By: Ellena Natanya Victoria Lao
Class: XI-6
Ende, 08 April 2024, Syuradikara Catholic High School and the OSIS and MPK administrators held an iftar activity with friends from the Walisongo Islamic Boarding School. It was a form of friendship and strengthening ties of brotherhood and tolerance ahead of the Eid al-Fitr.
The OSIS and MPK administrators warmly welcomed the arrival of the Walisongo Islamic Boarding School group. Meanwhile, several Syuradikara students attended this activity together. They are Syuradikara students who are Muslim.
This activity was held in the afternoon in the mini hall of the Syuradikara Catholic High School. They all sat on the floor together, covered with a red carpet.
After everyone had sat together in the room, this activity began with a greeting from Cinta, one of the OSIS administrators, who greeted Syuradikara's principal, Uztad, the Syuradikara teachers, the Islamic boarding school children and other OSIS colleagues.
After greeting the audience, Cinta invited Brother Kristianus Riberu, SVD, the Principal of Syuradikara Senior High School, to give a short greeting as a start to opening the fast-breaking activity.
He said Syuradikara is a place to learn and sow goodness, establish brotherly love, foster tolerance and love differences, and build togetherness in diversity.
"We are trained to respect each other and love diversity so that here there are Muslims, Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists," said Brother Kris.
The relationship between Syuradikara Catholic High School and Walisongo Islamic Boarding School, said Br. Kris, is that they are brothers and sisters who feel like they have a big house together.
"If you are bored at the Islamic boarding school and want to visit, contact the OSIS brothers and sisters to come to Syuradikara," invited Br. Kris Riberu, SVD, in his short greeting.
Meanwhile, Ustad Ginanjar, as the companion for the Walisongo Pesantren children, said that the moments leading up to Ramadhan were full of blessings celebrated together.
In his lecture, Uztad said that the month of Ramdhan is a month that Muslims and other people enjoy. Plus, Ramadan coincides with Easter, so happiness and tolerance can be felt even more.
"Therefore, we uphold religious values," he said.
Ustad also explained fasting. He said that in Al-Qur'an, fasting is prescribed for Muslims and every believer. According to him, every religion has a tradition of fasting, but the implementation varies according to the teachings of the faith.
"Allah did not command fasting for Muslims, but described fasting for believers," he said, quoting the Quran.
At the end of his speech, Uztad gave a significant message. He said that to create a life of tolerance, we must make tolerance not just words but actions in everyday life.
"So we feel proud because while other people still consider tolerance in a vision, we have proven it to be a mission, like today," he concluded.
This activity went very well, starting with a greeting from the school principal, Uztad, and continuing with the reading of the Al-Qur'an and reaching the peak, namely breaking the fast together, and ending with a dynamic approach game and a group photo session.
Cinta, one of the Syuradikara Senior High School Students, stated, "This activity is perfect; I feel thrilled and also moved; my heart feels calm when I see friends from the Islamic Boarding School can eat a meal together here, and play together in a dynamic approach. My heart feels calm and cool seeing this togetherness".
At the end of the activity, during the group photo session, students and teachers from Syuradikara and friends from Islamic Boarding School embraced each other. They saw happy smiles on all of their faces.
This togetherness provides a profound meaning. Students learn that differences are beautiful if humans can accept these differences as a gift.
As Mr. Uztad Ginanjar said in his speech,
"God has another view, that living together in different spheres is more enjoyable than living with just one feeling."
Editor: Fr. Aris Mada, SVD