By: Eko Handayani, S.Pd
Bismillah
Dear smart readers, does anybody know gen Z these days? Exactly! Let’s go deeply on Gen Z.
For Gen Z, life moves fast. Notifications never stop. One minute youre opening TikTok just for five minutes and suddenly its an hour later. You check Instagram, reply to messages, maybe play a quick match of Mobile Legends, Free Fire, PUBG or ROBLOX and before you know it, the day is gone.
Now Ramadhan comes. Then deep down, you want it to be different and means a lot to you. But how? Ramadhan Is Not Just Controlling on Having Meals. Allah says in the Quran: O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may become righteous. (Surah Al-Baqarah verse 183)
Everybody can notice something powerful here. The goal of fasting is not hunger. Its Taqwa that refers to a consciousness of Allah. Ramadhan is not a diet challenge, but a heart transformation, indeed.
Prophet Muhamad ﷺ said “Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Hadith al-Bukhari and Muslim). That hadith shows huge transformation, a full reset and a clean slate. In fact, resets won’t be happened accidentally but intentionally.
Nowadays, social media means a lot to Gen z. It isnt Evil, but It is designed to Hook You. Social media platforms are built to keep you scrolling on it. The more you stay, the more they win.
But Ramadhan is about reclaiming control. If you can stay away from food and drink for 1314 hours, definitely hard to stay away from endless scrolling for 12 hours.
Let’s be honest! Ask yourself whether this app bringing me closer to Allah? Or is it numbing my heart?
Real-life example:
Riad, a 16-year-old boy, decided last Ramadhan to delete his gaming app during the month. Just 30 days. He replaced his usual 2- hour nightly gaming session with 30 minutes of Quran and Taraweeh at the mosque. By the end of Ramadhan, he had finished the Quran for the first time in his life.
Then he said, I didnt lose anything. I gained peace.
Sometimes the biggest win is the one nobody online sees.
Lately, we often find Gen Z talks about self-improvement and glow-ups. Have they ever thought that Ramadhan is their spiritual glow-up?
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said “The best of you is the best in character.” Hadith al-Bukhari. So that in this Ramadhan, let’s focus on praying on time, speaking kindly, controlling anger, helping parents without being asked, and giving charity quietly. Thats a real growth on Moslem character building.
Let’s be a Laylatul Qadr hunter. Allah says on Surah Al Qadr verse 3, The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
One night can outweigh a lifetime. But imagine missing Laylatul Qadr because you were binge-watching videos or gaming. Ramadhan teaches us something powerful, that is “your time is your life”.
Moreover, Ramadhan is also about community. You can have a fasting break with family, go Taraweeh with friends, join Islamic lectures, or be a volunteer at a mosque. Your heart was not created to be filled with the world, but with its Creator. Ramadhan is like a spiritual gym. Every time you resist temptation, your soul gets stronger. Prophet Muhamad ﷺ said, “Actions are judged by intentions. (Hadith Al-Bukhari)
Finally, I would like to say that, Ramadhan Is a Gift. Not everyone who was here last year is here today. One day, we wont remember how many reels we watched or how many matches we won. But we will remember the Ramadhan that changed our hearts. This is your chance. Log out a little. Look up more. Reconnect deeply. Make this Ramadhan the one your future self-thanks you for.
