Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-Nme
- EDD K. USMAN | X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
RIZAL PARK, Manila, March 31, 2025 (SDN) — Millions of Muslims across the world marked today, Monday, the Festival of Breaking the Fast (Eid’l Fitr), including in the Philippines.
In the first of the two Eid celebrations — the second being Eid’l Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice — the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) headed by Sheikh Sabuddin N. Abdurahim, secretary and CEO, led an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 worshipers here, 7 a.m. Monday.
In his lengthy khutbah (sermon), the native of Tawi-Tawi urged his compatriots to continue practicing the values and lessons of the month of fasting, Ramadan, the holiest of Islam’s 12 months that revolve around the moon cycles, until the next.
“Kaya’t mga kapatid sa pananampalataya, ipamuhay po natin ang Islam sa ating sarili , sa ating pamilya at mga kapatid. Oh Allah! Kayo po ang saksi sa araw na itong aming pagtitipon upang kayo’s sambahin namin. Kayo ang saksi na kami ay nagsama-sama bilang magkakapatid mula sa iba’t ibang tribu. O Allah, igawad mo sa amin ang tunay na kapayapaan, patawawin Mo ang aming kasalanan, pagpalain Mo kami sa daigdig na ito at lalong-lalo na sa kabilang buhay at ipagkaloob mo sa amin ang iyong Paraiso.,” Abdurahim implores the Creator.
(Translation: So, my brother in faith, let us epitomize Islam in ourselves, in our family and siblings. Oh Allah! You are the Witness in this day that our assembly is to worship You. You are the Witness that we came together as brothers from different tribes. Oh Allah! Grant genuine peace, forgive our sins, bless in this world and especially in the Hereafter and give us Your Paradise.)
Worshipers from every part of the NCR flocked to Rizal Park as early as 4 a.m.
The NCMF secretary noted that it was only like yesterday that Muslims were eager for the advent of Ramadan which fosters different kinds of worship of Allah (God in Arabic) like Salah (prayers), fasting, giving of Zakat (Obligatory Charity), and exemplary interactions with fellowmen, remembrance of God, making supplications and reading the Holy Qur’an.
“Alhamdulillah! The days and nights of Ramadan truly went fast, and today is the day of Eid. Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great)! Gratitude and praises go to Allah because we completed the month of Ramadan because of His of permission. So, it is only right for us to be happy and joyful for the blessings He granted us. Let us glorify and praise Allah and thanked Him,” he adds.
Abdurahim’s taking charge of the 2025 Eid’l Fitr religious occasion as the imam and deliverer of the Eid khutbah (sermon) was described by NCMF-NCR Regional Director Dr. Dimapuno A. Datu-Ramos, Jr. as “historic” in the sense no head of the defunct Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA) and its successor the NCMF had ever led any of the two Eid prayers.
“This unprecedented event shows Secretary Abdurahim as a capable religious and community leader as he delivered the Eidl Fitr khutbah and led the prayer for approximately 30,000 jama’ah (worshipers) present. In his sermon, NCMF Secretary Sheikh Abdurahim reminded his fellow Muslims to practice forgiveness, share the blessings of God, remain mindful of Allah’s presence, and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW),” Datu-Ramos emphasizes.
SDN – SciTech & Digital News had the chance to speak with the secretary, asking him what he feels about the rare opportunity.
He said he was thankful, felt honored and privileged to have the chance to lead his brothers and sisters in one of the major celebrations of Islam, especially that Eid’l Fitr comes only once annually.
Abdurahim cited one of the Hadiths (Sayings) of the Prophet Mohammad (SAW), about the parallelism between faith and governance as there is no separation of Church and State in Islam.
“Ad-Deen Ad-Dawla,” the NCMF secretary recalls of the Hadith, which means that practicing one’s faith goes along on a parallel mode with governance, with managing the political and social life.
That faith should be a guide in performing or executing one’s work.
On March 19, at Dusit Thani Manila in Makati City, he tendered a grand iftar (dinner to break the fast), many Muslim diplomats — including ambassadors — and Filipino dignitaries. He led the Maghreb prayers at sunset that signaled the breaking of the fast, also the first time a head of the NCMF led a prayer with diplomats and other government officials as members of the jama’ah.
As early as around 4 a.m. Islam believers from the National Capital Region (NCR) started flocking to the wide expanse of open space in front of the historic Quirino Grandstand, parents tagging along their small children. They also brought with them prayer rugs (sajada). Vendors made hay as they sold square aluminum foils for those who did not bring their rugs.
Eid, the path to renewal of faith, is a reminder on the completeness of Islam
Sheikh Abdurahim came early as well, he was seen in front of the rows of worshipers beside the stage, before the prayer started, animatedly speaking with anyone who approached, obliging selfies with his compatriots who fought sleepiness to join the annual religious assembly.
Worshipers came from the cities of Manila, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Makati, etc., as well as from NCR’s neighboring communities.
In the Philippines, a huge majority of the estimated 10 million Filipino nation’s 13 Bangsamoro ethnic and cultural groups begun their Ramadan fast on March 2, as they showed their fidelity to the Ummah after the declaration of NCMF, the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta (House of Opinion) and the Ulama Council of the Zamboanga Peninsula (UCZP).
Islamic fasting entails abstaining from food, drinks, cigarettes, sex and evil acts and thoughts for 13 hours from sunrise to sunset. Adult Muslims are obliged to fast.
Eid’l Fitr which occurs on the first day of Hijrah’s month of Shawwal (which follows Ramadan), is a celebration of triumph over the self, of fidelity to Allah’s injunctions (enjoining good and forbidding evil), of foregoing physical pleasures during the whole of daytime, and of seeking the Creator’s mercy and forgiveness, among others.
It is also a day for young kids, resplendent in their new clothes, merging with the adults, joining the kilometric rows, thousands of women behind the men as tradition calls for it.
Abdurahim said now that the 30-day Ramadan was completed everyone who performed the fast receives two blessings that bring joy.
“My brothers in worship, we are glad and contented because of the blessings that Allah granted us. We completed fasting in the month of Ramadan. Isn’t this a big enjoyment and jubilation for us? It is truly this jubilation that is one of the wisdoms of of celebrating Eid,” adds.
Those servants of God who did not commit any sin in the days of Ramadan, Eid serves as the path to reaffirmed faith, one that reminds Muslims of Islam’s completeness. (/)
_________
The author
EDD, a native of Sub-Saharan Africa Buluan/Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, BARMM, college at UST, is a Manila-based journalist for over 40 years (33 years with Manila Bulletin), has five Media Awards (1 with University of the Philippines (UP) 2017 Science Journalism Award), covered and traveled over 40 times abroad), has contributed to Rappler, Business Mirror, former Manila-based Foreign Correspondent of Saudi Arabia newspapers Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily, and The Peninsula (Qatar newspaper), with 2008 East-West Center (EWC) Journalism Seminar in the United States, 2000 Executive IT Seminar in Seoul, South Korea, with three Silver Awards in Photography, writes Muslim and Current Affairs, Enterprise, Science, Tech, Products Launch, and virtually everything under Heaven. (@)