Ramadhan -- month of self-restraint

Ramadhan -- month of self-restraint

By Rita A. Widiadana

Based on the hisab (calculation by arithmetical means) and sighting of the new moon (rukyat), experts and ulemas confirmed that this year's holy month of Ramadhan starts tomorrow. During Ramadhan, Moslems should refrain from eating, drinking and having sex from dawn to dusk for 29 consecutive days, and also from other behavior considered un-Islamic. The Jakarta Post interviewed Moslem scholars on the significance of fasting. The following story also reveals century-old traditions related to fasting and spiritual advancement. More stories on Page 7.

JAKARTA (JP): "The holy month of Ramadhan always brings peacefulness and happiness to all members of my family," says a father of three.

Rizal Akbar, a 36-year-old engineer, is eager to greet the fasting month, which he considers a perfect time for him to improve his spiritual life.

"I am convinced that most Moslems share a similar feeling and sentiment about Ramadhan," Rizal said.

Indeed, his sentiment seems representative of the entire Moslem community in Indonesia. The community makes up 90 percent of the country's 180 million population.

Moslems see Ramadhan as a month of blessing that provides them with the opportunity to purify themselves. They hope that through fasting God will reward them with forgiveness for their wrongdoings. They also believe that God will return their good deeds many times over.

Fasting is one of the five pillars in Islam as stated in Sura Al-Baqara 183. "Ye who Believes! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self restraint."

Only the aged, pregnant women, nursing mothers, sick people and those who are traveling long distances are exempted from this obligation.

Blessing

Dr. Quraish Shihab, rector of the State Institute for Islamic Studies in Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post recently that the fasting month serves to bring Moslems closer to God and to seek his mercy.

"Fasting is not intended to make people feel thirsty and hungry. It has a transcendental meaning, which is to guide Moslems to achieve the highest point of religious devotion," he said.

Fasting, he said, is more than just about eating and drinking during the day. Fasting is a time for exercising self-control and greater discipline, the scholar added.

"Fasting is a very specific form of worship. Nobody but God knows whether a man is fasting or not," he explained.

When a Moslem prays or performs the haj pilgrimage, people can witness his religious act, he said. "But, when he fasts, he can cheat people by eating or drinking in a hidden place. He can also steal other people's money or have sexual intercourse in daytime without anyone noticing," Dr. Shihab concluded.

"The biggest challenge in fasting is fighting one's desire which is called jihad akbar (the great holy war); the fight against oneself. If he can control his own desire, he wins the war," the scholar said.

Fasting has social and political implications, he said. If people understand the essence of fasting and practice it in their daily lives, we will have a prosperous society and a clean government, he insisted.

He also reminded Indonesian Moslems that fasting should not slow down their daily activities. History reveals that many great events, including Indonesia's independence on Aug. 17, l945, occurred during the fasting month.

Dawam Rahardjo, another noted Moslem scholar, called on Moslems to increase their spiritual activities during the fasting month.

"They should pay serious attention to their spiritual lives in order to lead a more balanced and harmonious life," Dawam said.

If people do not set Ramadhan as a special time for self- contemplation, they may not do it during the rest of the year, he added.

Fasting, he said, can increase people's solidarity and awareness for the poor. Moslems are required to be more charitable and to help the needy during the fasting month, he said.

"It is the right time for the rich to help alleviate poverty in the country," he said.

It is hoped that fasting will bring significant religious and social values to those who observe it, Dawam said.

"Fasting has become a social phenomenon in the country. It is closely related to the social, cultural and traditional activities that enrich the country," Dawam said.

Tradition

Fasting in Indonesia is indeed colored by the country's rich traditions. Many places in Indonesia have their own tradition to greet the fasting month.

In Semarang, Central Java, people welcome Ramadhan with its century-old tradition called dhugderan, which is a blend of Javanese, Islamic and Chinese traditions.

This tradition, which was started in l881 by Semarang regent RMTA Purbaningrat, is an expression of the people's gratitude for God's blessings. It also functions as a medium to inform the public that the holy month of Ramadhan is coming. Dhugderan is depicted through an imaginary rhino-like animal called warak ngendog, a symbol of prosperity.

The day before Ramadhan, the effigy is paraded through the city's streets to the (Semarang) Great Mosque. The parade has become a big celebration and a tourist attraction drawing thousands of people.

In Tasikmalaya, West Java, people hold munggahan, a small party to welcome the fasting month. Each family invites their relatives to attend the party which will be followed by Koran reading and other religious activities. They can also send food to the needy. The tradition is intended to encourage people to properly meet one of their religious obligations. Through this, parents attempt to prove the benefit of the fasting month to their offspring.

In Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra, people hold a special ritual called marpangir. During the ceremony, people clean their bodies with herbs like lemon grass. The ritual symbolizes cleaning one's body and soul before fasting.

In Cirebon and Indramayu, West Java, and Sumenep in Madura, traditional music plays a significant role during the Ramadhan fasting month. Obrog is played by young and old men in Cirebon and Indramayu. They perform music and dance pieces to wake up people for the sahur breakfast.