Muslims wish for lasting peace as Ramadan ends

Filipino Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr with morning prayers in front of the Blue Mosque in Maharlika Village in Taguig City and prayed for unity and peace as Ramadan formally ended on Friday. (Photo by Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)

MANILA — Filipino Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr with morning prayers in front of the Blue Mosque in Maharlika Village in Taguig City and prayed for unity and peace as Ramadan formally ended on Friday.

“Wala tayong hinahangad o hindi hinihiling sa Allah, sa lahat ng mga Muslims, pagkakaisa, magkaisa tayo para sa ating bayan, pagkakaisa bilang Muslim. Tulong-tulong. Ipakita natin na tayong mga Muslim ay walang ginagawang masama dahil ang mga Muslim, hindi gumagawa ng karahasan, kundi pagsunod sa Allah, pagmamahal sa kapwa,” Datu Basher “Bong” Alonto Al Hajj, Chairman of the Metro Manila Muslim Community for Justice and Peace told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

(We don’t have any demand or wish to Allah, in all the Muslims except unity. Let’s all unite for our beloved country, unite as Muslims. Let’s help one another. Let us show that Muslims have no bad intentions, not committing violence but rather, obeying Allah and loving our fellow individuals.)

He also urged Filipino Muslims to obey God’s teachings on justice and peace, veering away from violence and hatred.

“Panawagan namin sa ating mga kapatid na mga Muslim na kung tayo ay naliligaw ng landas, hindi natin nakikita ang tama, pagsunod sa Panginoon, pagsunod sa batas…Dahil napakasakit sa tinatawag minsan yung mga terrorist na gumagawa minsan ng labag sa batas, labag sa Islam ng mga Muslim, actually ang Muslim ay hindi gumagawa ng anumang ikakasama at ikakapinsala ng kanilang kapwa,” he said.

(We asked our Muslims brothers who have lost their paths, who have not seen what is right to obey the Lord, abide the laws… because it’s hurtful to be called as terrorists who violate the laws, against Islam of the Muslim, actually Muslims are not doing any deeds which might be harm their fellowmen.)

Al Hajj said that celebrating Eid-al-Ftr is a religious event wherein Muslims all over the world manifest their devotion and obedience to Allah’s commandments and to ‘sacrifice’ annually as Ramadan takes place.

“Itong ginagawa natin ay ito yung katapusan ng tinatawag natin na sacrifice, itong Ramadan na tawag sa amin (pertaining to Muslims) at ang lahat ng Muslim sa Pilipinas, hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo ay sabay-sabay na ganitong pagsara na tinatawag natin naEid-il-Ftr”, he said.

(This celebration that we are conducting serves as the end of our sacrifice what we call Ramadan in the Phillipines, not just here in our country but in the whole world we simultaneously end the end with what we call Eid-il-Ftr.)

Eid’l Fitr is a celebration of faith, of fear of God, of peace, mercy, reconciliation, forgiveness, among others. It is a day of thanksgiving for passing the test for patience, hunger, and material and non-material deprivation.

Eid” is an Arabic word which means “festival” while “fitr” is “conclusion of the fast.” Thus, Eid’l Fitr is a celebration marking the end of the Ramadan holy month.

As commanded by Quran, Muslims should complete their fasting on the last day of Ramadan and then recite the “Takbir or Allahu Akbar” all throughout the period of Eid. Typically, during the Eid’l Fitr, Muslims wake up very early in the morning before the sun rises.

They offer a prayer called Salatul Fajr, put on new clothes or the best one available and apply perfume.

Since Eid’l Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, it is forbidden for Muslims to fast on that day.

That is why it is advisable to take a small breakfast of sweet dish, preferably the date fruit, before attending the special Eid’l Fitr prayer called Salah.

Meanwhile, Datu Alonto Al Hajj lauded President Rodrigo R. Duterte for his initiative in coming up with the proposed Bangsangmoro Basic Law (BBL).

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa ating mahal na Pangulo na talaga nga namang ito ang pagkakataon na inassure nya na meron tayong BBL. Sa atin namang mga Muslims, suportahan nating itong BBL, suportahan natin ito at magkaisa,” AL Hajj said.

(We would like to thank dear President that assures this chance to make us have BBL. And for our Muslims, let’s support this BBL, let us support this and unite.)