Ministry Of Religion Affirms Azan Replaced By Running Text During Whale Mass Only For TV

Muadzin is playing the call to prayer. (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) confirmed that the request letter to the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) was only for Maghrib's call to prayer on television stations. Meanwhile, the call to prayer at mosques and prayer rooms continues to reverberate.

"So the substance is that Maghrib's time notification on TV is delivered with running text. Meanwhile, the call of call to prayer at the mosque and prayer room is still welcome," said Ministry of Religion spokesman Sunanto in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 4, quoted by Antara.

Previously, the Ministry of Religion had written to Kominfo regarding the broadcasting of the Maghrib Azan and Mass Akbar with Pope Francis.

The letter, which was signed by the Director General of Islamic Guidance Kamaruddin Amin and the Director General of Bimas Catholic Suparman, was a response to a letter submitted by the Arrival Committee of Pope Francis.

The Ministry of Religion's letter to Kominfo is a request and contains two substances. First, suggestions for mass with Pope Francis on September 5, 2024, to be broadcast live at 17.00-19.00 WIB on all national television.

Second, so that the marker of Maghrib's time is shown in the form of running text so that mass can be followed in full by Catholics in Indonesia.

Sunanto emphasized that the letter was only related to the azan Maghrib broadcast on television which usually refers only to Maghrib's time in Jakarta (WIB).

"Azan Maghrib in Eastern Indonesia can still be broadcast because it has entered the time before the mass implementation," he said.

Sunanto believes that in general, Indonesians are known as religious people and uphold tolerance so that they can understand the efforts made by the Ministry of Religion.

"Everyone can carry out their worship. Mass is running. The entry notice for Maghrib time is conveyed through running text and Azan still reverberates in mosques and prayer rooms," he said.

"Catholics worship in mass, Muslims continue to perform the Maghrib Prayer. This is a portrait of the tolerance and harmony of the people in Indonesia who are admired by the world. This is also a big contribution of Muslims to tolerance in Indonesia and the world," continued Sunanto.

According to him, the essence of the call to prayer is broadcast via television to remind Muslims who are watching television to perform prayers.

"I don't know if during the mass with Pope Francis there were Muslims who watched it through television broadcasts. Even if there was, we had warned when Maghrib entered through running text," he said.