COTABATO City–Muslims across the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) and elsewhere will celebrate Eud’l Fitr (end of fasting month) today.
This after top clerics and Islamic scholars failed to see the crescent moon on Monday night.
The Armm’s Regional Darul Iftah (RDI), also known as “House of Opinions,” said the Eud’l Fitr will be celebrated which was earlier declared a national holiday by President Duterte.
An open field congregational prayer will be held in many places across the region composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, Armm Gov. Mujiv Hataman said yesterday.
For the past 30 days, Muslims fast at daytime during the Ramadan.
Fasting, practiced by physically fit Islam believers, is one of the five pillars of Islam. Exempted to fast are children below 10 years old, the elderly, pregnant mothers and the sick.
The other pillars include absolute obedience to Allah, praying five times a day facing west, giving of zakat (alms) to the poor, and performing the hajj (pilgrimage) to Makkah in Saudi Arabia for those who can afford the cost of travel.
“This year’s Ramadan is symbolic because it came immediately after the May 9 synchronized national, local and the Armm regional elections, which caused tension and partisan divides among our people,” Hataman said in a statement.
“Emerging spiritually victorious from the fasting season, we shall draw strength from the essence of Eid’l Fitr to continue with much vigor and dedication our reform initiatives and dedicated governance which we started in 2012,” Hataman added.
During the celebration, Muslims are expected to be charitable to the less fortunate brethren and sisters.
President Duterte on Monday issued Proclamation 6, declaring this day as a holiday in accordance with RA 9177 which was passed on Nov. 13, 2002 declaring Eid’l Fitr as an annual national holiday but whose date every year has to be determined “in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient”
Proclamation 6 states that Eid’l Fitr is celebrated by the Muslim world for three days after the end of the month of fasting; that the entire Filipino nation “should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr;” and that in order to bring the religious and cultural significance of Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness, it is necessary to declare Wednesday, 6 July 2016, as a regular holiday throughout the country.” (pna and mindanews)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
