Peaceful celebration of Eid’l Fitr noted

A Muslim religious congregation during celebration of the June 15, 2018 Eid’l Fitr at the ORG-ARMM compound in Cotabato City .  (Photo courtesy of Engr. Avila Abobakar of ORG ARMM)

COTABATO CITY ---  Thousands of Muslim faithful gathered in various congregational prayer venues here last June 15 as they celebrated Eid’lFitr, the culmination of the month-long fasting period of Ramadan.

Law enforcement units remained on alert although no major untoward incidents were reported across the city.

“The celebration (Eid’lFitr) has been generally peaceful. So far, so good,” said Senior Superintendent Rolly Octavio, city police director.

Mayor Cynthia Guiani–Sayadi has earlier urged Cotabateños to celebrate the event solemnly and peacefully with family and friends.

Sayadi warned that the police would arrest violators for indiscriminate firing of guns and igniting of fireworks, among others, during the festivity.

“Fortunately, there were no reported indiscriminate firing of guns in the air, no firecracker bursts, no victims of stray bullets whatsoever in the city compared to same event in the past,” said Halima Satol-Ibrahim, city information officer.

However, traffic though stalled in several areas of the city due to the Eid’l congregational prayer events at the Cotabato City Central Pilot School along Sinsuat Avenue; the Bolkiah Grand Mosque in Timako area; and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) complex along Governor Gutierrez Avenue.

In the ARMM complex alone, an estimated 3,000 people gathered in the morning prayers.

“Banded together – as peers and friends, as families, as communities, as one people sharing the same aspirations – we become even more mindful of the greatness we can achieve through Allah,” ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said in a statement.

He said that Ramadan is a time of both reflection and struggle amid so many choices even as Muslims are taught to submit to the will of Allah; to side with what is kind, just, and good; to be cleansed of negativity, and emerge from every challenge with peace and greater clarity of purpose.

During Eid al-Fitr, Muslims congregate in open areas to perform prayers followed by a short sermon given by the Imam or worship leader.

Family gatherings, feasts, visits to relatives and friends, and exchanging of gifts are part of the celebration.

Malacañang  declared Friday, June 15, a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’lFitr.  (Noel Punzalan, PNA - Cotabato)

Muslims’ wish

MANILA --- One venue of the Eid’l Fitr ceklebration  was the Blue Mosque at Maharlika Village in Taguig City as devotees prayed for unity and peace as Ramadan formally ended.

“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).

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. 

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 na Eid-il-Ftr,” he said.

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. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan with reports from Rachel Banares, OJT/PNA/MINDANAO EXPOSE’)