RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta is preparing to serve thousands of worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan 1447 Hijri by providing up to 10,000 free meal boxes daily.

Minister of Religious Affairs and Grand Imam of Istiqlal, Nasaruddin Umar, announced on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, that the mosque is ready to welcome all visitors throughout the fasting month.

“Iftar activities at Istiqlal are a routine tradition. On weekends, the number of worshippers breaking their fast can reach 7,000 to 10,000 people, while on weekdays it is around 4,000 to 5,000. We serve everyone with meal boxes,” Minister Nasaruddin said in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.

He emphasized that inclusivity remains a priority for the national mosque. Special attention is given to worshippers with disabilities, who are provided with elevators, accessible toilets, and dedicated areas at the front of the prayer hall. Facilities for iftar and sahur (pre‑dawn meals) have also been prepared to meet their needs.

During Ramadan, Istiqlal will host the khataman (complete recitation) of the Quran from morning until night.

The mosque will also continue its educational programs, offering free language courses in English, Mandarin, Arabic, Persian, French, Indonesian for foreign speakers, and even Hebrew. All courses are taught by native speakers. “For example, we brought in a teacher directly from China for the Mandarin language,” Minister Nasaruddin explained.

This year, Istiqlal is highlighting environmental sustainability under the theme “Green Ramadan.” The mosque has installed a solar power system on its roof, drawing international attention. “Usually the spotlight is on skyscrapers in Dubai or Qatar, but last year the world’s attention turned to Istiqlal because of its solar panel system. With this system, we can save a massive amount of energy,” Minister Nasaruddin said.

He added that the mosque also operates a recycling system to ensure that no water is wasted. All wastewater is collected in large tanks and treated for reuse. ***