This ramadhan might be
never the same as ramadhan that we have passed before, or perhaps with ramadhan
that we will face in the following year. Sure, the differences are not only about
change of the year period in almanac, or the length of fasting time that we
will have in a day. However, these are caused by the many kinds of events
happened in this holy month. Some of them can be classified as the predicted occurrence,
while the others are not.
For those predicted or already known before are such as the
world cup 2014 held in Brazil and the biggest national event in Indonesia, the
presidential election, held on Wednesday, 09 July 2014. On the other hand,
those which are not envisaged before are such as the unresolved conflict
between Palestine and the “damned” Israel as well as the latest crash of
Malaysia Airlines in Ukraine. I strongly argue that, those kinds of things are
likely to influence the value of this jolly fasting month.
Firstly, I would like to
explain how the world cup 2014 in Brazil affects to Moslem doing fasting as one of their obligations. In
this blissful month, Moslem are strongly encouraged to recite the holy Qur’an,
participate in communal pray (jamaah)
and multiply or raise for bearing Allah SWT in mind (i’tikaf) at mosque. Unfortunately, most people neglected the
importance of this blissful chance which was reliable to improve the intimacy
of God-creaturers. It seems that many of them prefered watching world cup
matches to reciting the holy Qur’an. They were also able to steak their eyes on
football games while for doing communal pray and taraweh, they could not. These things, of course will contribute to
the lessen of the value of ramadhan. Whereas in this holy fasting period any single benevolences will be multiplied.
Secondly, the
destructive raid by Israel in Gaza also affects to the quality of fasting month
this year, especially for those living in Gaza Strait. As reported by Foreignpolicy.com people in Gaza
preferred to stay calm and sleep instead of doing suhoor, the meal eaten before the dawn coming. Furthermore, they
also intended to hear the news related to the bloodshed rather than having
break fasting (iftar) as the sun
sets. Suhorr and iftar are supposed to be as
the most special part of fasting day, but the “chaos happened” lead them to stop
to eat, and instead check the news nonstop to keep track of where the
bombardments are. It certainly lowered the value of this fasting month since
all Moslem fasting are strong encouraged to have suhoor and iftar as part
of their fasting. Similar reasons apply to the fierce between Ukraine and
Russian-pro separatist crashing MH17- one of the board of Malaysian Airlines
recently.
Another factor that is
supposed to be a key factor in lessening the worth of this sacred month is the
state-run event so-called general election of Indonesia’s president. As It can be clearly seen how Indonesian are
easily to be provoked by the issue related to president candidate. In fact, the
issues do not always represent the truth or reality. Even more, most of them are
often likely to appear as a smear or black campaign. In Islamic term, fasting
is not only coping with hunger and thirsty. It involves entire parts of our
body such as foots from going to the restricted places, eyes from seeing the forbidden
things, hands from taking something inappropriately, and mouth from saying any slander,
backbiting and about unimportant things. Fasting month is also a pathway to
build a better relationship with our society. It teaches Moslem to respect
others, include to those who are in different belief and faith. Therefore, all of
these should be preserved perfectly, otherwise fasting will only give to hunger
pangs and thirst.
Good news is that the world
cup 2014 and general election had already over, so it is the chance to be more
focus on the ramadhan’s purpose and fix all of the mess up. Fasting month now is
in its third asharah – the last ten
days of ramadhan. Some people may view that it is too late to take an action up,
however the third asharah is the most
essential part of the throughout this blessing ramadhan. We may have no such a promising
start in this ramadhan, but it does not always lead to a gloomy at the end. Where
there is the will there is a way. As as long the the willingness to be a better
creatures is still awoken, there is
always possibility to achieve the ultimate goal of ramadhan- the muttaqin. All of us want to be granted
as the muttaqin, don’t we?
Happy Eid Mubarrak! May
Allah accept our fast and deeds! Ameen.
