CIANJUR, WEST JAVA — It was sunny that afternoon. The sky looked very clear blue with a few slow-moving clouds, like watching something on Cianjur Earth. However, when the Dompet Dhuafa Team entered the Cianjur area, the sun had risen and was hot, but the air still felt very cool and fresh. Maybe like the morning air in Jakarta, before the city began to wriggle the hustle and bustle of life of its residents.
Cianjur indeed owns beautiful natural gifts, but some of these areas are in areas that are not safe for its residents. According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency Cianjur settlements are along the fault zone or Cugenang Fault, which is declared dangerous because it is prone to earthquakes.
Rise Slowly Amid the Ruins
Now, after the massive earthquake that shocked Cianjur, almost seven months have passed. On Monday (21/11/2022), an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 devastated Cianjur in just seconds. The terrible memory is still lingering in the minds of Cianjur residents. It probably won’t disappear all the time, either. Anxiety and worry also continue to appear on their faces. Because the earthquake that occurred at that time was not only once, but followed several times by shocks that were no less intense.
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At this time, Cianjur residents began to rise. With the spirit of mutual assistance, various assistance came from various parties. The locals found hope again. They and the volunteers began rebuilding civilisation, residences, and vital public facilities, such as houses of worship, schools, and health facilities.
Help kept coming, including logistics, clothing, medicine, and psychological treatment such as psychosocial services. That helping hand comes from various elements. On humanitarian grounds, all parties work hand in hand to help our brothers in Cianjur.
As well as Dompet Dhuafa, as a humanitarian and Islamic philanthropic institution, Dompet Dhuafa actively participates by launching recovery programs for Cianjur, one of which is the Program Wakaf Cianjur Bangkit. The program was channelled to rebuild mosques damaged by the earthquake. Precisely Al-Barakah mosque, located in Kp. Ranca Picung, Cibulakan Village, Cugenang, Cianjur Regency, West Java.
Mosques as houses of worship are very important for Muslims, both before and after the earthquake. Before the disaster, mosques were a means for Muslims to perform routine worship such as prayers and a place to learn the Quran for children. However, after the earthquake shook Cianjur, the mosque was destroyed. They lost their place to bow down and worship Allah fervently.
Many buildings were destroyed when the Dompet Dhuafa Team walked the road to the Al-Barakah mosque. Some are still standing, but not perfect. The walls are decorated with many cracks that illustrate how powerful the earthquake was at that time. When the Dompet Dhuafa Team was paying attention to the surroundings, suddenly, children ran close to us. They were so cheerful and enthusiastic to welcome the arrival of the Dompet Dhuafa Team. We were happy. Their smiles burst even though their faces still seemed worried about the aftershocks.
Victims and Living Witnesses of the Cianjur Earthquake
The children were victims and living witnesses of the Canjur Earthquake. They felt for real how a powerful earthquake collapsed their homes and mosque, Al-Barakah Mosque. One of them is Hamzah Supiyandi, a 12-year-old boy who has just finished his final elementary school exams and is waiting for the results. This year, he will soon be in junior high school.
Hamzah told about his experience when the earthquake shook Bumi Cianjur. At that time, he was sleeping when the earthquake came, Hamzah reflexively woke up from his sleep. She felt scared and confused and decided to leave the house immediately, as well as her parents. The good news is that everyone is safe.
“What makes me calm, alhamdulillah, all my family is safe,” Hamzah said when we met at the location on Thursday (15/6/2023).
For Hamzah, the Cianjur earthquake had a tremendous impact on him. He often feels worried that an earthquake will occur again. However, he chose to recite to calm his heart when he was bullied by anxiety.
“So it’s worry, brother. I’m scared,” he said with a bitter smile.
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Reciting the Qur’an became a panacea for Hamza and his friends to calm the heart. The Qur’an is indeed full of miracles. The Muslim holy book is a righteous guide and a powerful antidote to anyone who reads it. When by remembrance (remembering Allah), the heart becomes calm. So the best remembrance is to read the Qur’an.
But unfortunately, they lost their place to learn Qur’an. The earthquake damaged the al-Barakah Mosque, where Hamzah and his friends learned to recite the Qur’an. Now they recite in makeshift tents that are not only temporary mosques, but also used for housing for displaced residents.
Stay Vigorous in Reciting Even in Emergency Tents
The makeshift tent that is currently the place to recite Hamzah and his friends is certainly not as comfortable as in the mosque. When it is daytime and the weather is dry, dust flies in the wind until it enters the tent. If the rain comes, the water also enters the tent.
“Tempias (raindrops) are very pronounced and leaks,” Hamzah said while looking around the half-destroyed buildings.
Currently, Hamzah has entered the stage of reciting. Iqra’ he has finished perfectly. Little Hamzah aspired to become a soldier who was devout in worship and good at reciting.
“So soldiers who are good at reciting. Because he wants to protect people and be a useful person,” he said optimistically.
Hamzah realized that reciting is not only done when things are tight. Nor is it just when someone still tells him to recite. According to him, reciting is a necessity. This is proven because Hamzah quickly learns to recite compared to his peers.
The presence of Dompet Dhuafa who rebuilt Al-Barakah Mosque made his heart happy. He imagined gathering and learning recitation again inside the mosque in peace.
“Nuhun, tos ngabangun masjid iye, urang bisa ngaji deui jeng babaturan sakampung di die. Mugi-mugi calageur, mugi sing digentosan. Mugi panjang umur selalu. Sakali deui, nuhun pisan. (Translation: Thank you for building this mosque, I can recite again with my fellow villagers here. May it always be healthy, may it be replaced with a better one, long live always. Thank you again),” he said with sincerity. (Dompet Dhuafa/Hafidz/ADP)