Inspired:: A girl santri (student) reads from the Koran by candlelight as part of a tradition known as semaan or tadarus.

Apart from sholat tarawih, or nonobligatory evening prayers during the fasting month, Muslims observe the tradition of semaan or tadarus, or reading and listening to Koran recitations during Ramadhan.

Unsurprisingly, mosques and Islamic boarding schools are crowded with people reciting verses of the holy book during the holy month.

Usually practiced after obligatory prayers for one to two hours or in the evening for a longer time, Koran readings to khatam (the end part) mark Ramadhan activities in several old mosques in Surakarta, Central Java, such as the Grand Mosque of Surakarta Palace, the Al Wustho Mosque of Mangkunegaran Palace and Laweyan Mosque.

In the evenings, usually after breaking the fast and tarawih prayers, the three heritage buildings of worship are packed with Muslims for the semaan ritual. They come not only from Surakarta, but from nearby towns such as Klaten, Boyolali, Karanganyar, Sragen, Sukoharjo and Wonogiri. The number of participants increases from the 17th to 29th day of Ramadhan.

'€œThe odd dates of the month are believed to be those of Lailatul Qadar [descent of Koran verses], with multiple rewards if we perform such worship on the odd evenings in succession,'€ said Al Wustho Mosque manager Muhammad Toha Mustafa.

During Ramadhan, according to Toha, Al Wustho holds a semaan daily, so Muslims can be found reciting the Koran in the mosque throughout the month.

'€œWe begin semaan after dzuhur [noon prayers], which continue until azhar [afternoon prayers]. For about three hours, ritual participants read the Koran as well as listen to interpretations of the verses recited,'€ Toha said.

At Al Wustho, the tradition has been practiced since the early 1940s. For the first 25 days of Ramadhan, santri, or students, read 30 sections, comprising 114 chapters and 6,666 verses of the Koran.

Students who are beginners normally complete their recitation on the 25th evening. Fluent readers of the holy book can complete khatam recitations two or three times over the course of Ramadhan. '€œOn the 26th day, they will repeat the recitation of all sections,'€ added Toha.

At Laweyan Mosque, the oldest in the city and a relic of the Pajang Kingdom, semaan is conducted in groups, each composed of four to five students. The complete their recitations under the guidance of an official of the mosque.

Laweyan Mosque holds fewer people. Its seaman prioritizes novices.

'€œDuring Ramadhan, we can provide direction for 20 to 30 students of khatam recitation of the Koran. The number isn'€™t as large as those at big mosques, but we'€™ve carried out this tradition for 20 years,'€ said Muhammad Iqbal from Laweyan Mosque.

At the Grand Mosque of the Surakarta Sultanate, things get busy after the 10th day of fasting. On the odd dates of Ramadhan, Muslims crowd the mosque, with many even sitting on the terrace of the building.

Among the Islamic boarding schools (ponpes) practicing semaan is Baitul Mustofa in Mojosongo in Surakarta, where students carry out the ritual in a unique way. On certain evenings, students recite the Koran outdoors, using torches and oil lamps for illumination.

Collective: Students and the staff pray and sing songs about the Prophet Muhammad at the Baitul Mustofa Islamic boarding school (ponpes) in Mojosongo in Surakarta.

'€œWe want to bring our santri closer to nature. This method is also meant to make them always remember their religious obligations, in spite of the availability of adequate lighting,'€ said ponpes manager Singgih.

Outdoor semaan are scheduled for Thursday evenings.

On the first such evening this month, around a hundred students, mostly children, walked to a vacant plot not far from their boarding school.

With a chill in the air and a wind that caused torches and oil lamps to flicker, the students sat on mats and prepared to follow the ritual with enthusiasm.

It began with shalawatan, chants of praises for Muhammad. Dozens of ponpes workers and the santri group sat face-to-face.

Candlelight:: '€œWe want to bring our santri closer to nature,'€ said school manager Singgih.

Sacred:: Sacred: A boy santri (student) reads from the Koran by candlelight as part of a tradition known as semaan or tadarus.

The religious verses were sung with tambourine accompaniment. The dim light added to the holiness of the atmosphere.

After an hour, the students started reading about 20 chapters of the Koran, continuing what they had recited in the morning, noon, afternoon and early evening in the hall of their school.

'€œWe also gather for semaan every night until the khatam recitation day before Ramadhan is over. The only aim of this tradition is to seek the blessing of Allah,'€ Singgih said.

 '€œAfter the 17th, we keep reciting Al Quran together every night, at the same time commemorating Nuzulul Quran [revelation]. We will always maintain this sacred ritual,'€ added Singgih.

 

'€” Photos by JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi