Featured image above shows NCMF Secretary Sabuddin N. Abdurahim (2nd, right) presents a Plaque of Appreciation and souvenirs to Egypt Ambassador Nader Nabil Zaki during the Grand Iftar. The Egyptian diplomat presented a gift to the NCMF secretary. Also in the photo are BMCA Director Benrajiv J. Kashim (right), NCMF Executive Director Tahir S. Lidasan, Jr. (2nd, left) and Deputy Executive Director Jehan-Jehan Lepail. (Photo: SDN) 

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DUSIT THANI MANILA, Makati City, March 4, 2026 (SDN) — National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Sabuddin N. Abdurahim today, Wednesday, tendered a Ramadhan Grand Iftar attended by envoys from  Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member-countries, other dignitaries, and leaders of Moro communities in Metro Manila.

“Tonight, we gather not only to break our fast but to share a moment of reflection and fellowship this blessed month of Ramadhan. While Muslims observe fasting, the spirit of Ramadhan speaks to universal values, compassion, generosity, humility, and responsibility toward one another,” the native of Tawi-Tawi, a component of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), emphasizes in his Welcome Remarks.

Abdurahim noted the shared values in he cited reflect the event’s theme, “Solidarity, Nobility, and Amanah”.

“Iftar” is the breaking of Islam’s fast at sunset which Muslims worldwide perform during the holy month of Ramadhan every day for 29 or 30 days.

After the initial breaking of the fast at sunset with dates and water, Abdurahim led the Maghreb prayers, serving as imam (prayer leader) for the diplomats and other guests of the event. Shortly after, they then resume the Ramadhan dinner with Muslim-friendly cuisine to complete the breaking of the fast.

One of the highlights of the Grand Iftar involved the presentation of Plaque of Appreciation to Embassies of Egypt and Saudi Arabia received, respectively, by Ambassador Nader Nabil Zaki and Chargé d’Affaires Abdullatif Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh for being reliable partners for the welfare of Muslim Filipinos and instrumental in forging stronger relations with the Philippines.

Muslims in the Philippines, like in some parts of Southeast Asia, started their fast on February 19. Islam’s fasting requires adult men and women to abstain from food, liquid/drinks, cigarette smoking, sexual relations from dawn to dusk. Not a morsel of food, not a sip of water or any liquid, neither a puff of cigarette is allowed for it will break one’s fast.

Qur’anic verse emphasizes mankind’s shared humanity, solidarity, and brotherhood

The Grand Iftar organized by the Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs (NCMF-BMCA) headed by Director Benrajiv J. Kashim is an annual gathering, which is also a celebration of God-consciousness, brotherhood, community-mindedness, and the recognition that Islam’s holiest season is a time of reflection on the challenges that Muslims worldwide face.

The ongoing war in the Middle East which has already killed thousands of people was not mention during the Grand Iftar, but one can feel in the low key celebration that the conflict is at the back of everyone’s mind.

In attendance from the foreign diplomatic community, in no particular order, included Turkiyé Ambassador Niyazi Evren Akyol, Kuwait Ambassador Meshari Yousef Muhammad Al-Nibari,  Bangladesh Ambassador Mohammad Sarwar Mahmood, Egypt Ambassador Nader Nabil Zaki, Palestine Ambassador Mounir Y.K. Anastas, and Malaysia Ambassador Dató Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony.

Other diplomats, also not in any order, were Saudi Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Abdullatif Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, Libya Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Mohamed K. Issa, United Kingdom Embassy Political Counsellor Andrew Bowes, Embassy of Indonesia Minister Counsellor Edi Suharto, and Iran Embassy Cultural Counsellor Atefeh Nouri Ghanbalani.

Among the other NCMF officials at the Grand Iftar were Chief of Staff Atty. Hassanal Abdurahim, Executive Director Tahir S. Lidasan, Jr., Deputy Executive Director Jehan-Jehan Lepail Administrative Service Director Atty. Gary Habibon, Ph.D., Bureau of Muslim Economic Affairs (BMEA) Director Saleha Pangurangan Sacar, Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs (BMCA) Director Benrajiv J. Kashim, Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA) Atty. Director Rolando Abo, Bureau of Peace and Conflict Resolution (BPCR) Director Cosanie Derogongan, NCMF-National Capital Region Regional Director Dr. Dimapuno A. Datu-Ramos, Jr., NCMF-North Luzon Regional Director Atty. Bai Raihanah Sarah T. Macarimpas, Bureau of Settlements Director Masideng Salik, Central Office Human Resource Development Division (HRDD) Chief Ad-drin N. Abusaman, and others.

More photographs from the NCMF Grand Iftar:

Some officials of the Bangsamoro Government also attended the Grand Iftar, among them Attorney General Bantuas M. Lucman, and others. From banking sector, Al Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines (AAIBP) Chairman/CEO Amilbahar Amilasan, Jr. also attended.

Among the guests from the private sector was Filipino-Pakistani Muhammad Ateeque Dhedhi Bhyria, a long-time businessman-philanthropist who owns Sahar Trading, and other business interests. He has been living in the Philippines for decades with his family.

Secretary Abdurahim cited a verse in the Holy Qur’an that says: “O mankind, We created you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.

The NCMF secretary said the Qur’anic verse did not mean a division among peoples, adding that it only shows that “diversity is not meant to divide us, but to bring us closer through understanding and cooperation.

“In a gathering like this, where people of different faiths and backgrounds come together, we see solidarity not only as an idea, but as lived experience.”

He that this sense of solidarity is strengthened by the holy month of fasting because Muslims, by way of performing the fast, are reminded of other peoples’ struggles, particularly those who are facing hardship.

“This awareness encourages acts of charity and compassion, values that benefit society as a whole,” he points out.

Secretary Abdurahim also noted Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as saying that, “The best of people are those who are most beneficial to others.”

The prophet of Islam’s teaching, he notes, “reminds us that faith finds its true meaning in service — in uplifting communities, extending assistance, and creating opportunities for others to live  with dignity.”

He connected this to the functions of the NCMF, that “this spirit of service defines our mandate…an Amanah, a sacred trust to promote the welfare of Muslim Filipinos while strengthening inclusion, cultural understanding, ad harmony within our diverse nation. — EDD K. USMAN (@)

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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, Manila Business Insights, Panorama Magazine, Agriculture Magazine, and others, 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. (®)

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Note: This story will be updated for more information and photographs.