By Mohammad Anthoni

The Quran Waqf Board (locally known as the BWA) has tried to help breadwinners provide dishes so as to make them immediately break their fast even amid their ways home. On the 20th day of Ramadan, the BWA again synergized with CIMB Niaga Syariah (a private bank) to prepare 200 packages of iftar /takjil dishes for fasting people or those who are on the roads.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The previously clear afternoon sky slowly turned reddish, and in the eastern horizon, the sunlight slowly began to dim, while the traffic flow of vehicles in the afternoon before sunset in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta was still very busy.

The traffic density was so visible with pedestrians, motorcyclists, and four-wheelers, who sped up their steps and accelerate the speeds of their vehicles to immediately arrive home for fast breaking with their families.

However, not everyone can break the fast with families at their own homes. Many people who live in Jakarta have to eat and drink on their ways home because they do not have time to reach their homes earlier, and sometimes they find it difficult to buy iftar (fast breaking) dishes as they are driving.

Due to such conditions, the Quran Waqf Board (locally known as the BWA) has tried to help breadwinners provide dishes so as to make them immediately break their fast even amid their ways home. On the 20th day of Ramadan, the BWA again synergized with CIMB Niaga Syariah (a private bank) to prepare 200 packages of iftar /takjil dishes for fasting people or those who are on the roads.

Takjils are foods and drinks served immediately to those who are fasting once they observe the call of Magrib (sunset prayers).

Along the way from Jatinegara (an area in East Jakarta) to the bus terminal of Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta was the location where takjil dishes were distributed. Pedestrians, motorcyclists, and motorists were very enthusiastic to receive the dishes served by the BWA.

"Alhamdulillah (Allah/God be praised), in less than half an hour, 200 takjil packages that we prepared have been distributed to motorists and other drivers here," said Novi Wahyudi, a member of the BWA humanitarian alms program team, who coordinated the activity.

The team expressed their gratitude to CIMB Niaga Syariah for entrusting the BWA to carry out its mandate. "We hope that this synergy will continue. Insha Allah (if God willing), we always pray for the best for the donors who trust the BWA. Hopefully what we have done will be recorded as weighing the scales of rewards for us on the side of Allah SWT," he said.

The BWA has cooperated with a number of agencies including the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) in Indonesia. They signed a cooperation agreement for the health services program of the dr. Josérizal Journalist dokterCARE Da’wah Ship (KDDC). The signing was carried out by the Chief Executive Officer of the Qur’an Waqf Agency, Heru Binawan, and the Chair of the MER-C Presidium, dr. Sarbini Abdul Murad, in Jakarta on Friday (Jan. 20).

The dr. Josérizal Journalist dokterCARE Da’wah Ship (locally known as its acronym KDDC) is a special waqf program initiated by the BWA. Waqf is a charitable endowment under Islamic law. In addition to preaching or propagation, KDDC which is the 4th BWA ship will be used to provide health services for people living on remote islands in Indonesia. The health service program is expected to be one of the solutions to the lack of health services for people who are in remote areas of the country.

The BWA is collaborating with MER-C, a medical social institution that has been active in the humanitarian field for more than 23 years to become a partner in this program. In fact, the Doctor CARE Da’wah Ship is named after one of the founding figures of MER-C who is also a medical and humanitarian fighter, dr. Joserizal Jurnalis, which is exactly three years since his demise today (Friday).

His body may be gone, but hopefully his spirit and struggle can be continued by the people.

Reporting by Indonesia Window