Mindanao Muslim group offers pre-Ramadan food offering

Certain Muslim families hold a ‘kanduli’ (food offering) on the eve of Ramadan in Carmen, North Cotabato. PHOTOS BY TAHER SOLAIMAN

CARMEN, North Cotabato, Philippines – Muslims here welcomed Ramadan with a ‘kanduli,’ a food offering of mostly native Maguindanaon delicacies, which relatives, friends and neighbors partook.

Families held the kanduli on Sunday, after the grand mufti of the Bangsamoro announced on Saturday night that this year’s Ramadan would start today, Monday.

Bangsamoro Grand Mufti Abu Huraira Udasan said the Darul Ifta (House of Opinions) tasked to do moon-sighting failed to see the crescent that was supposed to signal the first day Ramadhan, the ninth month in the Islamic year, this year.

It has been the Muslim tradition on the twenty-ninth day of Sha’aban, the eight month of the Islamic year, for the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta to do the moon-sighting to determine the start of the Ramadan when every Muslim fasts daily from pre-dawn to immediately after the sunset.

Except travelers, ill persons and women having their monthly periods, every Muslim is obliged to fast during Ramadan.

Travelers, ill persons and women permitted to skip the fast are required to fast later for a period equivalent to the number of days they were not able to fast during the holy month.

Immediately after sunset, the Muslims start breaking their fast.

A fasting Muslim refrains from eating, drinking, smoking and having sexual intimacy with his or her spouse during the day. /cbb