Understanding the Eid ul Adha and our Muslim brothers
Today, the whole nation, not just our Muslim brothers and sisters, celebrate the tenth day of the Islamic month Dhul Hijja, and this very solemn day in the Islamic world is called the EID UL ADHA, or the Feast of the Sacrifice. It commemorates the Godly willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham to us, Christians and to the Jews) to sacrifice his only son, by that time (with his wife Hagar), named Ishmael, in obedience to the will of Allah (our God, the Father). This is one of the many convergences between the Islamic and the Christian faith, the story of Abraham. It is important that we understand this story and we realize that both the Christians and the Muslims believe in only one God. And that there are far too many other convergences between the two faiths.
Islam is the oldest monotheistic (belief in only one God) religion in the Philippines, which reached our homeland in the fourteenth century, antedating Christianity by two centuries. Islam was brought to the Philippines by the Muslim traders from the Persian Gulf and from those who came from Southern India and from the various Sultanates in Malay Peninsula, including the Sultanate of Johore, Selangor, Negeri Semilan, Perak, Pahang, Terrenggano and from sabah and Sarawak in Northern Borneo. The ten datus from Borneo, led by Datu Puti, who landed in Panay, were Muslims. They introduced Islam to the whole of Panay and converted Datu Marikudo and his tribe. We were all Muslims before we became Christians.
Rahaj Humabon was a Muslim as was Datu Lapu-Lapu and Sikatuna of Bohol, Sultan Kudarat of Mindanao, and Rajah Suleiman of Manila. Magellan and his expeditionary forces converted the Cebuano natives and gave a mass baptism to all the subjects of Humabon. They baptized Humabon's wife and children and gave the Santo Niño as a gift and token of the mass conversion. The Muslim people in the whole Philippines are the only Filipinos who never surrendered to any foreign power. They never submitted themselves to the crown of Spain, or to the USA, much less to the Japanese invaders. They remain steadfast in their faith that nobody could subjugate our Bangsa or nation.
It is important that we, Christians should understand the EID UL ADHA, as we should understand the other great day of EID UL FITRE, the first day of the Islamic month of Shannat, and the end of the Ramadan. The Muslims here and around the world do understand and tolerate our celebrations of Christmas, Good Friday, and Maundy Thursday. It is even more important that we understand our Muslim brothers and sisters. For without understanding, there can be no peace. President Noy understands Islam and his historic signing of the BANGSAMORO agreement, brokered by Malaysia, a highly Islamic nation and a close ally in the ASEAN, marks an important milestone in our struggle to become truly a united nation. This is a legacy that his late father Ninoy, and his late mom, Cory, would be very proud of him for.
I have learned to appreciate and admire our Muslim brothers and sisters when I was assigned as a labor diplomat in Malaysia for more than three years and in Kuwait for as long as that. The Muslims, whether Maranaos, Maguindanao, Tausug, Yakan, Iranun, or from whatever Sultanate or tribe, are men and women of high principles and deep faith. They pray five times a day facing the direction of Mecca. They practice charity and do fasting, aside from the haj or the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. I have learned a lot from them. Today, male Muslims go to the mosque to perform Salat-al-eid. We, the Christians should respect them as they respect us in our traditions, rites, and beliefs. It is only through understanding and respect that we can truly nurture the peace that should bind us all, the children of Abraham or Ibrahim. Assalam alikum warhmatullahi wabarakatu. May Peace truly reign in all Filipinos, Christians, Muslims and all others. Inshallah.
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