IMAMS and Muslim scholars will gaze upwards starting tonight to look for the new crescent moon that will herald the start of the Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month.
Aleem Saad Amate of the United Imam of the Philippines said the imams and scholars in Lanao del Sur agreed with the Cotabato-based Regional Darul Ifta (Islamic advisory council) to hold the moon sighting tonight.
Amate said if the moon is sighted tonight, then the first day of Ramadan will be declared on Thursday.
If not sighted, then the first day of the holy month of fasting for the Muslim Filipinos would be on Friday.
The task of sighting the crescent moon in the skies usually falls on groups of imams and scholars across Muslim countries in Asia and the Middle East.
Amate said a local sighting committee will go to beaches in Cagayan de Oro where they can see the clear skies after the Maghrib prayers tonight.
However, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Amate said many of the Islamic traditions like congregational prayers in mosques and masjids would be put aside.
He said Muslims are encouraged to pray in their homes to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Msgr. Rey Manuel Monsantoof the local Roman Catholic archdiocese said Christians who usually participate in the past Duyog Ramadan will be sending messages of support to Muslims.
“We used to pray outside their mosques to show our solidarity. We will resort to sending texts to show our solidarity,” Monsanto said.
Duyog Ramadan is an ecumenical initiative where Christians joined Muslims in a solidarity iftar – the meal taken at sundown to foster solidarity.
Muslims observe the 30-day Ramadan with fastings from dawn to dusk, prayers, and abstentions. (Froilan Gallardo)
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