Ramadhan ultimate equalizer for rich and poor Moslems

By Yogita Tahil Ramani, Sylvia Gratia M. Nirang and Ida Indawati Khouw

JAKARTA (JP): In a troubling 1997 marked by forest fires, the economic crisis and starvation, the opening of the Ramadhan fasting month on its final day came as a sobering reminder to the nation's Moslem brethren.

This holy period of fasting and prayer, helping one another and having faith in one God is a leveler for both rich and poor.

Executives, government officials and entrepreneurs believe the fasting month, known locally as bulan puasa, reinforces virtues such as tolerance, discipline and understanding the pain of the less fortunate.

Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo said the month meant much more than lavish breaking-of-the-fast gatherings, even more pertinent considering straightened economic circumstances.

"I have decided that this year my ministry will observe the tradition in a simple way," Djamaludin said.

"There are lots out there who cannot afford to buy a decent meal. What is important is our sincerity in fasting, not the kind of food eaten to break it."

Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Moslems fast from dawn to dusk, abstaining from drinking, smoking and sexual relations to purify body and soul.

Each Ramadhan brings new insights and meanings for Indonesia's faithful.

New meaning

Djamaludin is observing this Ramadhan without his wife, who died last August.

"I am getting older every year and I realize I am getting closer to meeting Allah. It is the right time to look back on the past and try to improve the quality of our lives," he said.

Some public figures have more nostalgic memories of the fasting month.

Lukman Mokoginta, member of city council's Commission D for Development Affairs, remembered his school days when he would follow "fellow students and break fast before the time".

Actress Ayu Azhari said the month of fasting and prayers always reminded her of the importance of her family, both in her childhood and today.

"When I was little, I would cheat on my fast by going to the food stall next door in the early morning to buy village chocolates they used to sell back then.

"I would hide under the table and eat them after making sure everybody else was asleep."

She is now married to a Finn and is the mother of two sons and a daughter. "I remember the time when our family spent the fasting month in Finland. My son was so happy because days are shorter there in winter."

Fasting makes her feel healthier.

"Once on a talk show, a homeopathy expert explained to me about the digestive process. I was told the body takes eight hours for it."

"The stomach is not completely empty until after eight hours. Fasting not only gives the body a chance to rest, there is also the better circulation of blood."

Fasting is essentially about resisting temptation.

Budi Setiawan, manager of the Mexican restaurant Chi-Chi's, said he was most tested by the desire to eat.

"Both me and my wife are in the food business. Sometimes, we don't even have time to break the fast together. However, we try our best to break it together at least once a week together."

Temptation

Ayu said trivial temptations on the set could also be irritating.

"During food and drink scenes, you usually have food on your plate and a beverage in the cup. It gets so annoying when acting out scenes of eating or drinking something when there is nothing to eat or drink.

"However, fasting is about training yourself to set those feelings aside and not act on them."

After breaking their fast, Moslems prepare themselves for the evening Tarawih prayers. Most go with friends or family to the mosque.

While Lukman and his family join neighbors, Anti Soeroso, first secretary of the National Foster Parenting Movement and promotions manager for private TV station RCTI, prays with friends and children.

"The Tiara Putra orphanage conducts the Pesantren Ramadhan religious courses for children. Since they are not able to afford school and religious lessons, these children are taught for free about Islam," Anti said.

She said 5,000 students had participated in the two-week course.

The fast can sometimes mean shortened hours at work.

Anti said she usually edited programs at RCTI from 8 a.m. until the evening hours.

"However, during the fasting month, I try to leave earlier since I want to break the fast with the family," she said.

Lukman said his work schedule during the month was unchanged and productivity was about the same.

"The commission visitation would be performed as usual, with duration lessened a little in the morning," he said.

Praying

Either due to tradition or from their own recognition of its religious importance, most Moslems do not stray from the principles of the fasting month.

Although adhering to the dictate to pray five times a day -- Subuh, Dzuhur, 'Ashar, Maghrib and Isya' -- some Moslems allow themselves a little flexibility without compromising on content of the prayer.

"Simple instructions motivate me," Anti said. "We pray five times a day. The morning Subuh prayer is a must. When I find it hard to accommodate Dzuhur prayers, I do Ashar instead, or vice versa. Maghrib and Isya' too are a must."

Each prayer has a required sequence of movements called raka'at.

"This is done twice during Subuh, three times during Maghrib, and four times each for Ashar, Dzuhur and Isya'," Anti said.

Children are often given leeway in observing the fast.

"After beginning the fast at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., they can break it at 12 p.m. instead of the usual 6 p.m., depending on their endurance."

Anti added that parents could increase a child's willpower by putting back the breaking-of-the-fast by an hour or two each year.

Ayu said the realization of why one is fasting, not simply the following of parents or siblings for tradition's sake, was most important.

"Families teach how to fast and pray, but it is when one actually fasts that the realization comes."