Muslim nations condole with Salamat kin

MARAWI CITY — At least 10 Islamic nations have condoled with relatives of Hashim Salamat, the late rebel chieftain, and the hierarchy of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Sheik Muhamad Omar Pasigun, leader of the Darul-Ifta (House of Opinion) said that among the first Islamic countries to send condolences were Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Egypt.

People in Marawi, Lanao del Sur and the Islamic communities in Central Mindanao were asked to offer prayers for the dead (Jarazha) during the Friday Muslim Congregation, he added.

Triangular flags about a meter wide were hoisted 10 meters apart along an eight-kilometer stretch of highway leading to this city’s boundary with Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur.

White flags also flew in some streets in the city and large white streamers proclaimed: "We miss you our Amerol Mujahideen, Imam Salamat."

Salamat died last July 13 of "natural causes" somewhere in the Lanao provinces.

He is survived by his wife Zenaida and five sons, the eldest being 15 years old, said Uztadz Muammar Biston, Salamat’s father-in-law.

Salamat’s five sons are still in school, he added.

Uztadz Biston and Salamat were together in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 1978 to pursue higher studies in Islam.

It was during that time that Biston and Salamat became close friends and the former entertained thoughts that Salamat could be an ideal husband for his daughter Zenaida, observing how Salamat comported himself and possessing admirable traits.

"He (Salamat) was religious, industrious, kind, friendly and strictly observed schedules, he wakes up at 4:30 dawn everyday for the obligatory prayer," said Biston.

Salamat then asked Biston for Zenaida’s hand in marriage, and they got married in Lahore, Pakistan in the 1980s.

"Although he had tight schedules every day, he would see to it that he spends time with the family after every afternoon prayer, but Friday is family day for him," Biston added. — Lino de la Cruz