Be Steadfast in Face of Pandemic

After fasting in solemnity, it is time for us to welcome Idul Fitri.

It is the day when Muslims end their month-long fast and when people are encouraged to start to reflect on the essence of sharing for others.

Idul Fitri is a perfect occasion to imbue into one’s life the virtue learned in Ramadan, which provides an appropriate momentum for self-reflection and self-correction.

Also read:

^ Lebaran, Religious Reflection and Nationalism

^ Fasting and Social Observance

Being aware of having done a mistake, we must be resolved not to repeat it again. In the case of truthfulness and goodness, we have no other choice but to carry on striving for it.

It’s important to note, as Imam Al-Ghazali says in Ihya’ Ulumuddin, that the key to success is how we can keep the balance (attawazun). Whatever we do should be based on the process of balance.

The wisdom of fasting

Not only is fasting about restraining starvation, thirst, greed and anger, but more than that, it is a medium to do good for others. In other words, fasting should be instrumental to creating a cultivation field to yield good deeds.

The prescribed disbursement of zakat fitrah (charity) at the end of Ramadan means that fasting is about spreading compassion and caring for others.

In a more universal term, fasting means honing the sense of humanity. We are educated to feel people’s suffering from hunger and moved to extend hands for others through zakat fitrah.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Residents pay zakat fitrah at the Al-Azhar Mosque zakat distribution service tent, South Jakarta, Friday (7/5/2021). The Al-Azhar Great Mosque opened a drive-thru zakat fitrah payment service during the Covid-19 pandemic by enforcing health protocols to make it easier for car driver, motorcycle and pedestrians to pass through the area.

Ali al-Jurjawi, in Hikmatus Tasyri Wafalsafutuh (1980), tries to underline the wisdom behind the prescription of Islamic teachings, including fasting.

I find three dimensions of wisdom he presented regarding the obligation to do fasting – physical, spiritual and social dimension or ijtimaiah.

The first and second dimensions have been discussed and explored at length. About the first dimension, Prophet Muhammad PBUH mentions in a narration, "Observe fasting, then you will be a healthy person."

In a broader context, the fasting month of Ramadan serves as a training school for us to increase our sense of caring for others and train to become a human being who has inner sensitivity and social empathy so that they celebrate Idul Fitri as a "reborn" individual with innate nature.

Also read:

^ Fasting, Reaching Piety and Blessings

^ Pandemic and Rejuvenating Month of Ramadhan

That Ramadan serves as a school to sharpen inner sensitivity and social empathy is also related to the third dimension of wisdom.

We really need to raise this dimension in relevance to current conditions, in which all the resources of our nation are being driven to battle the pandemic. Empathy, social cohesion, care for others and brotherly ties are increasingly overstretched and almost fading.

Social sensitivity

Sense of empathy should be nurtured during the fasting month out of self-restraint from hunger and thirst. We should feel how much people suffer from hunger and the difficulty in fulfilling their food needs.

We also ought to learn from the teaching of giving zakat fitrah to mustahik (beneficiaries). Both are empirical evidence that fasting is a vehicle to hone our social sensitivity.

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Illustration

In a hadith narration, Prophet Muhammad SAW says, "O people, whoever among you gives an iftar meal to the believers who fast in this month, then in Allah.\'s side the value is the same as freeing a slave and you are forgiven for your sins."

The above teaching was imparted by Prophet Muhammad prior to the start of Ramadan. The Prophet emphasized the obligation of fasting for Muslims and its valuable teaching about social care by sharing for others.

Concern for others, if we observe more deeply, is part of social piety, as well as the pinnacle character of a Muslim – that is one who is beneficial for others. A hadith narration says, "Khairunnasi anfauhum linnas." The best human beings are those who benefit others.

Also read: Fasting Across Traditions

Hereby, I would like to point out that what is called social care in the framework of the fasting month of Ramadan must carry over consistently to the momentum of Idul Fitri and the following months throughout the year.

Being grown out of love, social care, which is manifested in the act of sharing for others, will bring blessings to others.

Ramadan culminates in Idul Fitri, which is a celebration of victory in fights against lust, egoism, greed and various bad inclinations during the fasting month.

That the command for giving alms is mentioned first in An-Nisa 114 further justifies that being charitable is an attitude highly recommended to pursue in Islam. The religion highly upholds the spirit of philanthropism --  the spirit to share for others.

In a hadith narrated by Imam Muslim and Abu Hurairah, Prophet Muhammad PBUH says, "Indeed, wealth will not decrease, only because of being apportioned for charity." In interpreting this hadith, an expert commentator, Shaykh Ali Ash-Shabuni (2000) says that what is meant by the assurance of unlessening wealth against charity is that Allah SWT will always stack up and cleanse the wealth of someone who is willing to give alms.

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A Helmy Faishal Zaini

Ala kulli hal, Ramadan culminates in Idul Fitri, which is a celebration of victory in fights against lust, egoism, greed and various bad inclinations during the fasting month. So, at this peak momentum, we must be able to use it to improve sensitivity, care and social ties, especially in the difficult times because of today’s pandemic.

Hopefully, we will always be human beings pure-hearted in the face of the pandemic. Have a happy Idul Fitri. Wholeheartedly, forgive me.

Wallahu ‘alam bis shawab (God knows best)

A Helmy Faishal Zaini, Secretary General of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board

This article was translated by Musthofid.