Idul Fitri literally means a festival of breaking the fast or allowing people to eat and drink again during the day.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
The enthusiasm to celebrate Idul Fitri is being seen almost everywhere in this country as millions of people are now allowed to go on mudik (exodus) without the restrictions of the past two years.
The previous two Idul Fitri celebrations were overshadowed by fears of contracting the COVID-19 virus, which had exploded into a global pandemic. The tradition of mudik in which millions of people throughout the country return to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri was restricted in the last two years to curb the spread of COVID-19 .
Idul Fitri literally means a festival of breaking the fast or allowing people to eat and drink again during the day. There are also those who interpret it as a time when the soul becomes clean again. The suggestion to maintain self-control during fasting reminds us not to just endure hunger and thirst but also to control our passions so that we will understand ourselves better and be honest about it.
Therefore, Muslims are obliged to issue zakat fitrah (obligatory alms) so that all people can celebrate Idul Fitri with joy.
By fasting we get closer to the Creator and can further promote relationships with other people. It also includes building solidarity with the less fortunate. Therefore, Muslims are obliged to issue zakat fitrah (obligatory alms) so that all people can celebrate Idul Fitri with joy.
In the context of holding back our passions, we should not be carried away by the joy of mudik. It must still be remembered that there is a chance for us to transmit COVID-19 to our parents and relatives in our hometown. Refraining from overdoing and harming others, which is the main goal of fasting in Ramadan, should become our daily habit.
Therefore, we are concerned that during the holy month of Ramadan, many cases of corruption allegedly committed by officials and businessmen were revealed. The first case is related to the issuance of export permits for cooking oil raw materials. The second case is about the misappropriation of state funds.
If the case is later proven in court, it really will harm the sense of justice. For months, people have been having to pay up to 50 percent more for cooking oil, a basic need for the people, even though we are the world's largest producer of palm oil, the raw material for cooking oil. The price increase has hurt many people, especially those on lower incomes who generally like fried food. Cooking oil should be a cheap source of fats for us, in addition to giving food a delicious taste.
Among those killed or displaced are Ukrainian Muslims. The war has caused the prices of a number of foodstuffs to rise, thus adding to the burden on poorer people.
On Idul Fitri, which is a day of joy, we should also remember the suffering of people such as those in conflict-ridden regions, including Ukraine, which has become the victim of Russian invasion. Among those killed or displaced are Ukrainian Muslims. The war has caused the prices of a number of foodstuffs to rise, thus adding to the burden on poorer people.
All of this reminds us to always share with the less fortunate and help maintain a peaceful atmosphere.
If we are not able to do it at the global level, we can do it at the national or local level. At least, we can help the people around us, such as our neighbors and fellow workers. Thus, our fasting is not just to endure hunger and thirst.
(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)