Abstract

Indonesia, an archipelagic country with 17 000 islands with 281 million inhabitants, is a democratic country with Islam as the major religion. Currently, Indonesia is the second country with the largest Muslim population in the world. The Islamic tradition in Indonesia has assimilated and intersected with the richness and diversity of Indonesian culture. This is reflected in the use and meaning of Islamic concepts in Indonesia, such as ikhtiar. Ikhtiar is important to Indonesian Muslims and may have profound ethical implications in palliative care situations. This makes it a relevant term to understand for healthcare professionals and adds to our vocabulary in medical ethics. This column will demonstrate the meaning and origin of ikhtiar, how it may be used in a palliative care setting, and its relationship with other concepts. The word ikhtiar is etymologically derived from Arabic اِخْتِيَار ( iḵhtiyār ) and is included in the Official Dictionary of Bahasa Indonesia. It means ‘free choice’ in Arabic, emphasising the capacity of mankind to determine their own course of action rather than predestination. However, in Indonesia, ikhtiar has a more specific nuance as a verb, meaning ‘making an effort’. It denotes that, as a consequence of having free will, humans can choose the goal which they perceive to be the best, and subsequently, make an effort to reach that goal. Ikhtiar is commonly used among Indonesian …