Socio Today
Jakarta — In a continuing manifestation of appreciation for the tireless dedication of mosque caretakers and administrators, popularly known as marbot and khadimul masjid, major bottled water producer Aqua has once again partnered with the Indonesian Mosque Council (Dewan Masjid Indonesia/DMI) and the Istiqlal Mosque Management Agency (Badan Pengelola Masjid Istiqlal/BPMI). This year, the collaborative initiative successfully facilitated the departure of 27 marbot and mosque administrators to the Holy Land to perform the sacred Umrah pilgrimage. The announcement and ceremonial send-off underscore a multi-year commitment by the private sector and religious institutions to honor grassroots figures whose daily labor sustains the spiritual and social infrastructure of communities across the Indonesian archipelago.
The announcement was officially publicized on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, marking the third consecutive year of this specialized corporate social responsibility and religious partnership. Over the course of its three-year implementation, the program has progressively expanded its reach, having now enabled a cumulative total of 70 marbot and mosque managers from diverse, often remote regions of Indonesia to journey to Mecca and Medina. This initiative directly targets individuals who typically operate behind the scenes, dedicating long hours to the maintenance, cleanliness, and operational readiness of houses of worship without seeking public acclaim or substantial financial remuneration.
Official Endorsements and the Institutional Role of Istiqlal
Representing the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, K.H. Bukhori Sail Al-Tahiri, who serves as the Head of the Worship Administration Division for the Istiqlal Mosque Management Agency, delivered formal remarks during the send-off event. Speaking on behalf of Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar, Bukhori highlighted the profound significance of the program in elevating the social standing of those who manage religious spaces.
"We warmly welcome and place high hopes in this program, anticipating that it will continue to honor the primary drivers of our nation’s mosques while simultaneously strengthening the strategic role of mosques as centers for community cultivation and public service," stated Bukhori on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He further emphasized that the synergy between corporate entities and religious organizations demonstrates a shared vision for societal betterment. "We deeply appreciate the collaboration of all parties involved in this program, spanning both the private sector and religious organizations, all of whom share an identical spirit to enliven mosques and honor those who dedicate their lives to managing them."
The involvement of BPMI and the Ministry of Religious Affairs lends institutional weight to the initiative, ensuring that selection processes align with national standards of merit, equity, and representation across Indonesia’s vast provincial landscape.
Corporate Citizenship and Sustainable Partnerships
Echoing the sentiments of the religious authorities, Agung Laksamana, General Secretary Director of Danone Indonesia—the parent entity of Aqua—articulated the corporate philosophy underpinning the partnership. According to Laksamana, the collaboration transcends a one-off charitable donation, serving instead as a structural framework designed to deliver tangible, comforting values directly to the grassroots of Indonesian society.
"We firmly believe that the empowerment of the ummah requires sincere and sustainable collaboration," Laksamana noted. "Therefore, Aqua remains fully committed to walking hand-in-hand with various partners, including religious organizations, mosque institutions, and community networks, to present initiatives that reinforce the social functions of mosques while delivering broader benefits to the wider Indonesian public."
This strategic alignment between Danone-Aqua and religious councils illustrates an evolving trend in corporate social responsibility (CSR) within Indonesia. Rather than focusing solely on environmental or purely secular educational initiatives, major corporations are increasingly investing in the socio-religious fabric of the nation, recognizing that community resilience is deeply intertwined with religious and cultural institutions.
The Voice of the Beneficiaries
For the recipients of the pilgrimage grant, the journey represents a life-changing reward for years of unheralded service. Abdul Muaz, a mosque administrator representing the province of West Java from the Bogor region, expressed profound gratitude upon learning he had been selected for the program.
"Alhamdulillah, we are immensely grateful for being granted the opportunity to travel to Baitullah [the House of Allah in Mecca]," Muaz remarked. He detailed how comprehensive the logistical support provided by the organizers had been, noting that every operational detail—ranging from international telecommunication access to daily logistical necessities—had been meticulously arranged by Aqua and its institutional partners.
"This journey has become an exceptionally meaningful experience for us. Because all of these practical support systems were fully arranged in advance, we were able to depart with completely tranquil hearts, allowing us to focus entirely and deeply on performing our worship in the Holy Land," Muaz added. The alleviation of logistical burdens is a critical component of the program, ensuring that participants, many of whom have never traveled internationally or boarded an airplane, experience minimal stress during transit.
Contextualizing the Backbone of Indonesian Mosques
To understand the profound impact of initiatives like the Aqua-DMI-BPMI Umrah program, one must examine the staggering scale of religious infrastructure in Indonesia. According to official data from the Masjid Information System (SIMAS) managed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, there are currently more than 710,000 registered mosques and musholas (small prayer rooms) spread across the nation’s 38 provinces.
Within this immense network, mosques function far beyond their primary architectural purpose as sites of daily canonical prayers. In contemporary Indonesian society, mosques act as comprehensive hubs for community learning, economic empowerment, disaster response coordination, and the reinforcement of social solidarity. They serve as neutral community centers where neighborhood disputes are mediated, educational classes for children are held, and humanitarian aid is distributed during crises.
However, the daily operational success of these 710,000 institutions relies almost entirely on the labor of marbot and local administrative boards. These individuals are responsible for maintaining structural cleanliness, managing acoustic and lighting systems, securing premises, and facilitating large-scale religious holidays such as Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha. Despite carrying this heavy operational weight, marbot positions are frequently voluntary, part-time, or compensated with modest stipends raised through local congregational donations. Consequently, recognizing their labor through high-value spiritual rewards like the Umrah pilgrimage addresses both a moral obligation and a long-standing socio-economic disparity.
Chronology and Evolution of the Initiative
The institutional framework supporting this year’s departure of 27 caretakers is the result of a multi-year phased development:
- Foundational Phase (Prior to 2024): Discussions between DMI, BPMI, and private stakeholders identified a critical gap in the welfare and recognition of frontline mosque workers, leading to the conceptualization of targeted appreciation programs.
- Inaugural Year (2024): The partnership officially launched its pilot Umrah allocation, successfully sending its first cohort of marbot to Saudi Arabia, establishing logistical pipelines and vetting protocols.
- Expansion Phase (2025): Building upon the success of the pilot, quotas were adjusted to accommodate caretakers from a wider geographic distribution, incorporating representatives from outer islands and remote rural enclaves.
- Current Milestone (September 2026): The program marks its third anniversary, having cumulatively dispatched 70 caretakers, highlighted by the September 22–23 send-off event in Jakarta involving 27 specific delegates.
Broader Socio-Economic Implications
Analysts of religious sociology in Southeast Asia note that corporate interventions in religious philanthropy carry multiple layers of positive impact, provided they maintain transparency and inclusivity. By publicly honoring marbot, programs like the one administered by Aqua, DMI, and BPMI help elevate the social prestige of a profession that has historically suffered from underappreciation.
Furthermore, such initiatives foster a healthy model of public-private partnership. While the state and religious bodies provide the regulatory oversight, moral authority, and institutional networks necessary to identify deserving candidates, corporate entities inject the necessary financial capital and logistical expertise to execute large-scale undertakings efficiently.
As Indonesia continues to urbanize and modernize, the traditional social safety nets anchored by neighborhood mosques will only grow in importance. Ensuring the welfare, morale, and spiritual fulfillment of those who maintain these vital spaces is an essential investment in the social stability of the nation. With the successful departure of this year’s 27 pilgrims, the organizers have signaled their intent to maintain and potentially scale the initiative in future years, setting a benchmark for corporate responsibility within Indonesia’s vibrant religious landscape.
