inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. A total of 34 mosques in three provinces are pilot projects of the Baznas Microfinance Mosque (BMM)-Masjid Berdaya Berdampak (MADADA) collaboration program of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in an effort to empower the community's economy.

The Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Development of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Arsad Hidayat, said that the 34 mosques received a financial stimulus of IDR 5.1 billion, with each receiving IDR 150 million.

"These funds are expected to be a trigger for the birth of creative programs at the mosque level, such as sharia cooperatives, skills training, and small business units," said Arsad, Monday (9/29/2025).

The assistance was distributed to 17 mosques in Central Java, 11 mosques in East Java, and six mosques in Yogyakarta.

He said that the IDR 150 million stimulus fund is not just a one-time assistance, but initial capital so that mosques can develop productive businesses that are in line with the potential of the congregation and the surrounding environment.

Director Arsad stated that the utilization of funds will be monitored through a tiered mentoring mechanism involving the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Baznas to ensure that it is targeted appropriately.

"This way, the mosques receiving the aid can demonstrate a model of empowerment that can be replicated elsewhere," he said.

According to him, an empowered mosque is one that has the resources to act, while an impactful mosque is one that is able to bring real change to the surrounding social environment.

"This transformation is important so that the mosque becomes not only a place of worship, but also a center for social, educational, and economic activities for the community. We hope that this initiative will be a milestone in the birth of model mosques that are empowered and impactful throughout Indonesia," explained Arsad.

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