VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 Vice President Jusuf Kalla has called on the  people to pray together for all hajj pilgrims who are in the Holy Land to conduct worship well and peacefully this year.

"Let us all pray for the pilgrims, who are in Arafat to perform their worship peacefully," Kalla said before performing Eid al-Adha prayer at Karebosi Square in Makassar, South Sulawesi,  on Sunday morning.

In addition to praying for the pilgrims, Kalla also appealed to  the whole community to pray for Indonesia so that the country will always receive mercy from the Lord of the universe.

"And of course, we pray for our country, so it  is blessed by Allah," Kalla noted.

Eid al-Adha, according to him, is a moment where humans have to sacrifice to prove their patience and increase the deeds of worship to Allah.

"The day of sacrifice is not only that we sacrifice cows or goats, but sacrificing according to our capacities because it is a form of perfection in carrying out our worship," he said.

Kalla also expressed his happiness of being able to come back to his hometown, Makassar, and celebrate Eid al-Adha together with the people of South Sulawesi.

"Alhamdulillah, I was able to attend this morning (prayer). Last year I was not present in celebrating Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. I still remember of my youth on how I celebrated Eid and Eid al-Adha in this place every year," Kalla said.

"Once again I say, happy celebrating Eid al-Adha, may we all be given the blessing of Allah SWT," he added.