TIMES BANYUWANGI, JAKARTA – In the rhythm of life's twists and turns, failure and success always walk hand in hand, like tangled threads that are hard to separate. This was felt in the last week, when the shades of failure and success showed themselves through the announcement of the SBMPTN 2024 and the selection in the leading public madrasahs (MAN) spread across various regions.

Those who succeed feel joy, those who fail feel sorrow. The writer felt this from several people who talked about these two things. Sad stories and happy tales alternated as the mood of some friends appeared on the smartphone screen.

Indeed, in this vast expanse of life, every step of a person is often accompanied by the shadows of failure, which seem inevitable. Like a pearl hidden in the ocean, failure is a truth that must be faced with an open heart. Like Mr. D, a digital art painter who carves his QR Art works on canvas, each sculpting of failure actually designs a pattern towards the greatest masterpiece: success.

Allah Himself provides certainty in the Quran. "If Allah helps you, then no one can defeat you; but if He leaves you, who then can help you? In Allah should the believers put their trust" (Surah Al-‘Imran: 160).

This verse indicates that in every effort and failure, trust in Him is the key to rise again. Failure is not the end. Rather, failure is the opening of the way for the coming of help and wisdom.

This Ramadan moment can be used as a friend who offers opportunities for introspection. In the silence of the night and the tranquility of the soul, fasting in the month of Ramadan teaches humans about patience and the strength of heart in facing failure. In line with the saying of Prophet Muhammad, "Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking Allah's reward, his previous sins will be forgiven" (narrated by Bukhari and Muslim). This hadith reminds us that every failure can be a means to purify oneself and renew the intention in pursuing dreams.

So, how do we make failure a stepping stone to success? The answer lies in the ability to see each downfall as a lesson that matures us. Failure is a tough, yet fair teacher. Failure never leaves us without valuable treasures of experience and lessons that can guide us to a more splendid gateway of success.

In the labyrinth of life, failure is often seen as a solid barrier, blocking our view of potential growth. However, if we see failure as a prism that refracts light into a spectrum of opportunities, we will begin to understand that every moment of failure is an invitation to grow and innovate. Failure, in its essence, is a dialogue, not a monologue; it speaks to us about weaknesses, strengths, and possibilities.

"Do not let failure blind your eyes to the possible beauty of success," said Cak Nun (Emha Ainun Nadjib). His words are a spiritual map that directs us to see the light of hope behind the folds of failure's fog.

Why does failure often feel so bitter? Because we are accustomed to a culture that idolizes the final result and overlooks the process that leads us there. Failure teaches us to reflect on the path we have taken, assess strategies, and recognize the value of the effort itself, not just the peak of achievement.

In this context, failure is not an enemy to be defeated, but a teacher inviting us to the learning table, to understand life lessons that sometimes can only be taught through mistakes and failures. Like a sculptor tapping on stone, each tap of failure chips away the unnecessary, gradually forming the frame of strength and resilience in us.

Learning is not just about winning. More importantly, learning is to appreciate every moment of struggle and the process we go through.

Failure forces us to step out of our comfort zone, pushing the limits we once considered our maximum. In every failure lie seeds of innovation, because to find new paths to success, we must dare to take risks and fail. Like a sailor navigating the sea, we must learn to navigate the storms of failure to reach the shores of our dreams.

Ramadan, with its uniqueness and specialness, offers time for reflection and learning from failure. This is a time when the soul is invited to retrace the steps that have slipped, to then rearrange direction and steps wisely. Ramadan teaches that after hardship comes ease, that after failure awaits the door of success to be opened. Fa inna ma'al 'usri yusro, indeed with hardship comes ease.

Reflection and self-purification in this holy month are manifestations of the understanding that failure is the first step in the journey to success. Through the offering of time for introspection, Ramadan helps us realize that failure is part of a larger design in life.

Ramadan also teaches valuable lessons and shapes us into stronger and more resilient individuals. Keep the spirit up for those who failed. And, remain grateful for those who succeeded. (*)

*) The author is the vice chairman of PCNU Malang City.