Muslims urged to be prudent in spending during fasting month

The chairman of Indonesia's second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, Din Syamsuddin,  urged all Muslims in the country to lead a healthy life and be prudent in spending  during the Ramadan month.

“As the essence of Ramadan is self control, its implication should have been prudent in the spending,” Din said.

Din made the remarks because Muslims are usually trapped in Ramadan consumerism in which consumption during the fasting month even doubles from the ordinary ones.

“This is so because they (the Muslims) only change the schedule of eating, without necessarily reducing the volume of what they eat due to the availability of additional food,” he said.

Therefore Din reiterated the importance of prudent spending and healthy life by consuming 'halal' food and doing exercises.

Din also urged Muslim organizations to refrain from committing violent acts that can harm social harmony in the country.

He expressed concern over the Sunday's attack on followers of a Christian congregation in Bekasi, West Java.

Followers of the HKBP church congregation were assaulted on Sunday. Twenty people were injured, most of them were women.

"(The incident) proves the poor level of tolerance among us," Din said.