T

he birthday of Prophet Muhammad, known as Maulid Nabi Muhammad, on Friday is a reminder for people to implement a tolerant Islam that is rahmatan lil alamin (blessing for the universe) in everyday life.

This was the message delivered by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the event to commemorate the Maulid at Bogor Palace in West Java, on Thursday.

Jokowi cited the success of the Prophet in building Medina, one of Islam’s holiest cities, as a city that protected pluralism at that time.

Medina had seen infighting between tribes before Muhammad arrived in the city and drafted the Medina Charter to protect the equal rights of followers of different faiths, which was deemed by Jokowi as “a big breakthrough for tolerance and brotherhood.”

“Medina is the evidence of harmonious relations between [various] ethnic groups, religious groups and incomers […] and also the evidence of an economic system that promotes justice, welfare and equality,” Jokowi added. “We shall be able to build a new Medina [here].”

Jokowi’s message for interfaith harmony in the country is seen as important, especially to show Indonesia’s commitment to protect pluralism and promote tolerance, particularly amid growing conservatism and religious sentiments of late.

His statements also came ahead of Christmas when Christians across the country and the world celebrate Jesus’ birth.

As many as 50 orphans from Bogor were also invited to the event that was attended by numerous government officials and foreign envoys.

“We strive to continue the Prophet’s mission of rahmatan lil alamin. We are committed to work hard to strengthen our brotherhood of Islam, of the nation and of all individuals,” Jokowi said.

In other parts of the country, Muslims also celebrated the Prophet’s birthday on Friday, including Surakarta, Central Java.

Hundreds of people waited for hours near Surakarta Palace to watch Grebeg Sekaten, a celebration of the Prophet’s birthday in which the royal servants carried offerings of vegetables, fruit and rengginang (rice crackers) from the palace to Surakarta’s Great Mosque, which is located about 500 meters from the palace.

The tradition has been practiced since the 14th century during the era of the Demak Sultanate, the first Javanese Muslim kingdom located in the northern coast of Java.

The main event was when the royal servants allowed local residents to take the two offerings that symbolized welfare and a gratitude to God for the blessings.

After reciting a prayer, hundreds of residents swarmed the offerings and took the rengginang or the vegetables home, as they believed it would bring them luck and welfare. “The two offerings are the palace’s way to thank God,” Surakarta Palace representative Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Haryo Dipokusumo said.

In Medan, North Sumatra, thousands of Islamic boarding school students flocked to the city to join the public in singing shalawat (praises to the Prophet) on Friday, which is part of a bigger cultural event slated to be held until Dec. 20 to pray for safety from natural disasters.

While many celebrated the Maulid in a festive mood, residents of Palihan village in Yogyakarta’s Kulon Progo commemorated the day under duress as authorities continued to evict them from their houses to make way for a new airport.

Sofyan, of Al Hidayah Mosque in Palihan, said authorities have been evicting residents since Nov. 27 and had cut the electricity in the area.

— Apriadi Gunawan contributed to the story from Medan