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.