, The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 10/20/2006 10:31 AM | Opinion
Nanang Tahqiq, Jakarta
In Ramadhan, everything Islamic is praised, but after that we become secular again. That is the conclusion of my recent conversation with five Bangladeshi Muslims. The Asia Foundation in Jakarta took the five on a tour of places in the city that are regarded as Islamic.
At the Baytul Qur'an (Koran House) located in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, East Jakarta, we met a crew from a private TV station that was shooting a Ramadhan special.
The crew's activity became an entry point for our discussion about the holy month in our respective countries.
After talking to the station's program manager, one of the guests asked, ""is it true that TV stations here make special programs for Ramadhan?""
""Yes, of course,"" I said.
""It's just the same as in my country,"" he said.
""But you should realize,"" I continued, ""all is Islamic just in Ramadhan, after that we become secular again.""
He laughed loudly and said, ""Yeah, absolutely it's also like that in Bangladesh.""
We reached the same conclusion about the behavior of Muslims in the fasting month.
Ramadhan is a very important month. Public figures and celebrities demonstrate their ""strong faith"" during this time. They take to wearing the headscarf, going to the mosque regularly and attending majlis taklim (Koran study group). They speak just like ustadz (teacher) and kyai (head of Islamic boarding school).
However, it is all for the cameras. They do not necessarily practice what they preach. They behave like good Muslims for the sake of their image and their career. After Idul Fitri, they return to their old ways.
This phenomenon could be called ""symbolic Islam"". They assume -- perhaps even believe -- that to be a good Muslim means wearing the headscarf, reciting passages from the Koran or using Islamic expressions like alhamdulillah (Praise be to God).
Indonesian Muslims, and Bangladesh Muslims too -- according to my Bangladeshi friends -- follow their religion only during Ramadhan.
Symbols are important, of course, but they should not be our goals.
Indonesian Muslims are still confused about the difference between symbols and goals. This becomes a problem in politics, education, culture and nation and character-building.
For that reason, it is wrong to think of being a Muslim as dressing like one. The goal of Muslims should be to stop evil acts like human rights abuses, corruption in the courts and hedonism.
Many Muslims mistakenly believe that fasting is just a matter of refraining from eating and drinking. But the Koran teaches us to ""... devour not one another's possessions wrongfully, and neither employ legal artifices with a view to devouring sinfully, and knowingly, anything that by right belongs to others."" (al-Baqarah/2: 188.)
The purpose of fasting is to do good deeds. What does it matter if we wear the headscarf but behave like a tyrant?
It is true, fasting in the right way requires a lot more effort. Recently, religious songs (or Ramadhan ones) have been set to rock music. Perdamaian (meaning peace), which was originally a kasidahan (Arabic song), is now sung by a number of rock bands. It takes time to bring about change.
However, if from year to year, celebrities and public figures act like preachers during Ramadhan, but there is no change within the community in terms of conduct and ethics, then they have actually failed.
Hopefully, this Ramadhan we can obtain laylat al-qadr (blessings) through this discussion, by clearly defining the roles of television and of good Muslims.
The writer is a lecturer at State Islamic University Hidayatullah, Jakarta, and Paramadina University.
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