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At the End of Ramadan, I Lost Someone… But I Was Also Reminded of the True Meaning of Family

Yesterday, March 20, 2026… I received news that tightened my chest. Daeng Ero, my stepfather, has passed away forever. On the same day, he was also laid to rest. So fast… so quiet…leaving behind a void that words can hardly explain. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. May Allah SWT accept him into His mercy. Yet, behind this deep sense of loss, there is one thought that keeps circling in my mind, how fortunate I was to have lived in a family like that. I had already lost two important figures before this, my biological mother, Bunga Dg. Bollo, and my stepmother, Syamsiah… And now, my stepfather, Daeng Ero, has followed them. Three people who, if seen from a “worldly” perspective, might seem complicated, but in reality, they embodied something very simple, love without conditions. I still remember my childhood… when I lived in my stepfather Daeng Ero’s house. My status? A stepchild. But how did he treat me? Like his own biological child. There was no difference. No distance. No “this i...
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في الأيام التي تسبق عيد الفطر، حين ينشغل الكثيرون بالاستعداد للعودة إلى ديارهم، والاجتماع مع عائلاتهم، والبحث عن السعادة… كنتُ أنا أجلس في ورشة الإصلاح، أنظر إلى دراجتي وهي “مفتوحة” على هذا الحال. ليس لأنني أردتُ ذلك، بل لأنني اضطررتُ إليه. العطل لم يكن بسيطًا. كان لا بد من استبدال الحزام والبكرات. قد يبدو هذا أمرًا عاديًا للبعض، لكنه بالنسبة لنا، نحن الذين نعتمد على هذه الدراجة في طلب الرزق… ليس مجرد عطل في آلة، بل توقّف للأمل، ولو مؤقتًا. ومع ذلك، وسط هذا الشعور، كانت هناك جملة أرددها في قلبي مرارًا: الحمد لله… لقد تعطلت قبل العيد. لا أستطيع أن أتخيل لو حدث هذا في يوم العيد نفسه، حين تُغلق كل ورش الإصلاح، وتبقى الطرق مزدحمة، بينما أبقى أنا في البيت بلا حراك. الدرس الذي خرجتُ به أن الرزق ليس فقط فيما نحصل عليه، بل أيضًا فيما نُنجيَه قبل أن نفقده. كعامل توصيل، أدركتُ حقيقة مهمة: نحن لا نحافظ فقط على صحتنا، بل نحافظ أيضًا على “شريكنا الوفي”… هذه الدراجة. لأنه إذا مرض الجسد، لا نستطيع العمل. وإذا تعطلت الدراجة، لا نستطيع السعي. وإذا لم نعتنِ بكليهما، فإن الرزق سيتوقف كذلك. قد تبدو هذه ال...
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Memahami Sistem, Ketergantungan, dan Kebebasan

Hari ini saya membaca satu pemikiran yang sederhana, tetapi cukup membuat saya berhenti sejenak dan merenung. Tentang bagaimana sistem modern sebenarnya bekerja. Banyak orang berpikir bahwa manusia dikendalikan dengan paksaan. Namun dalam realitas dunia hari ini, pengendalian sering kali tidak datang dalam bentuk tekanan, tetapi dalam bentuk kenyamanan. Gaji tetap setiap bulan. Cicilan mobil. Rumah dengan pinjaman 30 tahun. Gaya hidup yang perlahan menyesuaikan dengan pendapatan. Semua terlihat normal. Bahkan terlihat stabil. Namun di balik itu, tanpa kita sadari, terbentuk satu kondisi yang disebut oleh sebagian orang sebagai “golden cage” — sangkar emas. Bukan kerana kita lemah. Tetapi kerana komitmen hidup sudah terlalu banyak yang mengikat. Akibatnya, banyak orang menjadi lebih berhati-hati mengambil risiko. Sulit berhenti dari pekerjaan. Dan kadang tidak sepenuhnya bebas dalam mengambil keputusan besar. Saya juga menyadari satu hal penting: ketergantungan membuat seseorang lebih m...
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Trump weekend war theory

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At last, the long-anticipated moment has arrived. Once again, the world appears to nod quietly in confirmation of what has often been described as the “Trump weekend war theory”—the tendency for major conflicts to erupt suddenly, at moments when much of the global public remains unprepared. The question now is not whether the escalation has begun, but rather what trajectory it is likely to follow. There is little value in succumbing to excessive panic or alarmist proclamations of an imminent “World War Three.” Instead, the situation warrants calm reflection and logical scenario analysis, grounded in geopolitical realities rather than emotional reactions. Several plausible outcomes emerge when the conflict is examined through this lens. The first scenario, and arguably the most desired by Washington and Tel Aviv, is regime change. In this outcome, the Iranian government collapses—either through the creation of a power vacuum or through the rapid installation of a Western-aligned adminis...
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Di Antara Tarwih dan Ilmu: Recharge Iman yang Sering Kita Lupa

Setiap kali melangkah ke masjid untuk melaksanakan shalat Tarwih, saya selalu menyadari satu hal: terkadang yang paling “me-recharge” iman kita tidak hanya dengan rakaat demi rakaat yang ditunaikan, tetapi ilmu yang disampaikan sebelum shalat dimulai. Ceramah Tarwih itu singkat. Kadang hanya 10–15 menit. Tapi dampaknya bisa jauh lebih lama dari itu. Judul-judul yang diangkat begitu dekat dengan keseharian kita—tentang sabar dalam bekerja, tentang amanah dalam jabatan, tentang menjaga lisan di media sosial, tentang mendidik anak di tengah zaman yang serba cepat. Tidak melangit, tidak berjarak. Sederhana, tapi mengena. Dan ketika yang menyampaikan adalah ustadz yang berpengalaman dan kaya ilmu, terasa sekali kedalaman maknanya. Ada perspektif baru yang mungkin selama ini luput dari perhatian kita. Ada ayat yang sering kita baca, tetapi baru benar-benar kita pahami malam itu. Ada hadis yang sudah familiar, namun terasa “menyentuh” karena dikaitkan dengan realitas hidup hari ini. Masya All...
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LPDP

As a citizen and a member of the academic community, I feel compelled to express my concern regarding the recent controversy involving a recipient of a scholarship from the Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP). LPDP is not merely a scholarship. It is a mandate of the state. It is funded by public money. It was designed to develop outstanding human capital who will return, contribute, and strengthen Indonesia. When a scholarship recipient openly expresses pride in changing their child’s citizenship to that of another country, it is understandable that the public reacts. This is not merely a matter of personal choice—because personal decisions remain the right of every individual. However, when someone receives state-funded education, there is an ethical dimension, a moral responsibility, and a level of public sensitivity that cannot be ignored. We must distinguish between personal rights and national commitment. We must distinguish between individual freedom and a moral contract wit...
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Between Takjil and Tarawih: A Reflection of Gratitude in Ramadan

Alhamdulillah, this year I am once again reunited with Ramadan. There is an emotion that is difficult to put into words. Not merely because age continues to advance, but because we never truly know whether last year’s Ramadan was our final one. So when the Maghrib call to prayer echoed on the first evening, my heart could only whisper: Thank You Allah, for granting me another chance. Around 5:00 PM, just before breaking the fast, there is always a moving atmosphere in the air. The streets are filled with people. Takjil vendors line the sidewalks. People queue for simple foods: dates, sweet porridge, fried snacks, sugary drinks in clear plastic bags. Lively. Vibrant. Warm. Yet behind the bustle, I see something deeper than mere buying and selling. I see hope. I see small efforts struggling to endure. I see hands seeking lawful sustenance before the Maghrib call to prayer. In another corner, I witness moments of quiet generosity. Some set aside their time and wealth to give. No cameras. ...
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