Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Don’t suspect our gatherings: imam
AS HE urged Muslims to observe fasting during Ramadan, a Muslim leader advised the public and the police not to be alarmed when they see people dressed in their robes during nightly prayer gatherings.
“The police might become suspicious of Muslims coming together in groups, wearing clothes like those of al-Quaida leader Osama Bin Laden, and our Cebuano brothers might also be alarmed,” Green Mosque Imam Ustadz Haron Magadapa told Sun.Star Cebu.
Aside from fasting during the month of Ramadan, Muslims also observe supererogatory or tarawi prayers every 7:15 p.m. in their mosques as a way to socialize and strengthen fasting practices. The imams also give lectures to their Muslim brothers.
New moon
Ramadan will start either today or tomorrow, depending on the appearance of the new moon. As of 7 p.m. yesterday, no official declaration on the start of Ramadan has been issued yet. If the new moon did not appear yesterday, the first day of Ramadan will be tomorrow and will last for 29 days.
The Muslims give special attention to the appearance of the new moon.
“We have our special moon-watching committees, which is composed of scholars and imams. They monitor the media and consolidate reports from other Muslim countries. We don’t even believe reports from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration because we need to have credible people as sources. Someone whom we know can be trusted,” Magadapa said.
He added that moon watching starts at 6 p.m. and ends around 3 a.m. the next day. If the new moon could be seen in other countries but not in the Philippines, Ramadan will start in all the countries on the same day.
Abstinence
Apart from fasting, Muslims also abstain from sex and other things that give them pleasure.
Magadapa compared fasting to bringing one’s car to a shop for an overhaul.
“In the same way, men who fast are being conditioned and trained to help bring peace and order in the country by starting to attain peace within one’s self and family. There is peace because one will learn to control his emotions. Controlling the stomach is also economically good because it will teach him to spend moderately,” said Magadapa.
The elderly, the sick, women who are pregnant and those who have their monthly period and children who have not reached puberty are exempted from fasting. (NRC)
