12/31/2004 3:00:00 PM GMT
Source: AP
Muslims across Indonesia’s Aceh province gathered in mosques on Friday to pray for the 80,000 Indonesians who lost their lives in Sunday’s deadly earthquake and tsunami.
"Allah still loves us, but he is testing us," preacher Ali told thousands of Muslim worshippers at the Jamii Lungbato Mosque in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital.
"This is also a warning. We have become arrogant and strayed too far from his teachings."
Most of the mosques - that weren’t damaged - on the northern part of Sumatra Island have been used as refugee camps, emergency health clinics or makeshift morgues.
Mosques were the first place many people escaped to when the deadly tsunami hit the island on Sunday morning.
"When everyone was losing their minds in fear I came here," said Mariani, a 28-year-old women staying at Jamii Lungbato who lost her only daughter. "I have nowhere else to go."
Another resident, Achamd, said that his mother and younger brother were killed in the disaster. "Only Allah can sort this out for me. I leave it all up to him," he said, hoping that he can find their bodies.
After the imam read the sermon and regular Friday prayers were performed, as they were elsewhere in Indonesia and the Islamic world, worshippers said a special prayer for the dead.
At least 1,000 people have been living in the mosque and its grounds since Sunday.
"The mosque is where they feel safest," said clinic staffer Agus.
"Scared people turn to Allah." He added.