New trend among Moslems

New trend among Moslems

Perhaps no country on this planet earth is more affected by
the Idul Fitri holiday than Indonesia. During the past several
days a massive exodus of people planning to celebrate the post-
fasting holidays at home has been pouring out of urban centers.
Millions of Indonesians are rushing to their hometowns to
celebrate Idul Fitri with relatives. They gravitate home not only
from nearby provinces but also from as far away as Malaysia.

For many people, especially those who are not familiar with
the local culture, this tradition may seem in stark contrast to
the trend toward modernity. But for Indonesians -- notably those
who were born in Java -- the exodus is both a sentimental and a
spiritual journey. Family relationships here take priority over
all other matters. Those who fail to respect the tradition and
make every effort to be with their parents during the holidays
are regarded as thankless children.

Asking for forgiveness from elders on the first day of Idul
Fitri -- which is popularly known as Lebaran here -- is a must
because, after all, everyone has tried hard to purify their souls
during Ramadhan.

In their determination to reach their hometowns in the
provinces, people brave all kinds of hardships, including
suffering prolonged traffic snarls.

Although this is done for the sake of family relationships,
the social impact of the homeward trip has long caused concern
among many thinking people in Jakarta.

Those millions of people who head for home carry with them
stories of the great opportunities that are supposedly available
for the taking in Jakarta. Unfortunately, these tales motivate
relatives, who are without the necessary skills, to follow suit
and venture into the alluring capital city, to gain what they
believe will be a better life.

The authorities are not only too timid about discouraging
people from taking part in this exodus, they encourage the
homeward flow by announcing that everything will be all right,
both on the way home and later on the way back to the city.

These people are so imbued with pride in their achievements
that they tend to forget their urban hardships for the moment and
bask in the feeling that, albeit temporarily, they are well-to-do
persons among the rural poor. And to prove the truth of this,
they spend, collectively, billions of rupiah during their stays
in their hometowns.

However, despite the possible extremes growing out of this
tradition, the fact remains that Ramadhan is a month of self
restraint in which Moslems make every effort to purify themselves
and glorify the name of Allah. By undergoing a month of fasting
they learn the anatomy of patience, resilience, austerity and of
love for the poor. So the Moslem holy month is a time to conquer
the inner storms.

Ramadhan may also make many people realize how dark their
hearts have been, how sinful their life in the past and how dirty
their hands. It also should remind people that their indifference
towards God Almighty has made them forget humanitarian
principles. So, by suffering through the month-long ordeal,
Moslems are expected to purify their souls and return to the
essential values of mankind.

In light of this, it is encouraging to note that the quality
of the religious piety of many Indonesians has tremendously
improved lately. Mosques, especially in urban centers, are
overcrowded, breaking of the fast dinners have become a
tradition, special religious classes are opened for young people
and television programing is filled with religious discussions
and shows. And last but not least, the number of haj pilgrims to
the Holy Land is increasing from year to year. This year, for the
first time in Indonesian history, potential pilgrims are having
to wait their turn to perform the religious obligation, due to
the great number of people wanting to leave for Mecca.

What is the meaning of this trend? Is it fear of the
assumption that the more affluent a society, the more
materialistic its members will become? Or are people concerned
about the intrusion of the negative aspects of badly selected
television programs? Or has the trend been spurred by a pure
thirst for spiritual refreshment? Where will this development
lead our Moslems? Will all this influence their social and
political activities? Without doubt it will be interesting to try
to find the correct answers to those question. If nothing else,
those answers are sure say a lot about the character of
Indonesian society at present.