Duterte: May Muslims have ‘deeper connection with Allah’

A Muslim devotee prays at Blue Mosque in Taguig City in Metro Manila before the official start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in 2016. (File photo by JILSON SECKLER TIU / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — As Muslims worldwide observe the Holy Month of Ramadan, President Rodrigo Duterte hoped that Muslims would be “rewarded with a deeper connection with Allah.”

“This most sacred month is not only a period for Muslims to concentrate on prayer and making amends, but also a time for them to experience and enjoy Allah’s mercy,” Duterte said in a statement on Sunday evening.

“Similar to how the period of fasting ends with feasting, it is my hope that all your efforts for discipline and reflection will be rewarded with revelations as well as a deeper connection with Allah,” he added.

He also wished that the occasion would allow the teachings of the Qur’an to take precedence over the Muslims’ decisions.

“Let the enlightenment that comes with your contemplation lead you to live with integrity for yourselves and for the nation, especially now when it is needed most,” Duterte said.

The Holy Month of Ramadan starts on April 3.

Around 1.7 million Muslims are expected to fast from sunrise to dusk while praying and reflecting.

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