Semarang, March 2026 – The Muslim Student Family Forum (FKMM) of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), in collaboration with the FISIP Undip Mosque Management (Ketakmiran), organized a program titled KARIM (Kajian Ramadhan dan Iftar Bersama). This initiative aimed to enliven the Ramadan atmosphere within the campus environment while providing a space for spiritual reflection for students. Under the theme “Ramadan: Pause, Reflect, and Rise,” the event encouraged participants to momentarily step back from their daily routines, engage in self-reflection, and strive toward personal growth throughout the holy month.
The KARIM series was held in two sessions on Thursday, February 26, and Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Darul Ilmi Mosque, FISIP Undip. Each session commenced with an opening by the master of ceremonies, followed by a recitation of the Holy Qur’an and a welcoming speech from the organizing chairperson. A traditional rebana (tambourine) performance preceded the keynote lectures.
In the first session on February 26, the discussion focused on “Ramadan as a Pause for Students in Navigating Life Pressures and Islamic Perspectives,” featuring Bagas Syed Aziz Bimonov as the speaker. The session addressed the common experience of burnout and fatigue in modern life. The speaker emphasized that feeling exhausted is a natural human limitation and one should not succumb to self-blame. During such times, individuals are reminded to “return home”—a metaphor for reconnecting with Allah. This message was reinforced by Al-Qur’an verses, including Surah Al-Fajr (27–30), which calls upon the peaceful soul to return to its Lord, and Surah Al-Baqarah (216), which teaches that what one dislikes may ultimately be good for them. Ramadan was highlighted as the ideal period for a “spiritual homecoming,” involving a detoxification of the heart, soul, and body.
The second session, held on March 5, featured Febea Farhan, S.Gz., who presented the topic “Ramadan as a Reflective Space for Students in Organizing Faith, Nurturing the Soul, and Finding Life’s Meaning.” The speaker highlighted Ramadan as a momentum for students to strengthen their faith, using it as a compass to navigate the uncertainties of the future.
Through fasting, students are encouraged to practice self-discipline by restraining physical hunger, thirst, and worldly desires. Fasting serves as a medium to tranquilize the soul and draw closer to Allah through various acts of worship, such as reciting the Qur’an, performing prayers, dhikr (remembrance), and charity. Furthermore, the session discussed how human failures and limitations are integral parts of a learning process that leads to finding deeper meaning in life and increasing one’s piety (taqwa).
As the time for breaking the fast approached, the event concluded with the distribution of takjil (light snacks), followed by a communal iftar (dinner) and a congregational Maghrib prayer. Through the KARIM program, FKMM and the FISIP Undip Mosque Management hope that students can utilize Ramadan to strengthen spiritual values, foster brotherhood (ukhuwah), and cultivate the spirit of becoming better individuals .