Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR) - had a special guest from Palestine, Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Rahman Anwer Al Smadi on Saturday evening, 8 March 2025. At UMPWR, Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Rahman Anwer Al Smadi not only became the Imam and gave a lecture on qiyamul lail (tarawih) prayers at the Campus Mosque, but also raised donations for the struggle of the Palestinian people.
In his lecture before the tarawih prayer, Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Rahman Anwer Al Smadi expressed his deepest gratitude to Indonesia for fully supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people. This support has become one of the sources of strength for the Palestinian people.
‘Palestine is a country in which there is the Al Aqsa mosque which is the first Qibla of Muslims. One of the 3 Holy Mosques of Muslims besides the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. For the past 1.5 years, Palestine, especially Gaza, has been experiencing a terrible war that has caused thousands of casualties, including schools, hospitals, etc. Tens of thousands of people became victims, even hundreds of thousands are still under the ruins,’ he explained.
‘The sacrifices of the Palestinian people are not in vain. They were martyred. If this month in Indonesia is fasting. Then, the people of Gaza have been fasting for more than a year. There is no food and drink,’ he continued.
According to him, there are three ways we can do for the Palestinian people, namely increasing prayers, spreading the news / correct information about what is happening in Palestine, and struggling with wealth, especially in the month of Ramadan shodakoh the reward is doubled, donate to the Palestinians in need.
Rektor UMPWR Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teguh Wibowo, M.Pd., menyampaikan bahwa UMPWR sangat mendukung kemerdekaan Palestina. UMPWR juga melakukan aksi bela Palestina pada tahun 2024 lalu. “Kami selalu mendukung rakyat Palestina untuk berjuang melawan Agresi militer Israel”, jelasnya. Rektor berharap donasi yang terkumpul untuk rakyat Palestina di malam itu bisa membantu perjuangan rakyat Palestina, dan juga membawa keberkahan untuk UMPWR.
Selain di UMPWR, Syeikh Ahmad Abdel Rahman Anwer Al Smadi dalam kunjungannya di Purworejo juga hadir di Pimpinan Cabang Muhammadiyah Bener, Masjid Darussalam Kutoarjo, Masjid Ranting Pangenrejo, dan Masjid Ranting Pangenjuru Tengah. (akb/KP).