SOUTH CENTRAL TIMOR, EAST NUSA TENGGARA -— The joy of welcoming Eid al-Adha 1446 H feels special in the remote villages of Bileon and Besleu, South Central Timor (TTS), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Behind the Eid al-Adha celebrations held at Al Munawaroh Mosque in Tuniun Village lies the story of the struggles faced by new converts who live in hardship yet remain steadfast in their faith.
Every journey toward goodness is not always easy; it often requires sacrifice, such as the journey of the Tebar Hewan Kurban (THK) program by Dompet Dhuafa in delivering sacrificial offerings from PT Prudential Sharia Life Assurance (Prudential Syariah).
In 2025, Dompet Dhuafa is collaborating with Prudential Syariah to distribute eight cows for sacrifice in Jabodetabek and the villages of Bileon and Besleu, TTS, NTT, as a form of commitment to 1,500 beneficiaries in the 3T areas, which are remote, frontier, and outermost regions.
In NTT, the qurbani animals were distributed to four mosques in two villages. They were distributed using cars, which were the only option due to the steep, muddy, and rocky road conditions. The journey to Al Munawaroh Mosque even had to pass through three rivers, steep climbs, and slippery rocky roads. Often, residents helped each other pull their vehicles so they could reach the location.
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“Despite the many obstacles and challenges, especially the difficult access to Masjid Al Munawaroh Tuniun, we here are very happy, especially the congregation, because every new year we can enjoy sacrificial animals, especially during Eid al-Adha like this,” said Hasan, one of the community leaders of Bileon Village.
Alhamdulillah, through the collaboration between Dompet Dhuafa and Prudential Syariah, meat donations were distributed to bring joy to 1,500 beneficiaries. For the Muslim minority community in Bileon, sacrificial meat is not something they can easily enjoy every year.
Vivin Arbianti Gautama, Chief Customer & Marketing Officer of Prudential Syariah, said that communities in the 3T regions have development potential but face various food shortages, especially animal protein.
“To celebrate Eid al-Adha this year, Prudential Syariah distributed sacrificial meat in the 3T region. This is because the 3T region is an area of Indonesia with geographical, social, economic, and cultural conditions that still have development potential compared to other regions on a national scale, including limited access to diverse food sources, particularly animal protein.
Of course, the 3T region is the right place for us to share and distribute qurbani,” said Vivin. The people in this area depend on seasonal farming, especially during the rainy season, when they plant corn, cassava, and beans. For them, basic needs such as food are more important than money.
Some parents send their children to school by relying on the proceeds from their gardens or livestock such as goats. They believe that their livelihood is already predetermined, so they live their lives with patience and gratitude.
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Before 2021, people rarely got sacrificial meat because there weren’t many sacrificial animals. But since Dompet Dhuafa came along, the distribution of sacrificial meat has started to reach more mosques, which has been welcomed with gratitude and happiness by the people of Bileon Village.
“Here, we might only get sacrificial meat like this once a year, which allows us to eat meat. But once the sacrificial rituals are over, we might not be able to eat meat again. At least with the vegetables, we can still eat,” said Mahyan Natonis, one of the imams at Al Munawaroh Mosque in Tuniun Village, Bileon.
Furthermore, Mahyan explained that Eid al-Adha in Bileon Village is not merely a moment for sacrificing animals. It is a day when new converts feel the warm embrace of caring fellow believers who are present and tirelessly greet them, even in the remotest corners of the country.
“We are deeply grateful that Dompet Dhuafa has shown concern for us, has noticed us, even though we are in a remote area. We feel truly valued, and we are very grateful. We hope that this kindness will continue in the years to come,” said Mahyan.
Mahyan also shared that even today, there are still many people who want to embrace Islam. Every day, he invites children to study the Quran and guides new converts, especially parents, in learning how to pray and read the Quran.
“We are grateful to Dompet Dhuafa and Prudential Syariah for providing us with sacrificial animals. We are truly thankful, and we hope that those who made the sacrifice will also receive blessings and be pleasing to Allah SWT, and that we can meet again next year,” Mahyan said tearfully.
The journey to deliver kindness often involves challenges and sacrifices, and it is not always an easy path. However, behind every step lies immeasurable value that cannot be seen in material terms—it is evident in the genuine smiles of those who receive the benefits, the sincerity with which they welcome others, and the warm enthusiasm of the community that touches the heart. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Anndini Dwi Putri
Editor: Dhika