Jakarta. Prophet Muhammad exemplified good deeds throughout his life, ranging from worshipping, daily activities, to leadership. That is why Islam has become a big religion because of those good examples. Vice President Jusuf Kalla stated this when delivering his remarks at the celebration of maulid, the commemoration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, held by the Majelis Rasulullah congregation at the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, today.

Another example by the prophet, he added, is that he had been a hard working entrepreneur since he was very young.

“This implies that trading, being an entrepreneur, is also a part of the prophet’s sunnah (ways of the prophet) that we should follow,” said Mr Kalla.

Prophet Muhammad, he continued, was also tolerant toward others, clearly shown when he was living and becoming a leader in the culturally and religiously diverse city Madinah.

“There are three things the Prophet Muhammad did when he first moved to Madinah from Makkah. Firstly, he built a mosque in Quba. Secondly, he unified the immigrant Muhajereen with the host Anshar so that they live in harmony. And thirdly, he initiated the Madinah charter which obliges everyone living in the city to maintain tolerance,” he said.

However, he argued, the Muslim world is now trapped in conflicts which bring them to detriment.

“Yet, as a matter of fact, Islam is a religion of peace, rahmatan lil ‘alamin. It does not promote people to destroy one another,” he affirmed.

In his remarks, Mr Kalla also appreciated the maulid celebration attended by more than 300,000 people that ran well and orderly.

“This is a good example, countering against the prejudice that Muslims are radical and not disciplined,” the Vice President said.

He also welcomed Majelis Rasulullah congregation that routinely holds a worshipping event, either in mosques or open areas like the National Monument (Monas) park.

“But you have to make sure that the event does not block the roads and hamper public from their activities,” he said.

Also attending the event were Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Yuddy Chrisnandi and a politician Fadel Muhammad.
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