Migrant Residents Conduct Eid Prayer on Rooftop

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of migrant residents living in Gang Kelinci, Pasar Baru Central Jakarta conducted Eid prayer on a rooftop on Sunday, May 24, 2020.

These migrants come from different parts of Indonesia such as West Java, Central Java, Sulawesi, and Sumatera. They worked in different sectors in Jakarta.

The migrants were unable to return to their hometown because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) policy imposed by the Jakarta government.

The prayers were conducted by five people, one acting as the leader, and another was appointed as the one who delivers the sermon.

The activity is in accordance with the Eid prayer guideline provided by the Indonesian Ulema Council, which stated that if the Eid prayer is done by more than four people, it can be complemented with a sermon.

"After fasting for 30 days, it is just not right if a Muslim does not conduct Eid prayer," said Fauzi Lamboka, a migrant from Palu, Central Sulawesi.

Fauzi asserted that even during the Covid-19 pandemic and the PSBB in Jakarta, they can still conduct Eid prayer as instructed by the government.

"Because the government instructed to conduct [Eid prayer] at home, but because of the small boarding rooms, we have a place on the boarding house rooftop which can be used for five people," Fauzi said.

Fauzi said that this year's Eid Al-Fitr is very different from previous years because in addition to having to fast, he also restrains himself from returning to his wife and kids in his hometown.

"We realized that if we continue to force ourselves to return home with our family, we will being disease to those who are in our hometown," Fauzi said.

ANTARA