Muslims pray for prolonged peace as they observe Ramadan

CAMP S.K. PENDATUN, Maguindanao, Philippines – Muslims in the South are undergoing a solemn fasting month after three virtually bloody Ramadan seasons and are wishing the fragile peace in the communities will continue until the Eid’l Fitr.

Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police, said there has been no untoward incident in Maguindanao since the Ramadan started on Aug. 12.

Muslims fast at daytime during the Ramadan, which lasts for one lunar cycle, or about 29 days, as a religious obligation.

The Ramadan ends with the Eid’l Fitr celebration, where Muslims converge in an open field for a congregational prayer and, subsequently, tender simple banquets for their poor neighbors.

“Our Muslim communities in many parts of ARMM have also been observing the Ramadan peacefully. Our Muslim policemen have quality time now for spiritual activities because there is tranquility in the region. Thanks to all sectors helping push forward the Minda–nao peace process,” Latag said.

The Ramadan seasons in the autonomous region – particularly Maguindanao and in North Cotabato, a component area of Administrative Region 12 – in the past three years were punctuated with hostilities between the military and guerillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which forced thousands to evacuate and seek refuge in relief sites inside school campuses.

“We are praying this kind of situation will continue. We are thanking the MILF, the military and joint ceasefire committee for observing the ceasefire religiously especially during our fasting season,” said Ustadz Ebrahim Ismael, a member of Central Mindanao’s Darul Iftah (House of Opinions).

Major Gen. Anthony Alcantara, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said even feuding guerilla factions in Maguindanao have ceased to fight, enabling thousands to peacefully observe the Ramadan.

Alcantara said Muslim soldiers in all of 6th ID’s component units that are fasting during the day have been given night security duties to allow them an undisrupted month-long observance of the Ramadhan.

“There is peace in our area and we are hoping we will not be having any any no security problem at all for the entire duration of the Ramadhan,” Alcantara said.

Local officials in Maguindanao have been helping monitor the security situation in all of the 36 towns in the province since last week in support of the effort of the GRP-MILF ceasefire committee to maintain tranquility in the province during the fasting season.

The Ramadhan will end with the sighting by scholars of the new moon next month.