Muslims end Ramadhan; urged to sow peace, love, unity

by Ali G. Macabalang

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Aug 31 (PIA) – As the estimated 1.57 billion Muslims across the world celebrated the end of their Ramadhan fast through the Islamic festive time of Eid’l Fitr Tuesday, leaders in the troubled areas of Southern Philippines echoed the universal prayers for peace, unity and love in a fashion they deemed as the “only avenue” to bring the nation to greater heights.

In the Philippines, which is known to be Asia’s lone Catholic nation, Muslim citizens are among the minority sectors searching for proper moments like the Eid’l Fitr (the Day of Feast in Islam) to sound off prayers for peaceful coexistence through interfaith dialogs as mean of fostering a convergent efforts on nation-building.

In this city, for the whole month of Ramadhan, radio stations and tabloids have heralded paid messages of Muslim leaders in various professions and sectors reminding their constituents on the need for spiritual and moral advancement to push for “universal understanding” especially in this era of political and economic complexities.

Hadji Abdulmalik Ansaruddin A. Adiong, incumbent acting governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, for instance, has underscored the “power of prayers in all times.”

“Prayers help make people become good…And if Christians, Muslims and people of other faiths will persist to be good citizens, there would be no doubt that goodness will rein in our society,” said Adiong, a scion of local political cum religious families.

Thus, in his published greeting message for the Eid’l Fitr celebration, Adiong called on Muslim and Christian Filipinos “to sow understanding when there is confusion, reconciliation where there is feud, unity when there is dissension, and love where there is hatred.”

He prodded the Muslim Ummah, the global community of an estimated 1.75 people, according to a recent foreign media report, on the need to learn and harness basic traits of piety.

“Let us develop the traits of Zikr (constant remembrance of God), Fikr (concern for our religion, community, and fellow mankind especially the hapless), Sukhr(modesty and contentment with gratitude to the Divine Providence), and Sabr(patience and perseverance amid trials).”

Adiong said these four traits, which had been practiced fervently by Prophets and disciples of Islam in various generations, are more imperative in the current times especially in our desire to leave in peaceful, harmonious, just and productive life.