Over 5,000 Muslims in Puerto Princesa City celebrated the annual “Eid al-Fitr” on June 5, marking the end of Ramadan.
Eid al-Fitr which means “breaking the fast” is a religious holiday for Muslims to conclude the strict sunrise-to-sunset Ramadan fasting month in the Islamic year, said Abdul Fateh Gaurak, who has been worshipping in the mosque in Barangay Princesa.
Gaurak said the Eid al-Fitr begins with a special early morning prayer in mosques before the feasts and festivals.
He explained that Ramadan is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith that include prayer and doing good deeds for others.
It is a time of abstinence, he said, from dawn to dusk to renew their covenant with Allah.
“Sa Ramadan, isasagawa niyo ‘yong kautusan ni Allah, pag-fa-fasting, hindi paggawa ng masama at saka magbigay ng kusang loob na kawanggawa sa mga tao. Ito ay isa sa limang posteng Islamic faith… panghuli ang Ramadan. Ang Ramadan ay parang eskwelahan na tuturuan ka, paglipas ng Ramadan ‘yong tinuro sayo, kailangan na isagawa mo rin, ” Gaurak said.
Gaurak said after a month of fasting, reflection, and fasting Muslim families gather for an Eid prayer to show high regard for Allah for allowing them to do personal sacrifices.
He said they hold the event sacred contrary to impressions that they are insincere and it is only for public show.
“Parang kasi ang pagkaintindi nila doon sa pagdiriwang namin sa Ramadan ay pakitang tao na makita ‘yong religion. Hindi gaoon, kasi hindi kami nag-ce-celebrate dahil para makita ng mga tao na marami kami na nagsasagawa ng maganda o ano mang bagay. Kasi ang ginagawa namin ay para matuwa ang lumikha sa amin, walang iba,” he pointed out.
Gaurak said that in the entire province, there are over 100,000 Muslims who celebrated the Eid al-Fitr in around 300 mosques.
In 2002, the government recognized the Eid al-Fitr as a regular holiday under Republic Act 9177 and Presidential Proclamation 1083.
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