Welcoming Ramadan in the Pearl of the Orient

SOURCE: PNA

In the heart of Southeast Asia, the Philippines prepares for a period of profound spirituality. The Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ (BDI), a pillar of Islamic authority, has proclaimed the onset of Ramadan for Tuesday, March 12. This announcement follows a fervent session of moon sighting on Sunday evening which yielded no vision of the crescent moon.

Continuing an age-old tradition, the BDI's annual moon sighting activities embody the symbiotic relationship between celestial observations and Islamic rituals. The lunar odyssey began earnestly, with the BDI, complemented by a retinue of Muslim scholars, venturing across Mindanao's expanse to detect the nascent moon's first appearance – a celestial event signaling the start of a holy month of reflection and discipline.

"So whoever sights (the new moon of) the month (of Ramadan), let him fast it," prescribes the Qur’an’s Surah Al-Baqarah Chapter Two (2) Verse 185. This divine directive underscores the ritual's importance, framing the act of fasting as both a submission and commitment to the will and observance of God's mandate.

 Mindanao's Moon Sighting Mission

Within Mindanao's provincial tapestry – Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte, the geographically splintered provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, and the urban enclave of Iligan City – Bangsamoro Mufti Sheikh Abdulrauf Guialani, alongside a cohort of BDI ulama and religious advocates, orchestrated the moon sighting initiative, underscoring the communal aspect of this sacred practice.

Ramadan stands as a pillar amongst pillars, a ninth-month observance integral to the Islamic calendar. As the world watches, Muslims in the Philippines engage in an enduring testament to faith through fast, prayer, and contemplation, further cementing both personal and communal bonds to Islamic tenets.

As daylight ascends, and dusk falls, the Filipino Muslim community adheres to a disciplined schedule of fasting, aligning with the five pillars that structure Islamic belief. The abstinence from sustenance from dawn till sunset is a practice of self-restraint, spiritual reset, and societal solidarity.

In an appeal for uniformity, Emran Mohamad, BDI executive director, has implored the Muslim populace to observe the Mufti’s declared start date. This unified approach ensures that the commencement of the fast is collective, fostering a pan-Islamic unity within the diverse Philippine cultural mosaic.

The announcement by the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ marking the start of Ramadan in the Philippines is not merely a calendar event but a statewide call to virtue and piety. As the lunar cycle dictates the spiritual rhythm of millions, the entry of this sacred month is embraced with reverence and discipline, with believers in the archipelago reflecting a glimpse of the global Muslim devotion.

Until the next crescent's silhouette adorns the celestial sphere, the Filipino Muslim community will navigate a month-long journey of purification and devotion. From the tapestry of prayers whispered at dawn to the communal breaking of the fast, the spirit of Ramadan renews the Philippines' Islamic fervor.

This post is dedicated to the unified and devout Islamic community across the Philippine isles and beyond, who continue to preserve and honor their faith's traditions, making Ramadan a beacon of hope and spirituality in today’s ever-changing world.