Indonesia’s general chairman of Mosques council stated: Mosques should serve more functions other than being a place of worship

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The -General Chairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI), Jusuf Kalla, stresses that mosques should function as centers of community civilization—not merely places of worship.

“Mosques must be hubs of unity, preaching, education, and economic empowerment,” Kalla said during the inauguration of the East Java DMI Regional Leadership for the 2025–2030 term on Saturday.

He stated that the Prophet Muhammad engaged in trade from a young age, and that preaching has long been tied to the advancement of muamalah (social transactions).

As Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President, Kalla said that DMI leadership bears a significant responsibility to ensure mosques contribute meaningfully to society.

“Zakat and hajj as pillars of Islam that enhance economic capacity, adding that empowering communities is central to the mosque’s evolving role.” He highlighted.

The inauguration was attended by East Java Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak, the Head of Bank Indonesia’s East Java Representative Office, former Governor Imam Utomo, and representatives from Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, the Ministry of Religion, and others.

Deputy Governor Dardak affirmed the provincial government’s readiness to collaborate with DMI.

“The value may be small, but the blessings are immense. Mosques are a form of continuous charity across generations—a true center of civilization,” he said.

Provincial data shows East Java is home to approximately 53,500 mosques, with around 80,000 imams receiving honorary allowances since 2019.

East Java DMI Chairman Sudjak emphasized that the inauguration was more than ceremonial.

“This is a noble mandate—not just to make mosques prosperous, but to make them true centers of public benefit,” he said.

The newly inaugurated leadership has mobilized 12 departments and launched three flagship programs: the Mosque Imam Honorarium Program (UKIM), the Mosque Award, and the DMI Halal Center, which supports halal certification across East Java.

The event concluded with a sermon by As-Syeikh Prof. Muhammad Fadhil Al-Jailani, great-grandson of renowned Sufi scholar Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jaelani.