MPKS Muhammadiyah Calls on Muslims to Make Ramadhan the Month of '3S'

BOGOR—As Muslims approach the midpoint of Ramadhan, the Deputy Chair of the Social Welfare Guidance Council (MPKS) of Muhammadiyah’s Central Leadership, Faozan Amar, has called on the Muslim community to reflect on their journey through this sacred month. Through such reflection, consistency can be achieved in pursuit of the purpose of Ramadhan fasting—attaining piety, as referenced in the Quran, Surah al-Baqarah, verse 183.

As a member of the Sharia Supervisory Board of Khairu Ummah Coop Group, Faozan stated that Ramadhan must be understood as more than merely an annual ritual. He invited Muslims to embrace Ramadhan as the month of 3S: Saving, Sharing, and Solidarity.

“We must make Ramadhan the month of 3S—saving, sharing, and solidarity. Fasting is not merely abstaining from food and drink, but an opportunity to build self-discipline, social concern, and the strength of brotherhood,” said the associate professor at UHAMKA’s Faculty of Economics and Business during a religious sermon before breaking fast in Leuwiliang, Bogor, West Java.

He explained that the concept of saving extends beyond material economy; it encompasses self-control and the development of pious character. Fasting is training in self-control, restraining oneself from eating, drinking, emotional reactions, and consumptive impulses. Allah has warned in the Quran, Surah al-A’raf, verse 31: “O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.”

The Prophet Muhammad said, “Fasting is a shield” (narrated by Bukhari and Muslim). Furthermore, Faozan continued, from an Islamic economics perspective, consumption discipline and restraint of base desires form the foundation. This relates to family stability and the economic sustainability of the Muslim community.

The second dimension is sharing, which strengthens zakat, infaq, and sedaqah (Islamic charitable giving). This includes the tradition of feeding those who are fasting. Faozan quoted a hadith from Bukhari, stating that the Prophet Muhammad was the most generous person, and he became even more generous during the sacred month. This spirit of giving, he emphasised, must be translated into concrete action to strengthen Islamic philanthropy so that its benefits become broader and better targeted.

The Prophet said, “Whoever feeds a fasting person, he will have a reward like that of the fasting person” (narrated by Tirmidhi). Such a hadith affirms that social solidarity possesses high spiritual value.

Meanwhile, solidarity is understood as fostering empathy, brotherhood, and social concern. Faozan recalled the words of Allah in the Quran, Surah al-Hashr, verse 9: “Those who prefer others over themselves, though they are in need. And those protected from the selfishness of their souls—it is they who will be the successful ones.” This verse serves as the theological foundation for the emergence of a society that strengthens one another rather than weakening one another.

Therefore, Ramadhan is both a spiritual school and a social laboratory. Within it, Muslims are forged into pious individuals and agents of social change who are compassionate and empowered.

“If saving shapes character, sharing activates compassion, and solidarity strengthens brotherhood, then Ramadhan will produce personal and social transformation together,” Faozan concluded.