During Ramadan, the UGM Campus Mosque is always bustling with people performing Tarawih prayers.
In addition to being a place of worship, through its Ramadan on Campus (RDK) program, the mosque also organizes various educational and informative activities that can be attended in between fasting prayers.
The UGM academic community and the general public highly anticipate this series of events.
The Tarawih lectures are the most awaited moments. They feature speakers who are experts in their fields, including public figures, politicians, bureaucrats, ministers, deputy ministers, and activists.
Notable names include Mahfud MD, Anies Baswedan, Ganjar Pranowo, Najwa Shihab, Abdul Mu’ti, and Nezar Patria.
The Chair of UGM Campus Mosque Management, Dr. Mohammad Yusuf, stated that the Ramadan on Campus (RDK) activities are intended to strengthen worship and foster intellectual discussions.
“In line with our vision, we want RDK to provide benefits in terms of worship, intellectuality, and socio-economic empowerment,” Dr. Yusuf explained on Thursday (Mar. 20).
He added that the themes of studies at the UGM Campus Mosque prioritize important aspects to bring about discourse on contemporary topics.
The wide range of speakers chosen for the studies is a distinct attraction.
“We tailor the speakers to the study topics. The presence of numerous speakers offers a spectrum of different, engaging, and more substantive perspectives,” Dr. Yusuf elaborated.
The Chair of the UGM Mardliyyah Islamic Center (MIC) Mosque Management, Dr. Senawi, expressed a similar sentiment. The Ramadan Berkah Mardliyyah (RBM) program at MIC is designed to enlighten the nation’s life, build civilization, and foster humanity and Indonesia’s progress.
The mosque aims to be a center for contemporary Islamic scholarship and innovative learning. Speakers are selected based on their study topics and expertise in specific fields.
“The speakers must have sufficient capacity, including expertise in certain Islamic studies, a relevant background, and a commitment to national and Islamic values,” said Dr. Senawi.
UGM University Secretary, Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, highlighted that the variety of speakers in the Ramadan lectures at both the Campus Mosque and Mardliyyah Islamic Center demonstrates the university’s commitment as an educational institution to foster collaboration between parties in providing education and contributing to national issues and problems within the community.
“We are grateful that, to this day, the academic community and the public are always enthusiastic about welcoming any public figure who will speak in the Ramadan lectures at UGM,” he stated.
For information, the excitement of the Ramadan on Campus (RDK) activities at UGM Campus Mosque spans from pre-dawn meals (suhoor) to breaking fast (iftar) to post-Tarawih.
The day begins with free suhoor and Subuh lectures. The Ramadan Knowledge Safari (Samudra) lectures, free iftar distribution, and the Ramadan Public Lecture (RPL) are in the afternoon.
Other activities include blood donations, charity drives, and various competitions for high school students as part of the RDK Festival.
Meanwhile, the activities in the Ramadan Berkah Mardliyyah (RBM) series at the Mardliyyah Islamic Center Mosque are equally captivating.
These include free suhoor and iftar meals, MIC Charity donations, and Kitab Study sessions with Islamic boarding schools in Yogyakarta.
There are also all-day studies starting from sahur, iftar, and post-Tarawih. One unique feature is the MIC sahur study, which is conducted in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy and discusses Islamic practices and Ramadan around the world.
The event is also enlivened by the RBM Festival, which hosts national-scale competitions to explore and express the creative ideas of Indonesia’s younger generation.
The agendas at both mosques on UGM’s campus are open to the entire public until the end of Ramadan.
The hope is that the Ramadan series will serve as a platform for public education and national discourse and provide an opportunity to share joy and strengthen relationships in this blessed month.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Firsto