Street Musicians and Marginalised Groups Attend Baznas Cahaya Pesantren Programme
The Indonesian National Zakat Board (Baznas RI) has collaborated with the Syakirah Ramadan Foundation to organise the “Marginalised Cahaya Pesantren Ramadan” programme at the National Garden in Serang, Banten on 7-8 March 2026.
The Marginalised Cahaya Pesantren Ramadan programme was attended by 100 participants comprising punk youth, street musicians, and members of the Street Singer Community (KPJ). These individuals, who typically spend their time at street intersections, were invited to deepen their religious knowledge through the programme.
Baznas RI Secretary-General Subhan Cholid stated that the Marginalised Cahaya Pesantren Ramadan is a Baznas RI Ramadan programme implemented across 20 locations in 11 provinces, including Serang. The programme is designed as a dawah (Islamic outreach) and social initiative targeting vulnerable and marginalised communities, aiming to provide them with an opportunity to study religion in a closer and more comfortable manner during the holy month.
“Over the two days, participants engaged in various religious activities, such as reciting the Qur’an together, performing tarawih and tahajud prayers in congregation, and sharing pre-dawn meals together,” Subhan said.
According to him, the sense of community created through the Marginalised Cahaya Pesantren Ramadan generated a warm and familial atmosphere. This moment became an opportunity for participants to temporarily leave the hustle and bustle of street life and draw closer to Allah.
“The activity also presented a dawah approach that was close to participants’ daily lives through street music art by singing Islamic-themed songs together with street musicians in a warm atmosphere of togetherness,” he explained.
Beyond providing spiritual benefits to marginalised groups, the programme is also one of Baznas’s efforts to present the benefits of zakat not merely in the form of economic assistance, but also through mental and spiritual development for the community, whilst serving as part of Islamic religious propagation in enlivening the Ramadan atmosphere.
During the event, preacher Ustaz Taufiq Akbar delivered material regarding the importance of spiritual transformation as a primary foundation for improving living standards and social dignity. He hoped that participants would awaken their potential and take positive new steps for their families and surrounding communities.
Meanwhile, Evi, a representative of the Syakirah Ramadan Foundation, appreciated the open atmosphere of the National Garden in Serang. According to her, the location made participants feel comfortable and not judged whilst attending the marginalised pesantren activity.
Baznas remains committed to continuously assisting communities affected by conflict and disaster, including in Palestine, with programmes aimed at meeting the clean water needs of 5,000 Palestinian residents lacking access to water. The distribution of food parcels across various areas in Palestine requires highly detailed coordination given the sensitivity of the region. The President, along with the Vice-President and several ministers of the Red and White Cabinet, made zakat payments through Baznas.