Muslims with tattoo regrets flock to a free removal service during Ramadan
JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 20, (AP): Teguh Islean Septura groans in pain as each staccato rat-a-tat-tat of the laser fires an intense beam at the elaborate tattoos on his arm. But the former musician's determination to "repent' in the holy month of Ramadan is enough to keep him going.
The 30-year-old guitarist got his back, arms, and legs tattooed to "look cool' when he was performing in a band. But these days Septura has a newfound zeal for Islam, including the conviction that Muslims should not alter the body that God gave them.
"As humans, sometimes we make mistakes. Now I want to improve myself by moving closer to God,' Seputra said, as a health worker aimed the white laser wand at Septura's skin, blasting the red, green, and black pigments with its penetrating light. "God gave me clean skin and I ruined it, that's what I regret now."
Septura is among a growing number of people in Indonesia's capital who have signed up for free tattoo removal services offered by Amil Zakat National Agency, an Islamic charity organization, during Ramadan to give practicing Muslims an opportunity to "repent."
Launched in 2019, the tattoo removal program is now held every Ramadan, a month of fasting, increased worship, religious reflection, and good deeds. Some 700 people have signed up for the services this year, and in total nearly 3,000 people have taken part.
"We want to pave the way for people who want to hijrah (to move closer to God), including those who want to remove their tattoos' said Mohammad Asep Wahyudi, a coordinator of the event. He added that many people cannot afford to remove their tattoos or know where and how they can do so safely.
Laser removal, which takes repeated treatment and may not be completely successful, could cost thousands of dollars for tattoos as extensive as Septura's.
Tattooing remains strongly associated with gangs and criminality in some Asian cultures. In addition to the religious prohibitions in Muslim-majority Indonesia, ideas about tattoos also reveal oppressive attitudes toward women, who if tattooed can be labeled as promiscuous or disreputable and not worth marrying.
Sri Indrayati, 52, said she tattooed the name of her first daughter on her hand shortly after she gave birth to her at the age of 22. She said she regretted it when her two grandchildren kept asking her to erase it because it looked like dirty, thick marker writing.
"When I take my grandson to school, (the children) whisper to each other: 'look at that grandma, she has a tattoo!' she said.
Another woman, Evalia Zadora, got a tattoo of a large star on her back and the words "Hope, Love and Rock & Roll' on her upper chest as a teen to gain acceptance into a gang. She wants to remove them now to move closer to God and out of consideration for her family.
"Bad image (against people with tattoos) is not a big deal for me, but it affected my husband and son,' said Zadora, 36. "They are not comfortable with my tattoos and I respect their feelings, so I want to remove it.
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Arab Times
4 days ago
- Arab Times
36 Palestinians killed trying to obtain desperately needed aid in Gaza: officials
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip, June 11, (AP): Palestinians desperately trying to access aid in Gaza came under fire again Tuesday, killing 36 people and wounding 207, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Experts and humanitarian aid workers say Israel's blockade and 20-month military campaign have pushed Gaza to the brink of famine. At least 163 people have been killed and 1,495 wounded in a number of shootings near aid sites run by the Israeli and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which are in military zones that are off-limits to independent media. The Israeli military has acknowledged firing warning shots on previous occasions at people who it says approached its forces in a suspicious manner. The foundation says there has been no violence in or around the distribution points themselves. But it has warned people to stay on designated access routes, and it paused delivery last week while it held talks with the military on improving safety. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday there is "meaningful progress' on a possible ceasefire deal that would also return some of the 55 hostages still being held in Gaza, but said it was "too early to hope.' Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also mentioned Tuesday that there was progress in ceasefire negotiations. Netanyahu was meeting with the Israeli negotiating team and the defense minister Tuesday evening to discuss next steps. In southern Gaza, at least eight people were killed while trying to obtain aid around Rafah, according to Nasser Hospital. In northern Gaza, two men and a child were killed and at least 130 were wounded on Tuesday, according to Nader Garghoun, a spokesperson for the al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. He said most were being treated for gunshot wounds. Witnesses told The Associated Press that Israeli forces opened fire at around 2 a.m., several hundred meters (yards) from the aid site in central Gaza. Crowds of Palestinians seeking desperately needed food often head to the sites hours before dawn, hoping to beat the crowds. The Israeli military said it fired warning shots at people it referred to as suspects. It said they had advanced toward its troops hundreds of meters (yards) from the aid site prior to its opening hours. Mohammed Abu Hussein, a resident of the nearby built-up Bureij refugee camp, said Israeli drones and tanks opened fire, and that he saw five people wounded by gunshots. Abed Haniyah, another witness, said Israeli forces opened fire "indiscriminately' as thousands of people were attempting to reach the food site. "What happens every day is humiliation," he said. "Every day, people are killed just trying to get food for their children.' Additionally, three Palestinian medics were killed in an Israeli strike Tuesday in Gaza City, according to the health ministry. The medics from the health ministry's emergency service were responding to an Israeli attack on a house in Jaffa street in Gaza City when a second strike hit the building, the ministry said. The Israeli military did not comment on the strike, but said over the past day the air force has hit dozens of targets belonging to Hamas' military infrastructure, including rocket launchers. Israel and the United States say they set up the new food distribution system to prevent Hamas from stealing humanitarian aid and using it to finance militant activities. The United Nations, which runs a long-standing system capable of delivering aid to all parts of Gaza, says there is no evidence of any systematic diversion. U.N. agencies and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the new system, saying it violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to decide who receives aid and by forcing Palestinians to relocate to just three currently operational sites. The other two distribution sites are in the now mostly uninhabited southern city of Rafah, which Israel has transformed into a military zone. Israeli forces maintain an outer perimeter around all three hubs, and Palestinians must pass close to them to reach the distribution points. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken of creating a "sterile zone' in Rafah free of Hamas and of moving the territory's entire population there. He has also said Israel will facilitate what he refers to as the voluntary emigration of much of Gaza's 2 million Palestinians to other countries - plans rejected by much of the international community, including the Palestinians, who view it as forcible expulsion. They still hold 55 hostages, fewer than half of them alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's military campaign has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It says women and children make up most of the dead, but doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed more than 20,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population, often multiple times.
Arab Times
05-06-2025
- Arab Times
Avoid new shoes and look after your mental health. How to be well at the Hajj
ISLAMABAD, June 5, (AP): Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah that is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to do it. It is a spiritual highlight for those fortunate enough to go, but it is also grueling and stressful. Pilgrims conduct their rituals outdoors, among huge crowds, walking up to 25 kilometers (15 miles) a day. There is often no privacy or personal space. Languages, routines, and surroundings can feel unfamiliar, and the emotional impact of doing the Hajj can also take its toll. Here are some ways to be well at the Hajj. Pilgrims work on their spiritual readiness to undertake the Hajj, but equally important is their physical preparation. Saudi authorities have published a 45-page safety kit in eight languages. It encourages people to do aerobic exercises for 30 minutes daily and to "make movement activities' like using the stairs instead of the elevator, before they travel to Saudi Arabia. There's a lot of walking at the Hajj, even when pilgrims are not performing rituals. Too much traffic, or not enough transport, means people end up walking up to 25 kilometers (15 miles) every day. All the rituals are on foot. High temperatures, adrenaline, and physical exertion will elevate the heart rate. If pilgrims are not used to working out, they should have at least prepared their bodies for the long periods that will be spent outdoors and upright, as going from an inactive or sedentary lifestyle straight to the Hajj will be a shock to the system. This year, temperatures at the Hajj are expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). The body's resting core temperature is typically about 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit), just 4 degrees Celsius (7 degrees Fahrenheit) away from catastrophe in the form of heatstroke. The bigger killer in the heat is the strain on the heart, especially for people who have cardiovascular disease. Blood rushes to the skin to help shed core heat, causing blood pressure to drop. The heart responds by trying to pump more blood to keep someone from passing out. Avoid going out during the day unless necessary. Seek shade and rest often, despite the temptation to go at top speed. The Hajj is a marathon not a sprint. White or pale-colored clothing and UV umbrellas reflect the sunlight, meaning your body and clothing won't get as hot. Oral rehydration sachets can help replenish electrolytes lost through sweating and physical exertion. There are also hands-free "Hajj' umbrellas that are worn on the head, allowing pilgrims to pray and carry out their rituals unencumbered. Avoid new shoes, says Dr. Hina Shahid, the London-based chair of the Muslim Doctors Association. "If you have new shoes, break them in beforehand. Make sure your footwear is comfortable. You don't want to get blisters.' Well-fitting sandals or sliders are fine for Mecca, which has well-paved roads and sidewalks. It is common to see Muslims streaming into the city by foot. There is smooth tiling on the outer courtyard of the Grand Mosque that is washed by an army of cleaners at regular intervals. But pilgrims go barefoot when circling the Kaaba, where the marble flooring is cool to the skin whatever the weather. But the terrain changes in Muzdalifah, where people collect pebbles to use in the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil. They also spend the night in the open air so it's better to wear a sturdier, closed-toe shoe and also at Mount Arafat, where people clamber over rocks to reach the hill's 70-meter-high (230 feet) summit to spend hours in prayer. Cough? Runny nose? Sore throat? Fever? That's "Hajj flu,' a nickname for the respiratory infection that people develop during the crowded conditions of the pilgrimage. It's common to see people wearing face masks during the Hajj, even though face coverings are not a religious requirement, because they are in close proximity to each other, making droplet infections inevitable. Pilgrims are exposed to new germs, new environments, and new routines. These are tough on the immune system when combined. To minimize the chances of developing the Hajj flu or giving it to others, pilgrims should wash their hands well, especially before eating and after sneezing, coughing or using the bathroom. Coughing or sneezing into the arm or elbow can help prevent the spread of germs when a tissue isn't available. It's worth sanitizing frequently touched objects and surfaces in the camps at Mina and opening windows for ventilation. It's important to stay on top of mandatory and recommended vaccinations before traveling to Saudi Arabia. The Hajj can be daunting because of its scale, religious significance, practical difficulties, the expense, the physical exertion, and the pressure to get it right. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the core beliefs and acts of worship that Muslims must practice. It can feel tough to fulfill this obligation when you're away from home comforts. Not following your normal routine, sleep deprivation, vast cultural and linguistic differences, and being surrounded by upward of 1.5 million strangers add to the challenges. You can't even wear your regular clothes. These factors can rattle your calm, kindness, and patience. Prioritizing your health, and resting whenever needed, can alleviate some of the stress. Focusing on what you are doing, rather than comparing yourself to others, can also relieve the pressure. Being grateful for the opportunity to be at the Hajj will help remind you why you are there. Talking to friends and family back home will ground you. Hajj is about endurance, humility, mindfulness, and struggle. A willingness to let go of negative emotions. It's a test of your spiritual connection with God, even when everything around you is testing that connection.
Arab Times
04-06-2025
- Arab Times
‘Eid prayer does not exempt people from Friday prayers'
KUWAIT CITY, June 4: The Assistant Undersecretary for the Fatwa and Sharia Research Sector at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has clarified the religious opinion regarding the Friday (Jumu'ah) prayer when Eid coincides with a Friday, reports Al-Seyassah daily. In an official statement, he explained that, according to the majority of Islamic jurists, performing the Eid prayer does not exempt Muslims from the obligation of attending the Friday prayer. The Friday prayer must still be performed at its designated time. Some jurists hold the view that those who have already performed the Eid prayer may forgo the Friday prayer and instead perform the regular Dhuhr prayer, based on reports that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did the same. If a person serves as an imam, he must lead the Friday prayer for those who attend the mosque. The Fatwa and Sharia Research Sector confirmed in a statement that the matter allows for flexibility, and both options are considered valid. Those who prefer ease may suffice with the Eid prayer and perform Dhuhr instead of Jumu'ah, while those who choose to observe both the Eid and Friday prayers out of caution are also acting correctly. Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Head of the Kuwaiti Hajj Mission Dr. Bader Al-Mutairi announced that all 8,000 Kuwaiti pilgrims, organized into 60 groups, have safely arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reports Al-Seyassah daily. In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Dr. Al-Mutairi confirmed that mission teams from various participating agencies are working tirelessly at the holy sites to ensure the highest levels of comfort, safety, and care for Kuwaiti pilgrims. He stated that preparations at Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah were completed well in advance, which reflects the mission's dedication to providing an organized and secure environment. Dr. Al-Mutairi urged all Kuwaiti pilgrims to strictly follow the instructions issued by the official Saudi authorities.
