Ramadan starts Monday; police on alert

Filipino Muslims pray inside a Mosque in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao ahead of Ramadan, a special month of the year for over one billion Muslims throughout the world. JEOFFREY MAITEM / INQUIRER

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Ramadan is not about fanaticism or terrorism but of cleansing and forgiveness.

This was the reaction of a leading Muslim cleric to the alert status taken up by security officials in connection with the Muslim fasting month that starts on Monday, not Sunday as earlier reported.

Earlier, Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu, chief of the directorate for integrated police operations in Western Mindanao, said the alert was in anticipation of an upsurge in the incidence of crime and terrorism.

“As in the past, crimes and terrorism usually occur ahead of the fasting month, so we put our troops on alert status,” Khu said.

Citing intelligence reports, Khu said at least 10 improvised explosive devices had been prepared by Jemaah Islamiyah-linked bomber Basit Usman for explosion in populated areas of Mindanao.

Police and military forces are also on guard against kidnap-for-ransom gangs in the region, who prey on Chinese-Filipino traders, according to Khu, also chief of Joint Task Force Kutawato.

“Ramadan is not about fanaticism; it’s not about committing murder like terrorism,” said Ustadz Jaafar Ali, president of the National Ulama Council of the Philippines.

Ali said that on the contrary, Ramadan is about physical cleansing “to cure illnesses and, spiritually, it strengthens faith in God.”

“It’s a season of mercy, repentance and forgiveness; so don’t fanaticize this great month,” he added.

Ali said fasting was also being taught by other religions and not by Islam alone.

He said hatred should have no place especially during the fasting season.

Ali said even backbiting and inflicting even the slightest physical hurt on another person invalidates the fast.

He said fasting Muslims should not even be speaking ill of Norwegian Anders Berhing Breivick, who, according to press reports, had “proudly admitted” to staging a “terror attack” in Oslo week because of his hatred of Muslims.

Meanwhile, former Senator Santanina Rasul told reporters here on Thursday that a three-day Ramadan Trade Fair will open Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

An annual activity  led by the Department of Tourism,  the fair will showcase cultural presentations as well as native products from the five provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Rasul said.

ARMM’s observance of Ramadan will also be marked by a month-long trade fair inside the regional government complex here, said ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo.