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Free Gas for those who Read Quran in Indonesia | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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In a file picture taken on February 28, 2012 a motorist fills up at the gas pump in a gas station of the French northern city of Lille. AFP


Jakarta-As motorists line up to fill fuel at some of the petrol pumps in the Indonesian capital, they are greeted by posters advertising free petrol if they read the Quran during Ramadan.

The state-owned Pertamina Company is hoping to encourage devout Muslims to read a chapter of the scripture.

Prayer rooms have been set up at gas stations, and have seen a steady stream of visitors.

Jakarta resident Moetawakkir is among those who is keen in taking up the offer available at five gas stations in Jakarta. He is hoping to have read the Quran by the end of Ramadan.

“We all know that if we do something good we will get a reward. By reading Quran here every day, we can read the whole Quran by the end of the month while our tank is full,” Moetawakkir said after nearly 30 minutes of reading on his second visit in two days.

The two liters made available for one chapter of the holy book is good enough to fill up half-a-tank of a motorcycle — the most common mode of transport in the country.

Participants are required to fill up a registration form before they proceed to the prayer room where they can pick up a copy of the Quran and read any chapter they like.

Arif Budiman, who runs the Pertamina’s MT Haryono gas station said: “We’d like to show appreciation to those who love reading the Qur’an. We give two liters of free petrol for every one chapter of the Quran that they read.”

The promotion will run until the end of the holy month.