MALAKA, EAST NUSA TENGGARA — Departing on Friday (7/8/2022), the Dompet Dhuafa Qurbani Animal Distribution (THK) team traveled from Kupang City to Malaka Regency, which took 9 hours by road. There, the THK team in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) celebrated Eid al-Adha 1443 Hijri and carried out the slaughter and distribution of sacrificial meat in Trans Metamauk Village, Alas Selatan Village, Atambua District. This is a village of converts on the Indonesia-Timor Leste border.
The journey was not easy due to the steep and rugged roads, unpredictable weather, and minimal lighting at night. Upon arrival, the Dompet Dhuafa THK team was warmly welcomed by the residents and Ustadz Ma’ruf, one of the Program Assistants and Local Muslim Leaders of Alas Selatan Village, even though it was already 2:00 a.m. WITA.
The echoes of takbir continued to resound. That morning, Sunday (July 10, 2022), the THK Dompet Dhuafa team performed Eid prayers together with residents and migrants stationed at the border. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, reflecting the hospitality of Alas Selatan Village. Ironically, we performed Eid prayers in a makeshift prayer room.
“As part of the da’wah efforts in Alas Selatan Village, Ustads Ma’ruf set aside part of his residence to be donated as a local mosque, because the nearest mosque is about 20 km away. There are 12 villages with 300 households, including 19 Muslim households,” said Larasati, a member of the THK Dompet Dhuafa team in NTT.
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The slaughter and distribution of sacrificial animals took place over two days, with a total of five cows sacrificed. The distribution of sacrificial animals in Trans Metamauk Village, South Alas Village, has had a very beneficial impact on the local community. They hope that this warmth will continue so that the community can enjoy the sacrificial meat and it can become a means of spreading Islam.
“The presence of these sacrifices strengthens tolerance among us here. We rarely eat meat except on special occasions. Usually, we eat boiled bananas. I am grateful to be a convert, because the Muslims here also care for one another,” said one of the beneficiaries, Muhamad Ridwan. (Dompet Dhuafa / Larasati / Nirwana / Ayu / Dhika)