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Muslim expats adjust to Ramadhan in Jakarta
For 29-year-old Amin, Ramadhan in Jakarta cannot be more different than what he experienced in his hometown of Rabat, Morocco: no more eating and praying with his family, or — what he seems to miss the most — walking around the neighborhood to help digest the big meal they just had for iftar (breaking-of-the-fast meal)
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or 29-year-old Amin, Ramadhan in Jakarta cannot be more different than what he experienced in his hometown of Rabat, Morocco: no more eating and praying with his family, or — what he seems to miss the most — walking around the neighborhood to help digest the big meal they just had for iftar (breaking-of-the-fast meal).
Many Muslims would say that the rare opportunity to enjoy a meal with the entire family or close friends was the main, non-religious reason why they were so enthusiastic to welcome Ramadhan. For Amin, however, the holy month now comprises early dinners before going straight to bed.
Working for an international energy company, he is fully aware that living overseas for an extended period of time is among the consequences of choosing his line of work. But while rest of the calendar year brings no challenges for a single man working thousands of kilometers away from home, Ramadhan always comes as the hardest test.
“There are big differences in the Ramadhan vibes [when you are far from home],” he told The Jakarta Post. “Or maybe, I just don’t know where to go [in Jakarta].”
If there were any advantages in spending the fasting month in Jakarta, it would be how easy it was to find food in the city, even compared to his hometown, he said, adding that vegetables, sweet dishes and eggs for protein were his favorite meals to break the fast.
“Sticky rice in banana leaf is also nice for dessert,” Amin said.
As the capital city of a country boasting the world’s largest Muslim population, many things change in Jakarta during Ramadhan. Fewer restaurants and food stalls operate during the day to respect people who are fasting, traffic peaks earlier than usual, more people flock to the mosques and Ramadhan-themed programs dominate local TV stations.
Ahsan Khasimuddin, who works at the United States Embassy’s political section, has plans to return to Washington DC for the next few weeks, but if there is one thing he will remember from fasting in Jakarta, it is the strong cultural connection built by the large Muslim population. With so many people refraining from consuming food and water for more than half a day, he could feel a sense of community and fellowship in the city.
“[Living] in other countries where Muslims are the minority, you will wonder if there is another Muslim nearby,” he said.
Khasimuddin added that in terms of fasting hours, Ramadhan in Jakarta was actually easier than in his hometown in California; the fasting period in Jakarta lasts only around 13 hours, while in North America, it could last to 16 or 17 hours.
“So, in terms of fasting hours and a sense of community, it is easier here in Indonesia,” he added.
To bolster the Ramadhan spirit, mosques across the capital also open their doors to provide food for the community, even for non-Muslims who wish to experience the ambiance of the holy month and share a meal with friends and neighbors.
Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta, for example, said that many foreigners who did not fast have visited Southeast Asia’s largest mosque during Ramadhan to see how people have iftar together in Jakarta.
Istiqlal spokesperson Abu Hurairah said one of the mosque’s officials would gladly take visitors on a tour during the day or after sunset.
