Ramadan and Capitalism
During this time, we often read reviews about the blessings of Ramadan on various occasions, including in this blog. Many explained that the month of Ramadan is a blessed month in which Allah Ta’ala in this month’s grace to lose a lot of Muslims, and all beings in general. It is certainly not wrong, so we can feel even own truth and greatness of God’s blessings are derived, either in the form of physical enjoyment of health, spiritual enjoyment of peace, as well as other forms of enjoyment. However, in the discussion this time I would see Ramadan from a different perspective, which is the relationship of Ramadan and capitalism.
As the times, we also must realize that Ramadan is not only a momentum for Muslims to get closer to Allah by extending the worship, whether it be fasting, praying sunnah, sodaqoh, infaq, zakat, or other worship. This noble month of Ramadan, now also become the ground for the capitalists to obtain maximum profit from the momentum of Ramadan as this blessed month, Ramadan and capitalism then became two things that can not be separated. This is a phenomenon which I will take this time, about how is the influence of the rising of Muslims spirit to do more worship on the growth of capitalism.
In Indonesia, the momentum of Ramadan is highly exploited by the capitalists with advertisements that offer various products with flavors of Ramadan, although if truth be told, the products they offer absolutely has no influence with the worship to Allah Ta’ala which is a major goal race Muslim in this blessed holy month of Ramadan. The phenomenon of the use of this Ramadan momentum by the capitalists can we see every day, anywhere. In radio broadcasting, internet, billboards on the roadside, even down to the room which is our personal space, through television broadcasts. Through these ads, in fact the Muslims are encouraged to increase consumer behavior and excessive in their daily life, by buying products they do not really need, but they still buy it because it is very pretty tempted by advertisements displayed by the capitalists to enrich themselves. The sad phenomenon that strengthen the relations between Ramadan and capitalism.
The phenomenon of excessive lifestyle that strengthen relationships between Ramadan and capitalism is certainly quite contrary to the principle of simple living are taught the Prophet Muhammad, especially in the holy month of Ramadan. When we should practice to be more patient, tolerant of others who may be disadvantaged community, and various other worship both the vertical dimension (hablun min Allah) and the horizontal dimension (hablun min al-Naas). Instead of spending money to buy goods that have not been clear benefit to us.
This Phenomenon is wrong, we must return this to the most fundamental teachings of Islam, which is about simplicity, living with moderation, reproduce Silaturrahim not spending, and so forth. We acknowledge that the relationship between Ramadan and capitalism is actually an illicit relationship, so our task is to separate the two. Not with protests to the capitalists to stop their ads. But by improving the awareness of each of us as Muslims, with the teachings of the Prophet in all life aspects. That way, the capitalists would be back off by itself. Let’s make this Ramadan month fully blessed that will take us to Heaven. Amin.
