Youths active during Ramadhan

Youths active during Ramadhan

JAKARTA (JP): For Moslem youth organizations the fasting month
of Ramadhan is a time to step up their faith propagation
activities and increase social solidarity.

Imaduddin Abdullah, chairman of the Al-Azhar Youth Islamic
Study Club, said that another objective is self improvement.

"Self improvement comes not only from ritual activities, but
through religious understanding," he said.

The Al-Azhar Youth Islamic Study Club, founded in 1971, is the
first mosque-based youth organization in the country. It is based
at the Al-Azhar grand mosque on Jl. Sisingamangaraja in Kebayoran
Baru, South Jakarta.

The organization was also founded in response to the rise of
youth gangs in the capital and has inspired other youths to found
organizations at their mosques.

With more than 1,000 members between 16 and 33 years old, the
Al-Azhar club conducts a number of religious and social
activities, many at no charge, including a course on Islamic
affairs and Koran reading.

Mass circumcision, charity bazaars and free medical services
are also part of its social programs.

Seven programs

This year the Al-Azhar club is holding seven programs,
including radio talk shows, courses on Koran reading and Islamic
affairs, i'tikaf (contemplation), and an Idul Fitri card drawing
contest.

Small Talk will be aired on Radio Bahana 30 minutes before the
daily breaking of the fast while public discussions will be held
every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Al-Azhar mosque.

Public Koran reading and Islamic courses will be held on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Sunda Kelapa Moslem Youth organization based at the Sunda
Kelapa Mosque in Menteng, Central Jakarta, will hold its own
Ramadhan discussions, courses, bazaars and seminars.

The discussion, open to the public every Sunday at the Sunda
Kelapa grand mosque, will feature Toto Tasmara, Arief Rahman and
Dr. Dadang Hawari as speakers. Comedian Dedi Gumelar (also known
as Mi'ing), musicians Faturrachman and Dwiki Darmawan, singer
Widi, artist Maudy Koesnadi, and badminton players Joko
Supriyanto and Ricky Subagja are also scheduled to attend.

The organization's talk show, to be aired daily on Suara
Kejayaan at 5 p.m., will feature noted ulemas, scholars, artists
and public figures including Ali Yafie, Imaduddin Abrurrochim,
Dadang Hawari, Toto Tasmara, Dewi Motik Pramono, Zakky Mubarak,
Dedy Mizwar, Neno Warisman, Meisaroh ali, Abdurrahman Arroisy,
Nibras Salim and MS Ka'ban. (29)