Ministry of Religious Affairs: Make 1 Muharram a Momentum to Strengthen Social Piety
The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) is calling on the public to make the New Year of 1 Muharram 1448 Hijriah a momentum to strengthen social piety, solidarity, and a migration of the fingers from behaviour that sows hatred.
“The ideal piety is one capable of presenting care and benefit for others,” said the Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Development at Kemenag, Arsad Hidayat, in Jakarta on Monday.
Arsad stated that Muharram carries a message of migration that is relevant throughout the ages. According to him, the meaning of migration does not stop at physical displacement, but also a change in attitude and perspective towards a better life that is more beneficial for society.
The Quran, through Surah Al-Ma’un, provides a strong message that religiosity is not sufficiently realised through personal worship alone.
According to Arsad, this spirit aligns with various empowerment programmes continuously promoted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs through strengthening the function of mosques, optimising zakat and waqf, and religious services that have a direct impact on the community.
“Do not let worship stop merely at ritual. Muharram reminds us that religiosity must give birth to empathy, care, and real contributions for those in need,” he said.
The Head of the Sub-directorate for Hisab Rukyat and Sharia at Kemenag, Ismail Fahmi, assessed that the spirit of migration must also be realised in the digital space. According to him, social media is now an important part of public life and must therefore be filled with narratives that enlighten and bring benefit, not narratives of hatred.
“Migration in the digital era means changing the way we interact. Our fingers must become a means of spreading knowledge, inspiration, and soothing messages, not the opposite,” said Ismail Fahmi.
According to Ismail, the network of religious counsellors has a strategic role in strengthening religious literacy that is friendly and easily understood by the public. The presence of counsellors is expected to broaden the dissemination of religious messages that foster optimism, brotherhood, and social care.
“Through the momentum of Muharram 1448 Hijriah, the public is expected not only to renew their spiritual spirit, but also to strengthen their commitment to bringing benefit and peace to their surroundings,” he said.