Samosir, located in the middle of Lake Toba in Samosir Regency, North Sumatra Province, at an altitude of 950-1,685 m above sea level, makes this island attractive to everyone. Samosir Island has an area of 640 square kilometers, dominated by the Toba Batak tribe and has 9 sub-districts and 121 villages.
Samosir’s motto is “Sa tahi, Sa Oloan,” which means “United, Harmonious.” The majority of the population is Christian, accounting for 97.8%, with approximately 2.1% Muslim and the remainder practicing other religions. Samosir is a picturesque destination with numerous attractive tourist attractions worth visiting.
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A da’i (preacher) from Dompet Dhuafa, Ust. M. Sya’ban, who spends his days preaching in three sub-districts on the island of Samosir, crosses steep hills and travels dozens of kilometers to teach Muslim children who live far away.
The scarcity of Islamic schools and mosques in Samosir has only strengthened Ust. Sya’ban’s resolve to tirelessly travel from village to village, providing education about Islam. “Here, it is indeed full of challenges to carry out da’wah. There are limited resources, restricted mobility due to the prohibition of using loudspeakers, and the locations are very remote.
The Muslim population is very small, and it is unfortunate that the children cannot learn about their religion,“ said Ust. Sya’ban.
”There is a lack of attention to children who want to learn the basics of religion because they are a minority in Samosir, and it is also difficult to obtain basic halal necessities,” continued Ust. Sya’ban.
Despite the many limitations, the spirit of Islamic preaching and education brought by Ust. Sya’ban serves as a clear testament that the struggle is far from over. Support from the broader community, including donors and the government, is hoped to bring greater attention and empowerment to the Muslim minority in Samosir.
Sulaeman, Head of the DD Waspada Branch in North Sumatra, stated that the DD Waspada program in Samosir is indeed full of challenges. On the one hand, we have obtained all the necessary permits, but on the other hand, the majority of the community, who are non-Muslim, strongly reject the program. As a result, the implementation of the program designed to help the Muslim community here is also very limited. For this reason, we have established various collaborations with government agencies, including the Provincial Government, the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Social Affairs Department, the Police, and others to facilitate the development of the zakat empowerment program in Samosir.
As Indonesia approaches its 80th anniversary of independence, some of our fellow citizens in Samosir still have not experienced true freedom in practicing their religion. This serves as a reminder that true independence has not yet fully arrived for all citizens. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Photo and Text: Dian Mulyadi
Editor: Syafira