Editorial: A Wise Eid Celebration

In the last few weeks, there has been a surge in COVID-19 cases in several countries. Apart from the new variants above, this is due to the increased mobility of people because they think the pandemic is over. Previously, the graphic of COVID-19 cases had decreased in number, including in Indonesia. In addition, the vaccination activities are being intensified by the government. People bring on euphoria. Offices began to implement offline work again, public transportation such as buses and trains were full again, roads were jammed again, shopping centers were busy again. Everything went back to running as if we were in normal times.

Suddenly, we heard news from the Indonesian COVID-19 Task Force that the epidemic was on the rise again. Some areas returned to red zones, and hospitals were full again. And all of that happened before and during the month of Ramadan. There is a feeling of worry that this year's Eid celebration will be the same as last year, where all activities related to friendship, Eid prayers, Mudik (Eid homecoming travels), and other human mobility was limited. Since the beginning of the month of Ramadan, the government has announced a ban on going home. For many people, government policies are like lightning in broad daylight. How could it not be. Last year's Eid, the government imposed a ban on Eid “going home” tradition. Lebaran this year the same ban was issued again. This means that some Muslims cannot meet their families in their hometowns. Mentally, of course this is very hard. However, many people migrate and collect rupiah coffers to bring back to their hometowns during Eid.

Everyone has an instinct to show that he is successful somewhere and it's very humane. Eid homecoming, as we know it, is not only incidental event that are routinely carried out every year but also existential impulses that, if not manifested, people will suffer as if they feel something is missing in their lives. Homecoming is a symbolization of returning to the origin. People want to return home, bend their knees in front of the mother who gave birth to them; people want to return to their hometowns who raised them. And someday, every human being will return to his or her hometown of origin in the afterlife. That is the real hometown. So the issue of this Eid homecoming is indeed not simple because it involves many aspects ranging from economic, sociological, anthropological aspects. And what is more difficult is perhaps its psychological aspects. Imagine, the government has to make regulations that deal with people's feelings. This causes many people to be desperate to go home even though it has been prohibited and at every point of the road they are guarded by officers. Many people cried when they were stopped by officers and forced them to turn back.

We cannot describe the feelings of those who had been eagerly hoping to meet their parents, relatives and friends, and all of the sudden they are forced to crush that hope along the way. But maybe it's time for all of us to be wise. This is the right time to reap the fruits of the fasting we have had for this month, namely being patient and delaying pleasure. The government will not impose a ban on Eid homecoming if not forced to do so. The mobility of the people is prone to spreading the virus. Mobility during homecoming and interaction during Eid itself is very difficult to control. Let us not pretend to carry out religious traditions but ignore the more important thing, namely the public safety. In this case the principle of Ushul Fiqh applies: Dar'ul mafasid muqaddam alaa jalbil mashalih (leaving things that will have a bad impact should take precedence over taking good things from them). The Eid gathering is of course a good thing, but if it's going to become a new cluster for the spread of the corona virus, then it's better to avoid it - at least for the time being. Remember the case in India in April when it is suddenly experiencing the COVID-19 tsunami, which exceeded 300 thousand positive cases every day.

It follows a religious ritual where millions of people descend and bathe in the Ganges river. Until now, this case of India has had a major impact on the handling of COVID-19 globally. So once again we have to admit that the ban on going home is a wise decision. The problem is, can we appreciate that wise decision with our wise attitude too? For the benefit of all, and for the safety of society, there should be no problem. We can celebrate the Eid celebration wisely, namely by suppressing the desire to travel because there is a risk of being exposed to the corona virus or carrying the virus and transmitting it to other people. We can wisely stay at home without reducing our gratitude to Allah for the blessings of this year’s Ramadan, the blessings of Laylatul Qadr, and the blessings of Eid al-Fitr, where we are all given the opportunity to return to being pure and clean beings without sins. Finally, we from the UIII Media and Communication Editorial Team wish you a Happy Eid Al-Fitr, 1 Shawwal 1442 H. Minal Aidin wal Faizin, mohon maaf lahir dan batin. May you be among those who have happy returns and achieve victory. We apologize for any mistake. ***

Picture Source: (KOMPAS.com/GARRY LOTULUNG)

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