MUSLIMS in Bacolod City Tuesday, August 21, joined the celebration of one of the holiest days in the religious calendar, the Eid'l Adha, wherein they gather for a feast and wore their best clothes.
Imam Omar Betita, head of Dar Al Dhikr Islamic Call and Guidance Center based in Barangay Mansilingan, said the celebration was centered on the life of Prophet Ibrahim who showed the willingness to sacrifice his most treasured possession, which is his son, at the word of the Lord.
The Eid'l Adha is celebrated by sacrificing cattle and livestock and the meat was divided between friends, neighbors and the poor.
Betita said: "we sacrificed 18 goats and one sheep for the feast. We are all happy to celebrate this feast. We want peace to continuously reign in our community, country, and the world."
He added: "We have so many visitors such as families of our brother Muslims. There were those who came from Jolo, Sulu who decided to migrate here in Bacolod City, members of the Philippine National Police, who are one with us to promote peace, and above all else, all people and not just for the Muslims."
He said that this is the feast where the 1439 Islamic calendar that estimates the future of Islamic events.
With this calendar, each month is marked by the observance of a new moon that is seen for the first time.
"We are all happy about the coming of the new Islamic calendar," Betita said.
He is thankful to Allah that he allowed peace to be enjoyed by everyone in their community.
Meanwhile, in celebration of Eid'l Adha, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday expressed hope that "greater unity and harmony" would prevail despite differences in religious beliefs.
In his Eid'l Adha's message, Duterte emphasized the need for the Muslims and other religious groups to keep "mutual respect and peace" as they build diverse communities.
"Today, we do not only commemorate the admirable act of being obedient to one's God but also celebrate the significance of faith in our pursuit of meaningful transformation," the President said.
"May this celebration bind us together in our common hope of building diverse communities that is rooted in mutual respect and peace," he added.
In observance of Eid'l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, Duterte has declared August 21, Tuesday, as a regular holiday.
Duterte said the sacred feast serves as "a reminder of the fulfillment that is found in sacrifice."
"Ibrahim's faithfulness taught us the way towards a strong spiritual foundation that is guided by our shared values of compassion, selflessness and hope," he said.
"As Muslims all over the world honor this remarkable sacrifice, I hope that you will be more inspired to embody courage and conviction in all of the challenges we face as a nation," he added.
The Chief Executive was optimistic that everyone would go beyond "social, political and cultural barriers" to achieve the goal of promoting peace and order in the country.
"I trust that in the midst of our religious traditions, we will find the strength and inspiration to live a life that transcends social, political and cultural barriers," he said. "Together, let us foster greater unity and harmony across people of various faiths." (with reports from SunStar Philippines)