psikologi.ums.ac.id, March 6, 2026 – The UMS Faculty of Psychology recently hosted its routine monthly religious gathering (Pengajian), which this time doubled as an Iftar dinner connecting current staff, lecturers, and retired faculty members. The event took place in the Hybrid Room on the 2nd Floor of the Faculty of Psychology.
The holy month of Ramadan is more than just a time for heightened ritual worship; it serves as a crucible for forging character and a strong work ethic. This concept was explored in depth during the gathering, featuring Dr. Kharis Nugroho, Lc., M.Ud., who delivered a talk themed “The Spirit of Ramadan as a Training Center for Professional Integrity.”
In his lecture, Dr. Kharis emphasized that the true essence of fasting extends far beyond the physical routine of abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk. “Fasting is, at its core, an education of the soul and willpower. According to the Tafsir Al-Munir, this act of worship is designed to cultivate a strong will (yurabbi al-iradah), build mental resilience, and rein in impulsive behaviors,” he explained to the attendees. He added that the ultimate goal of these spiritual exercises is clearly outlined in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 183:
يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَۙ ١٨٣
Work as Worship: Intention is Key
Furthermore, Dr. Kharis drew a direct parallel between spiritual piety and the professional world. He noted that aligning one’s intentions to work solely for the sake of Allah can profoundly transform the workplace environment.
When daily tasks are rooted in a spirit of worship and sincerity, even the heaviest workloads begin to feel manageable. This genuine sincerity is the “secret ingredient” that yields not only professional excellence but also attracts unexpected ease and blessings (barakah).
Four Pillars of a High-Performance Work Culture
To cultivate a high-trust, high-performance work ecosystem, Dr. Kharis outlined four synergistic pillars adapted from the spirit of Ramadan:
- Muraqabah (The Awareness of Divine Supervision)
This is the bedrock of absolute, internal honesty, requiring no CCTV cameras or attendance trackers.
Remote/WFH Integrity: Working optimally from home not out of fear of the boss, but out of the awareness that Allah is always watching.
Time Integrity: Utilizing work hours fully and avoiding the theft of company time for personal matters.
Rejecting Gratification: Firmly closing the door on bribery or hidden perks. Even if something slips past human auditors, it never escapes God’s sight. - Shabr (Patience and Emotional Intelligence)
Fasting trains patience, which manifests in the workplace as emotional intelligence—especially vital when operating under pressure or dealing with tight deadlines. - Social Communication Ethics
Guarding one’s tongue is key to a solid, psychologically safe team. The spirit of fasting teaches us to avoid ghibah (gossiping or backbiting coworkers), prevent namimah (sowing discord that ruins office morale), and reject qoul az-zur (false statements, which includes manipulating data or work reports). - At-Taisir (Facilitating Ease)
From a structural standpoint, good leadership translates into policies that humanize employees, avoid oppression, and provide proportional flexibility and support.
The gathering concluded with a powerful reflection: Ramadan is the ultimate momentum to hit the reset button on our work habits, transforming our desks into fields of reward, and making unshakeable integrity the true hallmark of a Muslim professional.
