Festival of the breaking of the fast

The Moros or Muslims of the Philippines take considerable pride, which includes their Maratabat, in their ancient history. Why? Rajah Baguinda, late in the 14th century, arrived in Jolo from the Menangkabaw region of Sumatra at the head of a small fleet of praus (sailcraft) filled with warriors and would-be settlers. Later, Sayyid Abu Bakr arrived in Sulu and named Buansa towards the middle of the 15th century and lived with Rajah Baguinda. Reading about these events, I thought to myself, I’m sure a marriage will take place soon. I was right: Abu Bakr married the old Rajah’s daughter, Paramisuli. Upon the death of Paramisuli’s father, her husband became the political authority, and founded the Sultanate of Sulu. The Sultan, esteemed as a descendant of the Prophet, was said to have introduced the study of the Qur’an and converted the hill people of Jolo to Islam.

On the other hand there was Maguindanao Sharif Muhammad Kabungsuwan who came from Johore to the mouth of the Pulangi River in the first quarter of the 16th century, also before the Spaniards brought Muslim missioners, after Sharif Awliya who introduced Islam in the present-day Cotabato City. Sharif Awliya is said to have come to Mindanao through the air, in search of paradise. While he was looking for paradise on the hill of Tantawan, in what is present-day Cotabato City, in front of the Cotabato Cathedral, he found a houri (or celestial maiden) who was sent to him from heaven. He married this houri and she subsequently bore him a daughter called Paramisuli, indicating a princess of royal birth.

The Spaniards in the 16th century arrived in a Mindanao in which Islamic Sultanates were already in existence. This hierarchy provided the Moros with enough unity to resist the invading Europeans. Being the eldest civilization there, they have also had the longest record of struggle and wars.

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On Oct. 12, Muslims — those at peace and those at war — celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr after fasting for 30 days which kept them awake at night eating and asleep in the daytime or working but fasting the whole day. Why? To commemorate Muhammad’s fasting in the cave of Yathrib as described in the Qur’an: “O, you who have faith! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that hopefully you will have Taqua or safeguards yourself from the fire.” For Muslims, the foundation of religion is the Qur’an while ours is the Bible. In both, we read God’s message and comply in our submission to God’s will.

There are five essential duties that the Muslim faithful are bound to observe. These are the Shahadah, or profession of faith; the Salat, or ritual prayer rendered at specific periods and recited five times daily; the Zakat or obligatory contribution of his annual income paid in money or in kind, to observe the puasa or fasting during October, the month of Ramadan; and lastly the Hajj or pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

The fast started on the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and lasted a period of 30 days. Every Muslim joined in this fast except those who needed continued sustenance like the old, the sick, the pregnant, nursing women and those engaged in heavy physical work. The faithful abstained from all food and drink, from sunrise to sundown, and broke their fast only in the evening depending on the moon. On the evening of Oct. 11, fasting finally ended commemorating the Blessed Night when the Archangel Gabriel gifted the Prophet Muhammad with the sacred Qur’an. On that night Qur’an passages were chanted throughout villages, towns, provinces or cities to welcome Hariraya.

Eid-ul-Fitr or the Hariraya Puasa marks the end of the Ramadan. Children ask forgiveness from their elders, just as wives and husbands ask forgiveness of one another. Other believers seek absolution for trespasses against each other and from relatives. The period marks the spirit triumphing over the forces of ego and worldliness.

For Muslims, Eid-ul-Fitr is a joyous occasion with food laid out like New Year’s festivities with an added religious significance of celebrating the achievement of enhanced piety. It is a day of moral victory and brotherhood. Future Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations based on the Islamic lunar calendar will be celebrated on Oct. 2, 2008; Sept. 21, 2009; Sept. 20, 2008; and August 31, 2011. And, Inshallah (God willing), may we all live long and enjoy all of them as we wish our Moro friends Hariraya Puasa!