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.