Jakarta – The School of Environmental Sciences and the School of Strategic and Global Studies organized a Ramadan Tarhib entitled “Healthy Ramadan Physically, Mentally & Spiritually” with speaker KH. Saeful Bahri as Secretary of the Commission for Ukhuwah Islamiyah of the Indonesian Ulema Council.

Tarhib Ramadhan was held offline on Tuesday (21/3) at the IASTH building of the School of Environmental Science & School of Strategic and Global Studies located at the University of Indonesia Salemba. The event began with a speech by Athor Subroto, S.E., M.M., M.Sc., Ph.D Director of SKSG representing the leadership of SIL and SKSG. Athor hopes that the academic community and education personnel of SIL and SKSG can go through Ramadan well so that it can have a positive impact and change both on individual performance and collective performance in order to get something that is expected and indeed has been promised by Allah SWT.

After receiving remarks from the School Leader, the main event was the Ramadan tausiyah by KH. Saeful Bahri (Secretary of the Ukhuwah Islamiyah Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council). He began his talk by explaining the definition of Tarhib which means welcome or greeting.

KH. Saeful Bahri explained the background of the selection of the title “Ramadhan Healthy Physical, Mental & Spiritual” because a long time ago the Prophet Muhammad SAW said “Fasting, surely you will be healthy.”. The Secretary of the Ukhuwah Islamiyah Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council explained the reason from the medical side why fasting can be physically healthy because when we fast, we will not consume excessive food because there is a break during the day which will make fasting people healthier. He gave a real example, namely when fasting, people with ulcers will not feel pain even though they do not eat for a long time because they believe that fasting contains health. When viewed from the mental and spiritual side, he explained that some scholars argue that the month of Rajab is actually the month of planting, then the month of Sha’ban is the month of fertilizing and watering, and the month of Ramadan is the time to reap what has been planted, fertilized and watered which means that all worship will be multiplied in order to improve the quality of human spirituality.

“Eating too much can lead to more diseases, because sometimes we don’t see whether the food is healthy or not. Usually we prioritize taste,” said KH Saeful Bahri. He concluded that with the existence of fasting, we have been arranged in such a way and when we carry out fasting seriously it will undoubtedly nourish the physical, mental and spiritual.

The next agenda was followed by a question and answer session. The speaker received a question from Dr. Renny Nurhasana, M.A. as a lecturer of Urban Development Studies at the School of Strategic and Global Studies. “If seen from an Islamic perspective, how can Tafakur complement physical, mental and spiritual health?” she asked. “People who believe by concentrating on Allah SWT, thinking about the universe which then results in health and peace of mind, then it is far beyond those who worship (sunnah) in large numbers even though Tafakur is done only briefly and slightly.” said KH. Saeful Bahri.

After reciting a prayer led by KH Saeful Bahri, all SIL SKSG Academics and Education Personnel shook hands with each other to apologize so that Ramadan fasting could be carried out sincerely, solemnly, joyfully and remain enthusiastic about living the day of Ramadan.

Writer : Shahnaz Zavira