REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) has called on all Muslims in the country to perform an Istisqa or mass prayer asking for rain in an effort to extinguish the ongoing forest and land fires.

Fires are raging in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan Islands.

"We urge all Muslims in Indonesia to perform the Istisqa," MUI Chairman KH Ma'ruf Amin told journalists here on Wednesday. The move comes in response to the ongoing forest and land fires in the two main Indonesian islands. The fires have also affected Singapore as well as certain parts of Malaysia and Thailand.

Amin said the Istisqa should be preceded by fasting for three days, saying Istighfar (asking for almighty God's mercy), improving attitude, and practicing simple and good life.

Muslims in the country need also ask for pardon from God, leave all sorts of satanic acts, get rid of conflicting attitude towards other people, and intensify acts of charity towards the poor, he said, adding that the prolonged drought might be the almighty God's warning to Indonesia.

The council also urges the Indonesian Government to adopt firm and strategic policies and actions that can end the forest and land fires and be able to deal with the implications of the fires and prolonged drought, he said.

As for those responsible for the fires that have caused serious health, economic and environmental problems to Indonesia and other countries, they must be punished in accordance with the existing laws. Similarly, the government was urged to assist those suffering from the impact of the drought, he said.

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