Ramadan at SRMA 1 Aceh Besar: Shared Sahur and Rotating Kultum

One hundred students at SRMA 1 Aceh Besar, a boarding school for children from low-income families, participated in a range of religious activities during Ramadan. The school, which provides accommodation for pupils from low-income families, filled Ramadan with a variety of activities, from sahur together to rotating kultum talks and congregational Tarawih prayers. From 04:00 WIB, the students gathered in the dormitory dining hall for sahur before beginning their fasting. This mood was different from ordinary days when they usually gather for breakfast before lessons. ‘This is what we have been waiting for during Ramadan. It feels like having a big family,’ said Nazar, a student at SRMA 1 Aceh Besar, in a written statement on Sunday (8/3/2026). Lessons are also adjusted to Ramadan. Each morning before classes begin, students take turns delivering kultum or short sermons in front of the class. The activity serves as a way to train students in public speaking. ‘At first I was nervous, but now I am getting used to it. Ramadan makes us braver,’ another student, Abdul, said. At 10:00 WIB, teaching activities pause for Dhuha prayers in congregation at the school musalla. After that, students perform tadarus of the Qur’an, and some rest in the dormitory. Towards maghrib, students gather and sit neatly in the dining hall to break their fast together. The open iftar menu varies daily, including Acehnese traditional cakes and main dishes. After maghrib prayers, students continue with independent tadarus of the Qur’an. Some aim to complete one juz per day during Ramadan. ‘Happy to have many friends, to break fast and sahur together. If at home we each ate separately, we wouldn’t feel this sense of togetherness. Here I also often recite the Qur’an; one juz a day. Now I am at juz 14,’ said Hadi, a student at SRMA 1 Aceh Besar. The Ramadan programme concludes with congregational Tarawih prayers at the school musalla after Isya prayers. After praying, the students rest in the dormitory to recuperate before waking early again for sahur. Meanwhile, SRMA 1 Aceh Besar teacher Lena says the school has prepared a special Ramadan schedule to ensure learning continues while strengthening students’ spiritual development. ‘We want students not only to fast, but also to gain a sense of togetherness through activities such as breaking fast together, tadarus, and group prayers,’ she said. During Ramadan, life in the SRMA 1 Aceh Besar dormitory feels more vibrant with a blend of study, worship, and fellowship. The routine helps students fast more meaningfully and also fosters discipline, courage, and a spirit of togetherness.