There is always hope in Ramadhan

There is always hope in Ramadhan

For Muslims in Indonesia, this will be yet another Ramadhan
fasting month amid great economic and political crisis. Arief
Rahman, a renowned educator and preacher, sees that through
fasting, Indonesians could find solutions and work toward
becoming a great nation.

Question: What is the significance of Ramadhan for Indonesia?

Answer: Ramadhan is a training process for believers to become
muttaqqin (people who obey Allah). There are five "pearls" to be
won by observing the fasting month, which will also benefit us as
a nation. The first is the belief that above all powers, there is
the Almighty Allah, and that there is always hope. There is
always this belief in the power of Allah.

Muslims must never lose the hope that however bleak the
situation is now, there will be improvement.

But we cannot win this pearl unless we are honest. No more
stealing, no more corruption, no more abuse of position. We
cannot win this "cup" without exercising restraint. We need to
have this sense of shame (over misdeeds). We must no longer
accept without question things that are actually unacceptable
such as students who cheat or errant officials.

We also need to develop the strength to neither give in to our
urges nor to always blindly follow the dictates of human logic.
For instance, if our logic sees something as acceptable, we still
need to check whether it's halal or haram (religiously
permissible or forbidden). Our logic may tell us that it's all
right to cheat in marriage because we do not find marital
happiness at home, but that's haram. Or, we may feel that it is
all right to take bribes, but that is haram.

The second "pearl" is personal resilience. If we have this, we
will be able to withstand hardship in order to achieve something
of higher value. If we seek the blessings of Allah, we would be
able to forego our own interests for the benefit of many people.

If each one of us are bent on furthering our own interests in
such a crisis, then we will never have the strength to move
together and progress.

Ramadhan is a month when Muslims live by Allah's regulations.
We start fasting at a certain time, we break the fast at a fixed
time, there are things we must not do and others that we must
observe. The realization that we are committing ourselves to such
regulations gives us strength and prevents us from taking actions
based only on individual convenience. This is the third "pearl".

You know these days we see so many regulations being made
which are irrelevant, inconsistent and are against the
regulations of Allah. We see these regulations being made for
political purposes, for entertainment, and education etc., which
are against Allah's rules.

The fourth "pearl" is quality in our process of thinking and
responding to everything. Due to self-restraint, we have the time
to really think options through; we are encouraged to be patient,
to be forgiving. The violence in Aceh and Maluku will never be
resolved using logic alone. Who would not feel vengeful if one
had to witness the killing of one's parents or brothers and
sisters? But Ramadhan should mark a new beginning for all of us,
after we have forgiven one another.

The fifth "pearl" is that Ramadhan brings us closer to Allah,
because so many events during the month such as lailatul qadar
(the night when Allah sends all of his angels to earth to bring
His blessings and forgiveness) will train us to be syakur
(grateful). Now, most of us are better at complaining and finding
fault; we are not so adept at looking the positive side of
things, at thanking Allah.

If we can become believers who are honest, willing to
sacrifice our interests for the sake of others, who live in
discipline, who are forgiving and grateful for the bounty we have
received, this nation could become a great nation.

Q: What do you think is the most urgent problem facing
Indonesians?

A: The absence of good conduct. It is no longer the yardstick
with which we measure our lives and activities. In our life as a
nation, especially (for those in) the government, there's no
longer this need for morality.

The presence or absence of morality is reflected in a person's
words and deeds. We read in the media how people of importance
issue provocative statements, and how people choose to do
something purely out of greed. As a teacher, I am often taken
aback by how such important people can say and do such things
that are really not educating our young people.

Q: What do you suggest that Muslims do to usher in Ramadhan?

A: Start by asking the forgiveness of Allah and of people around
us. Help one another. Enhance silaturahim (literally "ties of
love" or good relationship with other people) by, for instance,
increasing visits to neighborhood mosques. Do you know that Allah
guarantees health and rizqi (livelihood, bounty, or many other
blessings) for people who maintain silaturahim? Now these ties of
love are not confined to Muslims only, but something that we must
maintain with members of other religious or ethnic groups.

There are of course other things that we should do to occupy
ourselves during Ramadhan, such as reading the Koran, the hadith
(the traditions and sayings of Prophet Muhammad) or religious
books. (swe)