(Message from Reksa Mahardhika Utama’s Istighasyah)
By Ali Aminulloh
Dawn had just broken the sky on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2026. In the solemn silence, hundreds of souls connected in a shared spiritual space: the morning Istighasyah held by Reksa Mardhika Utama. At precisely 5:00 a.m. WIB, 497 accounts attended, not just to listen, but to reorient their lives after Ramadan had passed.
Behind the scenes, the voice of Dr. Ali Aminulloh, M.Pd.I., ME, flowed calmly, opening with an Eid prayer and an apology. A simple opening, yet rich with meaning: that the journey of self-improvement always begins with humility.
The theme raised that morning felt deeply relevant: “Syawal as a month of self-improvement.” A reflection that didn’t stop at the euphoria of victory, but instead invited a deeper question: after Ramadan, are we ascending… or are we descending again?
He began with Allah’s words in Surah Al-Asr, verses 1–3: “By Time! Indeed, mankind is in loss…” A sharp warning. Time, he argued, is not merely a passing number, but a barometer of human quality. Whoever is worse today than yesterday is doomed. Whoever stagnate is the loser. And only those who improve are truly fortunate.
Time, from the perspective of life, is not simply a linear journey. It is a process: birth, learning, preparing, facing trials, improving, until achieving glory. Interestingly, this cycle is reflected in the Islamic calendar, the lunar months which are not merely markers of time, but maps of human journey.
Two months before Shawwal is Sha’ban, the preparation phase. Then comes Ramadan, the month of burning and tempering the soul. And Shawwal becomes the testing point: does the result of that tempering truly elevate the quality of the self?
In Ramadan, humans are tested through fasting. It is not simply about enduring hunger and thirst, but also about subduing the two greatest drives: the stomach and lust. Even permissible things are withheld for the sake of obedience. Even when no one is watching. This is where the deepest transformation lies: when desires submit to divine law.
In modern psychology, behavioral change requires consistency. Research by Phillippa Lally (2009) shows that forming new habits requires continuous repetition over a certain period, averaging around 18 to 66 days. Therefore, the 30 days of Ramadan truly provide a strong foundation for the birth of a new soul. One that is more disciplined, more conscious, and more submissive.
The result of fasting, according to Al-Baqarah (183), is piety. Surah Ali Imran (133–134) describes the characteristics of a pious person: the ability to spend their wealth in prosperity and adversity, the ability to control anger, and the ability to forgive others. The spiritual, emotional, and social dimensions blend into a unified whole.
However, every test always yields two possibilities: glory or humiliation. As the wise saying goes, “Indal imtihan yukramul mar’u au yuhan”: in trials, humans can be either honored or humiliated. If there is no improvement after Ramadan, then loss is suffered. It could even lead to humiliation. Conversely, if the quality of self improves, then that is a sign of honor.
This is where Shawwal finds its meaning. It is not simply the month after Ramadan, but a moment of proof. The call to continue the struggle through fasting six days in this month becomes a clear symbol: that true improvement does not stop at one month.
The six-day fast in Shawwal, which is equivalent in value to fasting an entire year (sawm ad-dahr), is even more challenging. While others return to old habits: eating, relaxing, a servant chooses to remain abstinent. It is there that quality is tested. It is there that class is determined.
If a person successfully passes this phase, he ascends to the next stage: Dhul-Qa’dah, the phase of status. And its peak is Dhul-Hijjah, the phase of glory. A spiritual journey that culminates in divine recognition of human dignity.
As Allah says in Surah Al-Isra, verse 70: “And indeed, We have honored the children of Adam…” (Wa laqad karramna bani Adam…). This is the point where humans reach their true identity as honored beings, not because of their status, but because of their qualities.
That morning, the istighasyah ended at 6:00 a.m. WIB. But the message left behind did not end there. It echoed in the consciousness: that Shawwal is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of proof.
Are we truly moving up a class… or just feeling victorious?
Indonesia, March 31, 2026
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