Chief Justice Anwar Usman delivering his remarks at an iftar gathering for all staff members, Wednesday (4/20/2022). Photo by Humas MK/Bayu.

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Wednesday, April 20, 2022 | 19:40 WIB

JAKARTA, Public Relations—The Constitutional Court (MK) held an iftar gathering for its staff members on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at the hall of Building I. Chief Justice Anwar Usman, Deputy Chief Justice Aswanto, the Constitutional Justices, Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah, Chief Registrar Muhidin, and other officials attended the event, which was observed on the 18th day of Ramadan.

The chief justice said in his remarks that the month of Ramadan signifies the Muslim obligation of fasting an entire month. The activity is one of the pillars of Islam. He also quoted a hadith from Abdullah bin Umar, where Rasulullah SAW said, “Islam is built upon five: to worship Allah and to disbelieve in what is worshiped besides him, to establish prayer, to give charity, to perform Hajj pilgrimage to the house, and to fast the month of Ramadan.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 8 and Muslim 16)

He added that sawm means abstaining from certain provision that are otherwise allowed, such as eating, drinking, and intercourse, with a specific procedure. There are many benefits to fasting during the month of Ramadan, he added. It has been practiced by Muslims in the past.

“If fasting was not a great form of worship, [Muslims] in the past would not be obligated by Allah to fast during Ramadan,” Justice Anwar said.

In al-Baqarah 183, Allah SWT said, “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop God-consciousness.”

Justice Anwar added that the reward fasting during Ramadan is infinite. Allah SWT would not oblige His worshippers to do something without any reason and virtue. Fasting during Ramadan is no exception. Muslims who fast in the month of Ramadan will get an infinite reward.

Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet Muhammad SAW said, “Every deed of the son of Adam is multiplied, a single deed as ten times the like of it up to seven hundred times. Allah SWT said, ‘Except for fasting, which is for Me, and I will reward it.’” It was also said, “The unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1904 and Muslim 1151)

Justice Anwar said fasting narrows the bloodstream and shaitan flows in all humans like blood, so fasting extinguishes its whispers and defeats evils.

“Fasting also suppresses passion and anger. Therefore, the Prophet SAW made fasting a panacea for people who have the desire to get married but have not. There are great benefits to fasting during Ramadan. Take advantage of Ramadan fasting this year with as much good deeds as possible,” he added.

Before the iftar, Muhammad Ardiansyah, Director of Pesantren at-Taqwa of Depok, lecturer at the Postgraduate Program of the Darullughah wad Da’wah (IAI-DALWA) Islamic Institute of Bangil, and teacher of Pesantren Mahasiswa (PESMA) al-Hikam of Depok delivered a tausiyah (informal proselytizing). During the event, the Court also handed out aids to the families of deceased staff members.

Writer        : Utami Argawati
Editor        : Nur R.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 4/22/2022 11:17 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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