Thursday, April 10, 2025 - Minal aidin wal faizin, apologies for any mistakes, both physical and emotional. The Holy Month of Ramadan has passed for Muslims all over the world, and now it’s time for everyone to return to their daily activities.

As the page of Eid al-Fitr is turned, it is time for Muslims to strengthen their solidarity through one of the sacred traditions—Halalbihalal.

To begin the first workday after Eid al-Fitr 1446 H, Universitas Dian Nusantara (UNDIRA) once again held its Halalbihalal event attended by the entire UNDIRA community. This year’s Halalbihalal took place in the auditorium on the 6th floor of Universitas Dian Nusantara’s Tanjung Duren Campus in West Jakarta. The event emphasized the importance of solidarity and humanity among fellow individuals to achieve true peace.

The Rector of Universitas Dian Nusantara, Prof. Dr. H. Suharyadi, expressed profound gratitude to all UNDIRA members who took the time to attend this meaningful occasion at the beloved campus. He went on to state that Halalbihalal has become an established tradition among Muslims in Indonesia.

"I believe that our levels of piety and faith, built through abstinence from prohibited actions and increased devotion to Allah SWT, can transform us into better individuals. The Holy Month of Ramadan has taught us to draw closer to Allah SWT and purify ourselves. Therefore, we must preserve the purity of our souls," stated Prof. Dr. H. Suharyadi.

A similar sentiment was conveyed by the Chairman of Yayasan Dian Asra, Mr. Sagoro Dharmawan. He shared that Halalbihalal is a noble tradition carried out to strengthen bonds of brotherhood. It is hoped that moving forward, UNDIRA’s members can forgive one another to fulfill their responsibilities harmoniously, beyond the warmth that was shared today.

To commemorate the victories achieved by humankind, the event featured a session of Quranic recitation, specifically Al-Fath verses 1–5, presented by two UNDIRA lecturers; Mr. Rahmat, S.Pd.I., M.M., and Mrs. Anna Nurjanah, S.Ikom., M.A.

Delving deeper into the meaning of Halalbihalal, Ustadz Prof. Dr. Bambang Irawan M.A. revealed that the name "Halalbihalal" does not originate from Arabic. This tradition is a product of Indonesian social creativity, habits, and innovation. Many individuals make mistakes, whether intentional or unintentional, and Halalbihalal provides a chance for mutual forgiveness.

Halalbihalal opens the door to forgiveness among peers. However, according to him, forgiving human sins is one of the most challenging things to do. Before forgiving others, we must start by forgiving ourselves.

Forgiving oneself not only opens our emotions, making it easier to let go of past occurrences, but also lightens the burden of negative overthinking about others. It eliminates disappointments and negative presumptions among fellow beings.

Self-forgiveness can elevate our human and spiritual qualities. Today is a blessing, the past is history, and the future is a mystery full of trials from Allah SWT. By forgiving ourselves and others, one can learn to cherish the moments that unfold in social life.