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Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Muslims pray for peace, safety as Ramadan ends
By Grace L. Plata
DAVAO CITY -- About 3,000 Muslims from all over Davao City were gathered in an organized prayer held at the Agro Industrial Foundation College grounds in Quimpo Boulevard Tuesday dawn.
The prayer signaled the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan and started the Eid'l Fitr, locally known as Hari Raya Puasa.
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According to a website on Muslim traditions (www.islamiccity.com), Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fitr means "to break the fast" (from the word "fitrah") and so symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period.
Collectively reciting the Takbir, which is the first prayer to be said after the last day of fast, the prayers of Davao-based Muslims shifted to pleas for peace and safety for fellow Muslims in Central Mindanao.
Davao City SK Federation Chair Halila Sudagar, also of the K'lagan tribe, said the gathering proved that Muslims in Davao are united regardless of tribe. There are five Muslim tribes inhabiting the city - K'lagan, Maranao, Tausug, Maguindanao and Sama.
"Nalipay gyud ko nga nagkahiusa mi labi na sa pagpangayo nga muundang na ang giyera sa Central Mindanao. Swerte pa mi nga pwede maka-tapok pareha niani dinhi sa Davao pero among mga igsuon didto kay naguol pa (I am happy that we are one in asking a stop to the war in Central Mindanao. We are lucky here that we can still gather as one big group in Davao City, but some of our brothers out there are in misery)," Sudagar said.
Aside from the organized prayer, activities spearheaded by the SK and Muslim youth groups include an Islamic exhibit, which started Tuesday night at Rizal Park. On Wednesday, a Qur'an reading competition will be held at SM City Davao.
Disparity
While the Davao-based Muslims were in revelry and are looking forward to Wednesday's grand celebration, those in Central Mindanao are already preparing for the worst.
"We are thankful to Allah for allowing us to observe Ramadan with patience despite AFP offensives that caused massive displacement and death," Suara Bangsamoro National Chair Amirah Ali Lidasan, who is presently in Lanao, said in a text message.
Lidasan also said they have been going around communities to help them prepare for eventualities.
Lidasan said there are talks in the villages that military offensive will be intensified after Ramadan especially that the President in an address before the United Nations declared the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as the enemy.
She added that even before the end of Ramadan there were already reports of houses being burned in Datu Sawde Ampatuan. “If they could do this during Ramadan, what's stopping them after," Lidasan said.
The military and police on the other hand are on heightened alert for any possible atrocities that may be carried out by lawless elements to disrupt the celebration of the end of the Holy month of Ramadan.
Task Force Davao chief Col. Oscar Lactao said they are conducting various security measures in order to avert any plan of perpetrating terror acts in the city, taking advantage of the festivities of the Muslim communities today.
Checkpoint operations and visibility patrols are just some of the few security measures being put in place by TF Davao.
Peace talks
Meanwhile, Presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said dialogues and consultations with Mindanao stakeholders and local communities would go full blast after observance of Ramadan officially ends Wednesday.
He was referring to the President's order to shift to authentic dialogues with the communities from negotiations with armed groups like the MILF.
The shift was ordered after members of the MILF attacked communities in parts of Central Mindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) following the aborted signing of the controversial homeland deal.
Malacañang, in a statement, enjoined the nation to pray for peace and guidance as the Muslim community celebrates the Eid'l Fitr or end of the holy month of Ramadan Wednesday.
"As we come to the end of the most venerated and holy month of Ramadan, the Palace sends its greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters and the Islamic world on the joyous Eid'l Fitr, and enjoins the whole nation to pray for guidance and peace," Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said.(with reports from CPM/JMR/VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (October 1, 2008 issue)
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