*** For Immediate Release ***
(Jakarta, Indonesia) On Friday, July 11, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council of America, delivered the Friday sermon at Istiqlal Mosque – the world’s third largest mosque. Speaking to a crowd of over 100,000, the shaykh urged all Muslims to return to the true understanding of Islam taught by Prophet Muhammad, the message of peace, tolerance and compassion for others.
“Ten million Muslims in America extend their hands to you,” said Shaykh Kabbani, noting that American Muslims are having a tremendous impact on the faith in a time when the United States’ interaction with the world of Islam has greatly expanded. In his message, broadcast on Indonesian television, the shaykh warned that Islam today is under a grave threat by self-appointed activists trained in a disfigured understanding of the faith.
Istiqlal Mosque, where Shaykh Kabbani preached from a podium 25 feet above the ground, is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world. It is third only to the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina. Begun in 1961, the mosque’s construction required 85,000 cubic yards of concrete and 377 tons of steel. It is constructed of 100,000 square yards of marble and boasts 4,400 pillars. In addition to a sprawling main prayer area, Istiqlal Mosque includes five levels of prayer balconies. Its main dome is 75 feet high and 140 feet wide.
Shaykh Kabbani was in Indonesia as part of a three-nation tour that includes stops in Malaysia and Turkey.
A week before, on July 4, Shaykh Kabbani delivered the Friday sermon at another of Jakarta’s principle mosques – the Penggunaan Masjid, or Central Bank Mosque, in the heart of Jakarta’s financial district. There, the shaykh spoke to thousands of Indonesian Muslims, many of whom stood in line after the service to seek his blessing. During his trip to Indonesia, Shaykh Kabbani also visited a number of important religious centers, met with government officials and business leaders. He also met with Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the Sultan of Jogjakarta, and inaugurated construction of a new ISCA-affiliated center dedicated to promoting traditional Islam.
On July 12, Shaykh Kabbani and the ISCA delegation traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where they had the rare opportunity to meet with Deputy Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi and seek his guidance on the state of Muslim affairs around the world. They also met with several other prominent government and religious figures, teachers, students and business leaders.
