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Street children encouraged to memorize God’s names
The Jakarta Islamic Center (JIC) in North Jakarta is encouraging street children in the neighborhood to read and memorize Asmaul Husna (99 beautiful names of God) by offering them money depending on how many names they can memorize.
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A photo of the Jakarta Islamic Center complex in Kramat Tunggak, a former red-light district in North Jakarta. (Kompas.com/Andri Donnal Putera)
T
he Jakarta Islamic Center (JIC) in North Jakarta is encouraging street children in the neighborhood to read and memorize Asmaul Husna (99 beautiful names of God) by offering them money depending on how many they can memorize.
M. Arif, Social and Culture sub division head at the JIC, said Friday that the program, called “Santri Asmaul-Husna” (Asmaul Husna Islamic student), was only designated for street children to stimulate their interest as well as teach them more about Islam.
Within one week after beginning to learn about Asmaul Husna, they would be tested by JIC committees. The more names they could memorize, the more money they would earn from the program,
“For example if they memorize 30 names, they would get Rp 30,000 [US$2.25],” Arif said as quoted by kompas.com.
In addition to that, the JIC also holds three other programs to enliven the Ramadhan fasting period including Star Kids Ramadhan to teach the importance of respecting their parents, Jambore Ramadhan and Spirit Ramadhan. Meanwhile, teenagers are able to participate in a short Islamic boarding school program. (idb)
