Fasting and good deeds within plural society

By: Hasyim Muzadi

Fasting in the holy month of Ramadhan does not merely have a significance individually. Rather, it does emphasize on social significance in nature. That’s why, it’s expected for those who are fasting to do good deeds that are absolutely needed in society in sofar as Indonesia has been popular as a prospective country to do tolerance among religious adherents. Recently, issues about inter-religious harmony have been disturbed.

I don’t want to discuss matters dealing with the faith and belief because it is clear that the matters are related to each individual. What next we want to develop is that at present we are inevitably living in plural society. For that reason, doing good deeds and social services among religious adherents has likely become an issue that is necessary to extend and intensify.

Second, there is such a potential can be optimally functioned by the religious people within the frame to do good deeds in togetherness, say that how to eradicate poverty and unemployment.
So, pluralism in this context is not related to matters of creed and belief, but related to social aspect or mu’amalah. Within the context of nation and social life, in which we should unavoidably live within plural social condition. That’s why Muslims shouldn’t exaggerate the diversity.

Now, what should we search for and we endorse is on how seek equality in vision and mission especially in terms of social services and humanity. Clearly, Al-Qur’an asserted that all good deeds done by men and women would be rewarded by Allah swt. Respecting the belief, let Allah dispose it. 

Many things can be done in our country by endorsing cooperation and coordination call for social services and human projects. The process of social empowerment having such a nuance in eradicating poverty and unemployment needs to be likely hastened. The important thing to note is that do not turn the purposeful project to deal with inter-religious beliefs or force other people to convert to certain religion.

Islam calls for religious tolerance to respect and appreciate any diversities regardless of sociological, anthropological, and religious backgrounds. Even, in the Qur’an, Allah said that fasting in the month of Ramadhan as obliged duty. Al-Qur’an also mentioned about religious tolerance like fasting being obliged to other religious adherents before the coming of Islam.

General Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama.