F

or Indonesian Muslims, this year'€™s Ramadhan is gaining particular momentum as the country will hold a presidential election on July 9, which falls within the fasting month of Ramadhan.

The coincidence of these factors falling within the same time period is, to a serious degree, expected to set the scene for burgeoning political esotericism across the nation.

Political esotericism refers to an exploration of the deep meaning of political relations and power.

Rather than dealing with transactional politics, political esotericism puts more emphasis on philosophical narrative where deep structures of enjoyment and proximity are inevitable.

As for the presidential election, such political esotericism is operational as Ramadhan encourages Muslims to practice their listening skills.

The Koran narrated the story of Mary who fasted and stopped talking to people when she was about to give birth to Jesus (19:26). Her decision to fast prior to Jesus'€™ birth blessed her with a divine gift: Jesus'€™ ability to talk while he was in Mary'€™s womb. Her fasting led to Jesus'€™ speaking capability.

What precious lesson can people get from this spiritual story? It teaches us that fasting from eating, drinking and talking makes us able to listen to our own dictates of conscience in a very proper manner.

Regarding the presidential election, Ramadhan is the golden moment for the presidential aspirants and their supporters to put their listening skills into practice. They must practice listening what people say about their drawbacks and what people say about others'€™ strengths. Ramadhan inspires people to go above and beyond themselves by applying the very essence of listening skills to '€œoutsiders'€.

Listening skills prompt the presidential candidate'€™s supporters to seek a common platform and lessen yawning gaps of dissimilarity. The former lies in human reach, while the latter is optional.

Listening stimulates different camps into fathoming that political truth is not a matter of black and white. Rather it is about relativism.

Prabowo Subianto vis-à-vis Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo should not be seen as winner and loser competition but instead a battle of speed and strategy.

Furthermore, listening pushes the presidential candidates'€™ supporters and opponents to see that polite political relations and power can only be established through dialogue, not force.

Through dialogue, they grasp that their political rivals are their critical partners in an attempt to develop this nation.

Equally important, Ramadhan paves the way for a presidential candidate'€™s devotees to stick to the principle of fastabiqul khairat, which literally means '€œrace each other in all things that are good'€. What Allah is saying is that all human beings, of whatever faith, tradition and preference, should work together for the common good.

In the context of the presidential election, the principle functions well as all supporters of a presidential candidate focus on program-based campaigns and get rid of character assassination.

The former is instrumental in establishing an objective political culture among the voters.

People need to be enlightened and educated that both the success and failure of the presidential hopefuls are closely linked to what extent the rank and file benefit from their vision, mission and programs in a practical manner.

Measurability, objectivity and rationalization, therefore, turn into common idioms people might comprehend on a regular basis.

The latter '€” to keep away from character assassination '€” is efficacious in fostering a humanitarian and gracious presidential campaign and election.

It is admitted that the soaring trend of character assassination targeting presidential candidates cannot be separated from the fact that many supporters are not ready to face their candidate'€™s limits and overlook their candidate'€™s rights.

A particular candidate is discriminated against just because his supporters have '€œloud mouths'€. Remembering when to keep silent and when to speak for supporters is the best way to acknowledge their candidate'€™s limit. As the saying goes, '€œa wise man only speaks when he deems is important'€.

In addition, knowing the candidates'€™ rights is necessary to avoid character assassination prior to the presidential election.

It is all about awareness, the more the candidate knows the less he will be assassinated.

Another thing is the more knowledge he has the more influence he will have over others.

Hence, a presidential campaign should stand and run based on
and bolstered by self-empowerment without scapegoating others simply to be the champion.

Ramadhan absolutely enriches Muslims'€™ spiritual experience and religiosity so long as they abide by Koranic messages offered during the fasting month.

The presidential election on July 9, without exception, could be a moment of spiritual awakening as mostly Muslim voters go to polls on behalf of their faith.

I wish all of you a very happy Ramadhan!

The writer is a lecturer in the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Andalas University, Padang.