During Ramadan, the Istiqlal Mosque provides 3,000 packaged rice meals and takjil (snacks consumed when Muslims break the fast) every day to people who want to break their fast in the mosque. Not only that, the mosque management also makes Ramadan programs, such as pesantren kilat (short-term Islamic schooling) and donation for orphans aside tarawih prayer (extra prayer service during Ramadan) for whole month.

Pilgrims can enjoy free food to break the fast in lower corridor every day

“ Pilgrims can enjoy free food to break the fast in lower corridor every day . And in the last 10 days of fasting, we’ll also provide 1,500 free packaged rice meals for sahoor (pre-dawn meal before fasting),” stated Istiqlal Mosque Management (BPPMI) Chairman, H Mubarok, Monday (6/30).

For tarawih prayer, continued Mubarok, Istiqlal Mosque holds in in two versions, namely 11 rakaat (a set of rituals) and 23 rakaat.

“The pilgrims are welcome to choose which one. Tarawih 11 rakaat will be done first, and then followed by 23 rakaat,” he explained.

To provide opportunities to people who want to worship as much as possible in the holy month of Ramadan, Istiqlal Mosque is opened round the clock.

“In regular days, Istiqlal Mosque only operates from morning until 10 PM. But during Ramadan, we are open full for 24 hours,” he told.

According to Mubarok, all Ramadan programs at Istiqlal Mosque are predicted to spend Rp 2 billion which fund collected from benefactors’ donations. That amount excludes the mosque’s maintenance costs and employees’ salary which obtained from the State Budget (APBN).

“All fund used is obtained from public donations which reaches a total of Rp 2 billion,” he uttered.