EID-AL-ADHA SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS MUST HAVE HEALTH CERTIFICATES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 10 (Antara) - Indonesian Muslims will join the rest of the Islamic world to observe and convey prayers on Eid-Al-Adha, which coincides with the peak of Hajj rituals in Arafah, Mina and Muzdalifah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.         In Indonesia, the Eid-Al-Adha prayers will be performed on Monday, September 12, to mark the tenth day of the Islamic month of Zulhijjah.         After prayers in the morning, Indonesian Muslims will slaughter sacrificial animals as a symbol of obedience for when God ordered the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his beloved son Prophet Ismail, who was then replaced with a sheep.         Therefore, several days before the Eid-Al-Adha festivities, traders can be seen offering sacrificial animals for sale in different corners and squares of the cities. Sacrificial animals, such as goats, sheep, cows and buffaloes, are slaughtered during this festival and should be healthy.

JAKARTA'S POOR TO ENJOY SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL MEAT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 15 (Antara) - The poverty-stricken dwellers in Jakarta and across the country received rations of sacrificial meat on Tuesday when Muslims celebrated the Idul Adha Islamic Day of Sacrifice.         The Jakarta regional government distributed 1,750 meat-package coupons to Jakarta's "mustahik," or underprivileged residents.         "The South Jakarta regional government contributed 36 cows, and the East Jakarta administration donated 46 goats. City Hall provided 21 cows and 41 goats," Sugeng, secretary of the Jakarta Civil Servant Corps, said at City Hall on Tuesday.          The sacrificial animals were slaughtered at the PD Dharma Jaya slaughterhouse in Cakung, East Jakarta. The coupons were distributed to registered mustahik living within the Jakarta regional government's jurisdiction.          "Each recipient will be provided with some 1.5 to 2 kilograms of meat," Sugeng stated.          In addition, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono presented a cow weighing more than one ton to the Istiqlal Mosque's committee.          The mosque has received 45 cows and eight goats for slaughter, including two cows from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono; one cow from the Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali; one cow from Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan; and two cows from the eldest daughter of former president Soeharto, Siti Hardijanti Rukmana.