JAKARTA — Ustaz Luqmanul Hakim Abubakar is one of the Dai Ambassadors of Dompet Dhuafa 2023 stationed in the interior of Malaysia, precisely in Batu Kentonmen, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. Before finally leaving for Malaysia, Ustaz Luqman had gone through Dai Ambassador Training which was held in Jakarta a week before departure to the country of assignment.
During the training, Ustaz Luqman claimed to have known each other as Dai Ambassador representatives. He admitted that he was amazed by the background of the Dais, most of whom had experience in spreading Islam, among others, to remote and international areas.
“I see the background of the Dai Ambassadors and their da’wah careers in their respective regions are extraordinary. From Dai Pemberdaya (Empowerer) in the country’s interior, Dai as Officer, to Dai who has a lot of experience and has been unfortunate across the world of international da’wah,” wrote Ustaz Luqman in his note to Dompet Dhuafa.
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Dompet Dhuafa, through the Da’wah Service, is again rolling out the Dai Ambassador program in 2023. Dai Ambassador is an ambassador of Dompet Dhuafa who is delegated to spread the wings of da’wah to Islamic minority countries. In 2023, Dompet Dhuafa dispatched 24 Dai Ambassadors sent to more than 14 countries worldwide.
Ustaz Luqman and other Dai Ambassadors began to share stories of experiences and ups and downs during their time as preachers. On the second day of the training, Ustadz Luqman began to listen to the experience of da’wah, which was full of challenges from the southern tip of Indonesia. Ustadz Mukhidurrahman presented the story. He is a Dai Pemberdaya Dompet Dhuafa who serves in Soe Village, South Central Timor and Kefa Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), directly adjacent to Timor Leste.
“You eat in Indonesia, and you defecate in Timor Leste,” said Ustaz Mukhid when describing the close border between the two countries.
Ustaz Luqman said that preaching in the interior takes work. One example can be seen in the 2020 Dai Dompet Dhuafa School program. Of the 25 Dai Empowerment trained, only 6 Dai are left and ready to serve. Others, on the other hand, retreat regularly or disappear without news.
During the preaching, Dai must be prepared with limited facilities and infrastructure. With mobile phone signals, clean water for daily needs is more accessible. In addition, traditional communities in the outer tribes are not easy to interact with migrants.
Only PAUD and SD/MI are available for education in one sub-district. If continuing to the next level of education, children must go to school far from the city. Even though they are Muslims, some will run away in fear if invited to the recitation. Invited to pray in the congregation, they hid. Even when they go to the mosque, they quietly observe the Ustadz, who pray.
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Fulfilling the requirements for Friday prayers, it is common for Dai to have to wait for the congregation until close to Asr time because the congregation is still in the garden or must be persuaded one by one from their respective homes. Finally, the requirement of Shafiiyah Friday pilgrims, which must be at least 80 people, must be addressed because conditions are impossible.
“But, Ustadz Mukhid and the other inland Dai did not give up. Various ways they do to be close to the community and then bring them closer to the mosque, “explained Ustaz Luqman.
Even so, they are not necessarily discouraged. Efforts are still being deployed so that people can be close to the mosque and get to know Islam better. Among the things done by Dai are making catfish ponds and vegetable gardens and providing drinking water pumps for the public on the mosque’s terrace. This effort is also quite visible. People can see mosque activities up close and are no longer as scared as before.
“It was difficult at first. Even the local language, to this day, I do not understand. But I believe that da’wah will find its way. I have to ensure I follow the process to the maximum. The rest is Allah’s business,” Ustaz Mukhid said, based on a story from Ustaz Luqman. (Dompet Dhuafa/Ustadz Luqman HA/Ronna)