TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Muslim scholar, Quraish Shihab, offered a prayer for President Prabowo Subianto during a lecture at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday night, March 10, 2026. Quraish delivered the lecture at the palace during the commemoration of the Nuzulul Quran night, which was attended by President Prabowo and his entourage.
In his lecture, Quraish mentioned the issue of power while praying for Prabowo. He recounted that the prayer was inspired by one of his teachers in Egypt, Sheikh Mutawalli Sha'rawi, who had prayed for the president of his country.
"He once prayed for the President of Egypt. The prayer began with the words: 'Power comes from God,'" said Quraish at the end of his lecture.
In the prayer, Quraish explained that Mutawalli mentioned that no one is given power except by the will of God. "Whether the ruler follows God's guidance honestly or the ruler is disobedient, all power comes from God," he said.
Quraish then followed his teacher's prayer for President Prabowo.
In his prayer, he hoped that the people could help the president if God destined the leader for them.
"He said, and this is what I want to pray for Mr. Prabowo: 'I do not know, perhaps we will not meet again. I can only pray that if His Excellency is our destiny, the people-meaning God destines His Excellency to carry out activities that benefit the people-then we pray that we can help you, Sir," he said.
"But, if Sir, if His Excellency said, holds this position because it is the destiny of His Excellency to help uphold justice and peace, then we will pray that His Excellency is assisted by God and we will help as well. That is our prayer for Sir," Quraish continued his prayer.Quraish closed his prayer with a prayer taught by Prophet Muhammad. The prayer asked for peace and paradise from the Most Peaceful God.
After Quraish's lecture, Prabowo praised the message from the preacher. The President gave a speech at the podium after Quraish finished speaking. "I am grateful, I thank you for this good night, I continue to be given lessons, warnings, and added spirit," said Prabowo.
Prabowo thanked Quraish for delivering a brief lecture. "Also gave meaning to fundamental things. The meaning of peace, the meaning of tranquility, the meaning of peace, can also give us the understanding that differences should not lead to division," said Prabowo.
According to Prabowo, the lecture reminded him of the meaning of justice and the understanding of the destiny of leadership. "The very big meaning for me is the enlightenment of understanding he conveyed about justice. And also about the fate of a leader trusted by the nation and the people," said the Chairman of the Gerindra Party.
Prabowo said he realized that leadership is a destiny that comes from the Almighty. "And that power is given as an assignment to defend the truth, justice, and honesty, and that power is a duty to protect and bring prosperity and justice to all the people led," he said.
Read: Egypt Awards Quraish Shihab for Services in Elevating Islam
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