The significance of Idul Fitri

The significance of Idul Fitri

As we celebrate Idul Fitri, a sense of release prevails because we have completed the effort. We would like to emphasize that Moslems have performed the month-long fast in order to find a new balance on both personal and community levels.

On the personal level, what we sought to achieve was to control and conquer our bodily desires. On the community level, we pay alms, which has a high degree of urgency in our society because many Indonesians still live in want.

Aside from this, it is good to remember that there still are many, complicated problems facing the Indonesian nation. While Moslems, who make up the majority of Indonesians, achieve their personal victory in the test of the month of Ramadhan, they hopefully also attain a renewed mental and intellectual vigor which will enable them to probe the various economic, social and political inequalities that still prevail.

-- Kompas, Jakarta