TANGERANG, Indonesia (AP) — Wearing a colorful costume, red nose and a turban on his head, Yahya Hendrawan performs as a clown in Indonesian schools, teaching Islamic values to children and teenagers.
He started out working birthday parties as a side hustle. But in 2010 his religious teacher encouraged him to become a modern-day Abu Nawas, a legendary Arabic poet known for his wit, wisdom, humor and clever wordplay, so he could bring a cheerful, lighthearted approach to teaching religion.
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Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', checks his make up before giving an Islamic religious class during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Students watch Sumantri, who goes by the stage name 'Mantri Mejikom', perform during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Students watch Sumantri, who goes by the stage name 'Mantri Mejikom', perform during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', gives an Islamic religious class during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', gives an Islamic religious class during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', applies make up before giving an Islamic religious class during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Sumantri, who is is known with his stage name 'Mantri Mejikom', left and Miko Badut perform during an iftar event in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', walk past children attending an iftar, or meal to break Ramadan fast, event at his house in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', stands among attendees during an iftar event at his house in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', poses for a photo at his house in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', prays during an iftar, or meal to break Ramadan fast, event at his house in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Performing clown, who wished to be identified as Om Miko the Clown, wears his shoes before a performance at an iftar event in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', center, with his colleagues Miko Badut, left, and Sumatri, who goes with 'Mantri Mejikom' as his stage name, apply make up before performing at an iftar event in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', left, and Sumantri, who goes with 'Mantri Mejikom' as his stage name, apply make up before performing at an iftar event in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', center, carries a rug during preparations for an iftar, or meal to break Ramadan fast, event at his house in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', gives an Islamic religious class during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Hendrawan, now known as Yahya Badut, or Yahya the Clown, has embraced that vision. He founded, along with some fellow clowns, the Sharia Clown Foundation, a neighborhood initiative that blends entertainment with religious education.
Hendrawan teaches every weekday afternoon in a library at his house and occasionally at a school or orphanage with his clown partners.
He often begins lessons with a cheerful song, encouraging children to share a smile. Other clowns open with magic tricks.
“There is a hadith that says: Your sweet smile in front of your brothers is charity. So we must prioritize smiles and greetings. When meeting friends, shaking hands, smile .. You are good. I am good. Thank God,” Hendrawan said.
By being funny and cheerful, Hendrawan says he hopes the children will quickly absorb his lessons about morals, manners and Islamic values.
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', checks his make up before giving an Islamic religious class during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Students watch Sumantri, who goes by the stage name 'Mantri Mejikom', perform during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Students watch Sumantri, who goes by the stage name 'Mantri Mejikom', perform during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', gives an Islamic religious class during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', gives an Islamic religious class during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', applies make up before giving an Islamic religious class during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Sumantri, who is is known with his stage name 'Mantri Mejikom', left and Miko Badut perform during an iftar event in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', walk past children attending an iftar, or meal to break Ramadan fast, event at his house in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', stands among attendees during an iftar event at his house in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', poses for a photo at his house in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', prays during an iftar, or meal to break Ramadan fast, event at his house in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Performing clown, who wished to be identified as Om Miko the Clown, wears his shoes before a performance at an iftar event in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', center, with his colleagues Miko Badut, left, and Sumatri, who goes with 'Mantri Mejikom' as his stage name, apply make up before performing at an iftar event in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', left, and Sumantri, who goes with 'Mantri Mejikom' as his stage name, apply make up before performing at an iftar event in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', center, carries a rug during preparations for an iftar, or meal to break Ramadan fast, event at his house in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Yahya Edward Hendrawan, who is also known as 'Yahya the Clown', gives an Islamic religious class during a Ramadan event at an elementary school in Tangerang, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
