Masmin Afif Becomes The Imam-Khotib For Eid Prayers That President Jokowi Will Follow

JAKARTA - Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Dr. H. Masmin Afif M.Ag will be the imam and preacher for the Eid prayer at Gedung Agung, Yogyakarta on Monday, which President Jokowi will attend.

Masmin Afif when contacted in Yogyakarta, Sunday night, admitted that he was contacted by Protocol to the Presidential Palace at the Great Building of Yogyakarta three days before President Jokowi arrived in Yogyakarta on Saturday (30/4).

"There was a request from Jakarta. We were asked to prepare, God willing, we are ready," Masmin said as quoted by Antara.

Delivering a sermon directly in front of President Jokowi will be his second experience.

He had a similar opportunity when President Jokowi made a visit to Yogyakarta in 2021 and performed Friday prayers at the Agung Building.

"I have and this is the second time," said the man who was born in Demak, Central Java.

According to Masmin, the Presidential Palace has given him the flexibility to determine the theme of the Eid 1433 Hijri Sermon before the head of state.

"We have sent the material to the Paspampres Protocol and God willing, it has been ACC. Yesterday we asked to revise it to be compacted. This morning we sent it again so that (the sermon) won't take too long," he said.

The theme of the sermon that will be raised, said Masmin, is "Social Solidarity during the Pandemic".

According to him, the theme was chosen according to the context of this year's Eid, which is still being celebrated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Ramadan which has been passed for 30 days is a means to practice and actualize values including controlling lust and social solidarity.

"Being pious people is beneficial for families, the environment, and society. And pious people are people who can make a positive contribution to the atmosphere around us," said Masmin Afif explaining the substance of the sermon.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono when confirmed from Jakarta, Sunday (1/5) confirmed that President Jokowi is scheduled to carry out the Eid al-Fitr prayer 1443 Hijri at Gedung Agung Yogyakarta on Monday, May 2, 2022.