Jakarta –
The government has announced 1 Ramadan 1444 falls on Thursday, March 23, 2023 tomorrow. The Istiqlal Mosque will hold Tarawih prayers at full capacity, starting tonight.
“The Istiqlal Mosque is ready to accommodate as it was before COVID. The government has also announced that we can use the mosque space which is without this limit,” said the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque Jakarta Nasaruddin Umar to journalists at Majid Istiqlal, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (22/3/2023).
Nasaruddin said that his party had completed the facilities needed by the congregation during prayers. In addition, security facilities have been prepared.
“The places for ablution, both for men and women, are very adequate, as well as the security system,” he explained.
He mentioned actually Istiqlal Mosque can accommodate up to 220 thousand people. However, he said, while his party was only for 150 thousand people.
“The capacity of this mosque is 220 thousand people until the red hall. But for this year we will see the condition. What is clear is that we will try to open up to 150 thousand people. For the 100 thousand halls we have not used it temporarily, so we have not use the carpet,” he explained.
Even so, Nasaruddin said that his party would still monitor the existing situation regarding the addition of capacity.
“But later, if the conditions allow for it and we will see how it goes, then we will measure it in one or two days, if that is enough,” he explained.
Nasaruddin Umar will be the speaker at the first Tarawih prayer service tonight.
(lir/lir)