Nurul Alam: A mosque that heals

Nurul Alam: A mosque that heals

Primatmojo Djanoe and Danu Kuntoaji, Contributors, The Jakarta Post

The rather grim but clean Nurul Alam mosque at Pedongkelan slum area of North Jakarta, is not really a place that one can listen to an intellectual lecture or conversation.

Yet, sophisticated talk does come from ustadz (religious teacher) Ridwan, as he said that the problems of the world today originate from a "systematic distorted communication."

Quite surprising indeed as it was similar to the theories developed by the great 90s philosopher Juergen Habermas. While the rather petite and bald religious teacher did not even finish elementary school, and probably does not have the slightest idea who Habermas is, he is nonetheless similar.

Ridwan, 56, furthermore opined on the causes of mental disorders and the alarming drug abuse among youngsters.

He is not a philosopher, nor a doctor, nor a psychiatrist. Yet, he is dealing with treating and healing ones' minds and souls.

Over the past eight years, there have been over 100 drug addicts and mentally ill people who have been treated at the small mosque, and cured by the methods Ridwan created and employs.

"I never set out for Nurul Alam to serve as a rehabilitation center. But the neighborhood seemed to need one. Drug abuse is rife here and there are many who cannot cope with the harshness of life, and have become mentally unstable. I want to help them and I believe I am capable of it," Ridwan said.

After arriving from his hometown of Bima, West Nusa Tenggara over a decade ago, he realized that the Pedongkelan neighborhood, which is known as a red-light district and criminals' hangout, had no mosque.

Later on, a local community leader lauded his concern and provided him with a piece of land and a small amount of money.

Within four months of construction, a concrete Nurul Alam (literally means the light of nature) mosque was erected, becoming a small good deed for the community.

Ridwan's first "patient" was a mentally ill mother who was frequently spotted walking around the neighborhood with no clothes on. He then brought her to the mosque, provided her with shelter, food, clothes and other treatment. A couple of months later, the mother was sent back home to her family, healthy and sane.

The occurrence opened the eyes of the somewhat pessimistic neighborhood and was also the beginning of the new mission of the mosque. Afterwards, people came not only to pray but sometimes they also brought along their mentally ill, or sakaw ( literally, in a state of drug addiction) friends or relatives to undergo "treatment" at Nurul Alam.

At the mosque during the interview, a few of his rehabilitants were spotted with chains on their legs. A man, who was not chained, looked suspiciously at us before quickly grabbing the peanuts Ridwan served for us.

"I use no medical drugs nor other technology. Upon arrival, the mentally ill and drug addicted will immediately be locked in chains and have their hair cut," Ridwan said.

Locking them up with the chains, he explained, was crucial to ensure supervision and security.

"You know, a drug addict can be very destructive. Lock him up in a bathroom, and within minutes he will easily break down the door and escape," he said.

On the second day of their rehab, the drug-addicted internees must consume a glass of saltwater to "detoxify their bodies". The drink is simply a combination of lukewarm water and a half glass of salt.

"The drink makes them vomit instantly, throwing up all the contents of their stomach including the toxins from the drugs they've taken," said Ridwan, while endlessly puffing a kretek cigarette.

Ridwan is convinced that the saline solution is all it takes to free them from the toxins before the treatment proceeds with religious studies, focusing on Allah. The treatment lasts for 3 months and he guarantees that the addicts will be reborn individuals with no desires whatsoever for chemical or profane pleasures.

The saltwater treatment was discovered by Ridwan when he was a teacher of Koran reading in Tanah Baru, an impoverished residential area in North Jakarta.

"I occasionally found drunks or drug addicts who had just visited the brothels in Kramat Tunggak, laying unconscious on my verandah. I needed to find a quick and affordable treatment for them," said the father of four.

He added that the saltwater potion did manage to help them recover.

For patients with mental disorders, the treatment is more physical in nature. During the first days, they will be mentally and physically "intimidated" so as to reduce their destructive behavior followed by early morning showers at 2 a.m. everyday.

"The shower is to purify their body and troubled soul. Their minds become calm and thus enables us to start curing them."

The effect is more healing if they can shower in the rain as Ridwan said, nothing beats the purity of nature. What helps the healing process of these mentally ill is the pious surroundings at Nurul Alam in which they are frequently exposed to various religious activities including communal praying, Koran reciting, discussions and sermons.

In addition to the rehabilitation center, Ridwan also welcomes people of all ages who want to learn thoroughly about Islam and life.

Students stay at the mosque for a 30-day training during the fasting month of Ramadhan. At the end of the training, students should make a sort of pilgrimage journey across the islands, applying their skills to survive (they are not allowed to bring money or receive allowances from their parents) as well as to learn more about Islam in various mosques and other places which have been appointed by Ridwan.

In running the rehabilitation and the Islamic study center, Ridwan vows to continuously learn and improve his knowledge.

"To live a good life, one should know the good things in himself, the place for himself in the community and have pride in whatever he believes."