Eid el-Fitr marked as national holiday

For a month now, the Muslim world has been observing the Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Muslim Year and the Islamic equivalent of the Christian Lent. It is a Holy Month because it was when the Koran was revealed. The Muslim calendar being lunar, the Ramadan will end with the rising of the crescent moon. For this purpose, the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) has deployed moon watchers in Manila, Marawi, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro and other key places in the archipelago to monitor the moon rise that will mark the end of Ramadan.

For the first time in our history, Eid el-Fitr, the Muslim feast that marks the end of Ramadan will be a national holiday. We have had no terrorist bombings for a month now and this is mainly due to the fact that even Muslim terrorists observed the Ramadan. Now, sad to say, the police and the military have called for a red alert starting this Friday for fear that the end of Ramadan will mark the beginning of new terrorist attacks. If this happens, it will indeed be unfortuante because December is the Christmas month. We hope that the Muslim terrorists will respect the month of Nativity the way they respected the Ramadan. Jesus Christ, after all, is a respected religious figure even in the Koran.

We join Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin in urging our Muslim brothers to observe Islamic teachings and strive for peace, order and justice for all Filipinos. Gov. Parouk Hussin of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has expressed the appreciation of Filipino Muslims to President Macapagal-Arroyo’s recognition of Eid el-Fitr as a national holiday. Let it not go down in history that the first national holiday celebration of Eid el-Fitr was the eve for the resumption of terroristic attacks. Christians and Muslims were meant to live in peace. If both follow the teachings of Christ and Mohammed, peace will result. The Philippines could be a model of a country where Christians and Muslims live like brothers, the way our Creator intended.

Eid el-Fitr is the most festive Islamic celebration. Let the joy of the Eid el-Fitr extend all throughout the year. The only thing terrorism can bring about is more terrorism. What we need: Peace and order with justice. That can only come if we love all mankind.