First Tarawih prayer: Renowned Acehnese cleric calls on faithful to begin Ramadan with repentance
Banda Aceh (ANTARA) - Charismatic Acehnese cleric Tgk Ishak Malem, also known as Abi Lamkawe, has called on the community to begin Ramadan 1447 Hijriah by increasing acts of repentance to Allah SWT.
“Let us begin our encounter with the holy month of Ramadan with the worship of taubat ilallah (repentance to Allah SWT), taubatan nasuha [sincere repentance],” said Abi Lamkawe, who served as the preacher for the first Tarawih prayer at the Grand Baiturrahman Mosque in Banda Aceh, Aceh, on Wednesday evening.
This year’s first Tarawih prayer took place under different circumstances compared to previous years. Heavy rain that poured over Banda Aceh from the afternoon through to the evening meant that the number of congregants did not overflow into the mosque’s courtyard as usual.
In his sermon, the Deputy Grand Imam of the Grand Baiturrahman Mosque explained that repentance is a special act of worship after faith, as it is among the practices of the heart and inner self.
He explained that there are both outward and inward practices, as well as righteous and sinful deeds. Among inward practices, there are likewise those that are righteous and those that are sinful.
According to Abi, the most righteous of inward practices is faith. After that comes repentance, sincerity, devotion, and spiritual focus — meaning all practices carried out by the heart.
Meanwhile, outward practices are those performed by the limbs and body, and the most meritorious among outward practices is Islam itself.
“Why? In the pillars of faith and the pillars of Islam — ‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah’ — this returns to the pillars of Islam. ‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah’ is a pillar of faith. Declaration by the tongue, affirmation by the heart,” he said.
Abi reiterated the importance of beginning Ramadan with earnest repentance.
“Tonight, we call upon all of us to begin the month of Ramadan with the worship of repentance. As Allah has enjoined upon us: O you who believe, repent to Allah SWT,” he stressed.
He explained that taubatan nasuha is repentance carried out with sincerity solely for the sake of Allah SWT, not driven by calamity such as illness.
“This means that before calamity such as illness befalls us, let us repent with sincere repentance,” he said.
On the occasion, Abi also encouraged congregants to study the worship of repentance more deeply so that it may be performed correctly and accepted by Allah SWT. He emphasised that repentance is an act of worship not bound by time or place.
“Anywhere, at any time, we can repent to Allah SWT. Even whilst sitting quietly, we can repent,” said Abi Lamkawe.