Picture : D. Supriyanto JN, Genaral Secretary of PWRI head quarter
March 23rd, 2023
Reported by: PO
Written by: D. Supriyanto JN
(PWRI General Secretary)
Fasting Improves Work Ethic
AsiaNationNews (ANN)
Alhamdulillah, we can meet again with the holy month of Ramadan. A great month, a month full of blessings and forgiveness, a month that Muslims all over the world look forward to. Ramadan fasting can also be interpreted as the month of ‘jihad’. Jihad to defeat lust.
Not a few people make fasting an excuse to be lazy. So that productivity goes down. Whereas Ramadan is the month of jihad. Interpreting it, we must have the intention and spirit of jihad. Productivity should actually increase.
The virtue of fasting in the phase of the first ten of Ramadan is mercy. It means mercy for the gifts and favors given by Allah to us as His hambahya.
We as humans must be good at being grateful for all the gifts of health, welfare, and strength given by Allah, one of which is to increase work ethic.
The purpose of fasting is for us to be pious. In the verse that commands fasting is called la ‘allakum tattaqun (so that you are pious). The word piety certainly covers all the good we do. Including the work we do every day part to achieve piety. Some say that the fasting we do is the stitching of our piety clothes.
In fasting, there are three main values: First, there is a critical and caring attitude towards the surrounding social environment; Second, there is a link between personal piety and social piety (group), and; Third, the birth of an innovative, creative, efficient and innovative religious spirit.
Of the three values that embedded a number of fasting spirit in an effort to increase work productivity. Increased work productivity, one way starts during Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is the initial test to test one’s work ethic. If the work ethic increases during Ramadan, then it can be ascertained naturally that work productivity also continues to increase in the months after Ramadan.
The essence of human life activity boils down to two elements, namely elements of worship and sin. All of us are in one of these elements in every work activity we do. With a note that our existence in one element is very dependent on the intention of carrying out every job we do.
In a hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet said that “Verily (the value of) work depends on what is intended.” So the value of a form of work, not only seen from productivity performance, but also must be seen holistically and philosophically in good or bad intentions.
In the month of Ramadan, all acts of worship will be multiplied. Hence, because the value of worship is high, it is certain that everyone will be competing for activities in an effort to increase good work productivity. For those who understand this merciful month will certainly increase various activities (worship), and certainly try to reduce activities that have elements of sin. So that the fasting undertaken is accepted by Allah SWT.
Imam Al-Ghazali in his monumental work, Ihya Ulumuddin said that after we carry out fasting and other practices, we must respond with two maqams, namely khauf (worry) and raja’ (hope). This means that we must make fasting truly a great worship and can bring inspiration to us, our families and the ummah as a whole. As an effort so that the fasting we carry out is accepted by Allah SWT.
Fasting contains many spirits. From various disciplinary studies, fasting for a person contains many benefits, both in terms of health, economy, politics and education. Among the spirits that are no less important than the essence of fasting is the increasing human work ethic in undergoing routine work.
At least will give birth to five spirits of fasting in the work ethic: First, the emergence of a close spiritual relationship between humans and God. So as to make humans earnest in increasing work productivity in the month of Ramadan;
Second, the spirit of fasting makes people maintain a harmonious relationship, harmonious and harmonious with their work relations. Both between subordinates and superiors, as well as between institutions; Third, the spirit of fasting gives birth to humans to take “halal” ways both in undergoing a job, as well as in the process of looking for work.
Fourth, the spirit of giving birth to humans at the level of mutual respect, tolerance and love between creatures as creators of the universe God, and; Fifth, the spirit of fasting increases professionalism in every job that is embraced.
If after Ramadan, work ethic and productivity decrease, work discipline is violated, then someone’s fasting is not based on philosophical meaning, but only plays at the historical or ritual level.
*) Cultural worker, bitter coffee connoisseur
Reported by: PO
