prabowo Subianto in the commemoration of the Nuzulul Qur'an at the State Palace. In front of invited guests, Quraish not only prayed, but also conveyed his views on power, destiny, justice, and peace.

Quraish opened his prayer by remembering a teacher whom he greatly respected, the Egyptian scholar Syekh Mutawalli Sya'rawi. From his teacher, he quoted one point of view that power does not come from man alone, but from the will of God.

"Power comes from God. No one is given power except at the will of God," said Quraish, Tuesday, March 10.

After that, he delivered a prayer addressed directly to Prabowo. The tone of his prayer was calm, but the content was deep. Quraish admitted that he did not know whether he would meet the President again. Therefore, all he could say that night was a prayer.

"If Your Majesty is our destiny as people, in the sense that God has destined Your Majesty to carry out activities that will benefit the people, then we pray that we can help you," he said.

Quraish then continued his prayers regarding leadership, justice and peace. If the position is a destiny to uphold both, then he hopes God will help, and the people will take part.

"If Your Majesty takes this position because it is destiny to help uphold justice and peace, then we will pray that Your Majesty will be helped by God and we will help," said Quraish.

After praying, Quraish invited the audience to bow their heads. He led a short prayer that, according to him, was taught by the Prophet Muhammad SAW and usually read after prayer. Allahumma Antas Salam, wa minkas salam.

Through prayer, Quraish prayed that humans would be brought to life in peace and would be put in a place full of peace.

In the Palace room on the night of the Nuzulul Qur'an, Quraish Shihab's message was clear. Power can come from above, but its value is determined by justice, peace, and siding with the people.