Indonesian mosque in Tokyo should encourage prosperity of community

Tokyo, NU Online
Vice President Jusuf Kalla reminded pilgrims of Indonesian Mosque in Meguro, Tokyo, Japan, on the importance of the mosques existence to encourage prosperity of the surrounding community, Antara news agency reported.

"The important matter is that the existence of the mosque should have a positive impact on the prosperity of its surrounding community. The mosque should serve as the center of talks to improve entrepreneurship spirit. The mosque should become the center of health service and education," he stated during his discourse after Tarawih prayer at Indonesia Mosque here on Sunday night.

"Those, including you, who are studying or working in Japan, as well as professionals, must develop this mosque as well as encourage prosperity of its surrounding community," he noted.

The member of the Advisory Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) also lauded the inauguration of Indonesia Mosque in Tokyo on May 26 or on the first day of Ramadan 1438 Hijriah.

"I am delighted to be present here with you, and I ask the Indonesian ambassador to Japan to perform Tarawih prayer together here. It is better to perform a prayer here in a small mosque filled with pilgrims than in a large building with no visitors," he remarked.

Kalla and his wife Mufidah visited the mosque, which was located in the Tokyo Indonesian School complex in Meguro, along with his entourage, including Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Arifin Tasrif, Head of the Secretariat of the Vice Presidential Office Mohammad Oemar, the Presidents Special Envoy of Japan Investment Rahmat Gobel, and Vice President Spokesperson Husein Abdullah.

The mosque has two floors and was built using Rp22.6 billion of donations from Indonesian society, including Kalla. (Masdar)