Fourth Ramadhan’s Experience in Indonesia from a Côte d'Ivoire Student’s Eyes

Kante Hamed, a PhD student at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, has spent three Ramadhans in Indonesia, particularly at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII). This year marks his fourth, and he eagerly anticipates another meaningful experience.

Reflecting on his time at UIII, Kante describes Ramadhan as a special period filled with profound moments and diverse activities. His favorite tradition is the iftar (breakfasting) at Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin Mosque, where the entire UIII community gathers to break their fast together. “Students, administrators, lecturers, security personnel, and staff—all come together every evening to share this sacred moment,” he said.

Another highlight for him is i'tikaf, the spiritual retreat during the last ten nights of Ramadhan, which allows for deep reflection and heightened spiritual awareness. “I was fortunate to experience my first-ever i'tikaf inside the UIII mosque. It was a truly wonderful and transformative moment for me,” he shared.

As a first-batch student who also completed his Master’s at UIII, Kante recalls that in his early years, there were only a few international students in the dormitory during Ramadhan. However, he found the experience unique and enriching despite the challenges.

Having observed Ramadhan in both Indonesia and his home country, Côte d'Ivoire, Kante has noticed distinct cultural elements. One unique aspect of Indonesian Ramadhan is the presence of nasheed (Islamic songs) and Salawat recitations before and after Maghrib and even during Tarawih prayers, which he said, something uncommon in Côte d'Ivoire.

He also finds Indonesian Ramadhan festivities unique, such as buka bersama (communal iftar), high-speed 20-rakat Tarawih prayers in some mosques, and the grand takbiran (communal chanting) on the last night of Ramadhan, marking its conclusion.

Despite these differences, he sees similarities between the two countries, especially in the observance of Lailatul Qadr, the holiest night in Ramadhan. “Both Indonesia and Côte d'Ivoire honor Lailatul Qadr with deep devotion,” he said. However, he notes that in Côte d'Ivoire, it is common to see da’wa tables (Islamic outreach discussions) set up outside mosques at night, adding a unique cultural touch to the experience.

As he embarks on his fourth Ramadhan in Indonesia, Kante continues to cherish the cultural diversity and spiritual depth that make each year’s observance memorable.

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