A time for renewal

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 10/23/2006 10:51 AM

Muslims in Indonesia could use this week's Idul Fitri celebrations to show the rest of the world the true face of Islam. No extraordinary effort is required. Emphasizing or highlighting the values and principles surrounding Ramadhan and Idul Fitri would be sufficient.

Islam has had more than its share of negative publicity this past year, a trend that dates back to the 9/11 terrorist attacks five years ago. Islam has enough detractors within and outside who are bent on convincing the world, even to the point of shaking the faith of some Muslims, that it is a religion that is intolerant of others and prone to the use of violence.

As it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, Huntington's clash of civilizations is no longer being portrayed as a clash between Islam and the West, but more and more now between Islam and the rest of the world.

Islam of course is not a violent and intolerant religion. But it is going to take a lot more than saying it to convince the increasingly skeptical world, which has seen enough violence committed in the name of the religion to believe the contrary.

The old adage ""show, don't tell"" applies equally here if Muslims want to convince the rest of the world that theirs is a peaceful and tolerant religion. And the Idul Fitri celebrations and the message that comes with them provide a window of opportunity for Muslims to show what Islam really stands for.

Idul Fitri is a time to celebrate victory over evil. The individual Muslim has passed the test of going without food and drink during the day for one month. He or she has suppressed other worldly desires for those few hours in a day, including containing his or her anger and emotions. It is an exercise of self restraint and self control more than anything else, one that should shape their values and characters.

Ramadhan is also a time to promote one's sense of empathy and solidarity, particularly with those who are less fortunate. What Muslims go through by not eating and drinking during the day time is just a tiny fraction of what many poor people go through all year round. But it is still a worthy and noble exercise, especially since towards the end of Ramadhan they must also give zakat fitrah, or alms, to purify the body and minds.

Then, there are the prayers, lots of them, performed either individually or collectively during Ramadhan. Interestingly, in the context of interfaith relationships, Muslims ask for safety and God's blessing for followers of Abraham, meaning the Jews and Christians, towards the end of every prayer.

No other religion prays for the wellbeing of followers of other faiths. This is a fact that many Muslims today forget, in spite of praying five times a day, that Islam is an inclusive religion that recognizes and accepts other faiths. Just remember that whatever their sentiment is towards Christians and Jews, Muslims pray for their wellbeing all the time.

The feasts that come during Idul Fitri celebrations may border on excessive but more important than the food are the gathering, the greetings, the exchange of gifts (though not for civil servants this year because it could amount to bribery) as relatives, neighbors, friends and colleagues renew their bonds. These meetings and greetings will continue for the next week or two, especially at workplaces.

An important aspect of these greetings is the spirit of begging and giving forgiveness, for sins that took place either by commission or omissions, or were even entertained in our thoughts but not committed. Essentially, all relationships start afresh without past baggage after Idul Fitri.

For some, Idul Fitri is also a time to get in touch with their roots as they head to their home villages to celebrate away from big cities like Jakarta. Undoubtedly they will return imbued with wholesome traditional family values.

There are enough values and principles taught in Islam and Indonesia's own tradition and cultures to highlight during this Idul Fitri and to show the rest of the world what Islam really stands for.

And Indonesia, with the world's largest Muslim population, has to lead the Muslim world in this campaign of showing, and not telling, what those values and principles are. Values and principles that we should live by every day, all year round. Idul Fitri is just the time to highlight or emphasize them.

To all our readers, we wish you Selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri. Minal Aidzin wal Faidzin.

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