The joint fast breaking program is expected to bring closer relations between the Saudi Arabia Kingdom and the Republic of Indonesia.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Religious and Educational Attaché of the Saudi Arabian Embassy, Sheikh Ahmad bin Isa Al-Hazimi, has represented King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the joint fast breaking program, and handed over dates at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, recently.

"We are certainly grateful that the joint fast breaking program can bring closer relations between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of Indonesia," Sheikh Al-Hazimi told journalists here, recently.

He also expressed his thanks, especially to the Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Prof. Dr. Nasaruddin Umar, and all the members of the management of the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.

"The important thing is that we remember that the month of Ramadan is the month of the Quran, the month when the Quran Al Kareem was revealed, which is a blessing for all of us with this Quran," said Sheikh Al-Hazimi.

Rasulullah sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam (ﷺ) said in one hadith, that whoever fasts with faith and ihtisab (intention and sincerity to hope for a reward), and always introspects himself, then all his sins will be forgiven by Allah subhanahu wa ta' ala (ﷻ), he said.

"And whoever fasts and then enforces his or her fast followed by other deeds of worship, it is as if he or she fast for one year," he explained.

According to Sheikh Al-Hazimi, fasting has enormous rewards in the month of Ramadan because this is when the deeds of worship are multiplied. Apart from that, Ramadan is a month full of forgiveness, so Muslims are commanded to be serious in repenting. ‘There is no reward for those who fast except paradise.’

"I urge you to take advantage of the month of Ramadan which was given by Allah (ﷻ) to be istiqomah (consistent) in reading the Quran, doing dhikr and carrying out other sunnah worship because our opportunity to get this month of Ramadan is truly an extraordinary blessing from Allah (ﷻ )," he said.

He also suggested that Muslims increase their almsgivings, help the poor with other social deeds during the blessed month of Ramadan.

"In the month of Ramadan there is a night called 'lailatul qadar' and whoever meets this night, his reward will be multiplied by Allah (ﷻ)," Sheikh Al-Hazimi noted.

If a Muslim prays sincerely and fervently on the night of lailatul qadar, then Allah (ﷻ) will erase all the sins he or she has committed, he said.

"And let us use this month of Ramadan to increase our prayers to Allah (ﷻ), asking for goodness so that we can use the month of Ramadan with full success and blessings," he said, while calling on Muslims to pray for parents, children and the whole family, while hoping that Allah (ﷻ) give you health so you can carry out your fast perfectly.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Ramadhan Program at the Istiqlal Mosque, Ismail Cawidu, said that two months before the holy month of Ramadan arrived, his party has prepared the Istiqlal Mosque from all aspects.

"We have prepared everything to welcome Ramadhan, including matters of hygiene, sanitation, equipment, sound system, ablution areas, toilets, prayer areas, and landscaping," he explained in an interview with Indonesia Window in Jakarta, recently.

Apart from that, he continued, his party has also prepared the things needed during Ramadan, including prayer schedules, muezzins, qori' (readers of the Quran), lecturers and congregational prayer leaders.

A meal to break the fast together is also served every day at the sixth largest mosque in the world. "We provide 4,000 rice boxes. We give this to all congregations wherever they come from."

"On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, we increase the number to 6,000 rice boxes because the number of worshipers coming to the Istiqlal mosque was very high, even from various regions in the country," Ismail noted.

He further explained that another Ramadan program at the Istiqlal Mosque was the itikaf program in the last 10 days of Ramadan.

Itikaf is done by staying silent in the mosque and spending all his time in worship such as prayer, dhikr, reading the Quran and hadiths.

"In the last 10 days of Ramadhan, we will provide 2,500 packages of rice boxex for sahur (morning meals during month of Ramadan)," Ismail said, adding that the Ramadhan program will also include providing aid to 1,000 orphans.

Reporting by Bambang Purwanto