Ustaz Irfan Abu Nazar, M.Ag., an Islamic teacher in FMIPA UNS, was invited as a speaker. In his speech, Ustaz Irfan stated that Ramadan should be welcomed with delight.

“In daily life, we often heard Marhaban ya Ramadan. Marhaban comes from the word rahb, which means open or expansive. Therefore, marhaban usually refers to the description of welcoming a guest with open heart, delight, and preparation,” he explained.

Further, Irfan added that it is also defined as a resting place or rest area to prepare for the next trip.

“Let us prepare ourselves in filling the Ramadan to prepare for the judgment day. Ramadan could serve as a spiritual madrasah, so that one’s spiritual practice improved,” Irfan added.

Ramadan also has a night better than a thousand months, the Lailatul Qodar.

“Why was Lailatul Qadar at the end (of Ramadan)? This is because to achieve or reach it (the night), we need to ready ourselves from the beginning. Thus, at the end of Ramadan, we could achieve a certain position or maqom,” he explained.

He quoted Quraish Shihab that only people who are preparing themselves from the beginning of Ramadan could meet the Lailatul Qadar.

“Everyone might want to find Lailatul Qadar, but Lailatul Qadar only sees people who have prepared themselves well,” he continued.

He added that fasting also serves as a way to build integrity. People who are fasting will not break their fasting because they believe Allah is all-seeing.

“If we realize that our every action is monitored by Allah, then our every step and action will be careful, do not cross the direction and prohibition from Allah because we will be held accountable for everything,” he explained.

Fasting also means a social responsibility so that people who fast for a month could grow better awareness of their social condition. Irfan hoped this opportunity could be used for Muslims with the best spirits. “Do not make your fasting be like your normal days. Then, when we could implement a better plan for Ramadan, we deserve to celebrate it because we have returned to purity,” Irfan concluded. Humas UNS

Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post FMIPA UNS Held Tarhib Ramadan appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

UNS invited Prof. Dr. Abdul Mustaqim, a Professor in Tafsir Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta as the speaker in the study session. The event was attended by the Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, Vice-Chairman of UNS Board of Trustees, Prof. Hasan Fauzi, Chairman of Academic Senate (SA), Prof. Adi Sulistiyono, and Chairman of UNS Board of Professor, Prof. Suranto. The study session was opened with a recitation of Al-Qur’an by Muhammad Hadziq Munajjih, a student of the Civil Engineering Program Faculty of Engineering (FT) UNS.

In his opening remark, Prof. Jamal stated that Ramadan is a glorious month for Muslims, and it is reasonable that people prepare for their mental and spiritual condition by welcoming the holy month. “It is a special momentum and invaluable opportunity for Muslims to improve their piousness, faith, grow honesty, learn sincerity, and social awareness to be a mutaqqin, the (highest) level of pious people,” Prof. Jamal added.

The Rector also hopes that Ramadan will not end up becoming a time for religious rituals that do not bring meaning, merits, and positive energy for people but become an opportunity to reap merits.

Prof. Dr. Abdul Mustaqim supported Prof. Jamal’s statement and said that Ramadan needs to be welcomed with joy.

“We should not feel that ‘oh no, tomorrow we are fasting again.’ Ramadan is fertile land for people who are diligent in farming and taking care of their deeds. At the right time, they will yield their efforts. But for those who do not farm on their lands, maybe they only yield grass. We need to make Ramadan a blessed month,” Prof. Dr. Abdul Mustaqim stated.

The speaker also reminded the participants to use their Ramadan to plant virtues, including reading Al-Qur’an and having a good niat in fasting. He also explained that there are two views on when to reiterate niat; one stated that it needs to be reiterated every day, and another stated that it is enough to reiterate at the beginning of Ramadan.

“If we have isbat, we need to have niat to fast for one month. Although we might be sick or have other challenges, in the end, we have niat, niat is better than its implementation for mukmin. Meaning that even when we haven’t done the activity, our positive niat will be considered as merit,” he added. Humas UNS

Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post Welcoming the Ramadan, UNS Held Tarhib Ramadan 1443 H Study appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

“Alhamdulillah, with Allah’s permission and blessing, we can complete the first day of the Ramadhan fasting. And Insyaallah, may we can pass the next days under a special Ramadan spirit because fasting is one of the supreme worships that a believer must do,” said Prof. Jamal.

It was mentioned in the Al-Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 183: `O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful (of Allah). “The verse shows that one of the wisdom of fasting during Ramadan is so that Muslims can reach a noble degree of piety,” added Prof. Jamal.

Then Prof. Jamal also believes wholeheartedly that Ramadan is a month full of blessing, mercy, and maghfirah. “For in the first 10 (ten), days of fasting is the phase of grace. This first phase is the phase of the toughest test to attain piety, and God will open the door of his mercy. Then the second 10 (ten) days of fasting is the maghfirah phase (forgiveness). The following 10 (ten) days of fasting are the final days of Ramadan, marked as the liberation from the fire of hell,” explained Prof. Jamal.

Prof. Jamal said that the arrival of Ramadan 1443 H is still in the Covid-19 pandemic situation. He further invited the viewers to take advantage of this opportunity by increasing worship and prayer so that the Covid-19 pandemic would soon end. “The Ramadhan fasting that we are conducting today is certainly a tough challenge because we are still facing the Covid-19 pandemic threat, which requires us to maintain immunity to stay healthy and avoid Covid-19 transmission. Ramadan is also an appropriate momentum to rejoice in improving the quality of oneself solely to achieve the degree of piety to Allah SWT. May Allah always accompany us at every step of our kindness, so we can always maintain the integrity within the fellowship and harmony for all the UNS residents who we love,” explained Prof. Jamal.

Finally, Prof. Jamal urges that during Ramadan, all Muslims should commit good deeds in all possible ways. As the Al-Qur’an says in Surah Al-Isra ’a verse 7, stating `If you act rightly, it is for your own good. But if you do wrong, it is to your own loss. Let’s enjoy the Iftar. May Allah SWT accepts all our acts of worship and deeds,” said Prof. Jamal. Humas UNS

Reporter: Lina Khoirun Nisa
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post UNS Rector: Spirit in Virtuous Charity During Ramadhan Fasting appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.