CEBU’S Muslim community exchanged greetings and celebrated the global celebration of “Eid Al Fitr”, the end of Ramadan and the start of “Shawwal” or the first day of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.
Food was later served to Muslim children. Among those who fell in line was Junaidah Mayaman, a seven-year-old Grade One student in Mambaling School.
Mayaman’s mother Sarah has a business in Cebu and her family are natives of Lanao del Sur.
Another Lanao del Sur native, 44-year-old Jamel Bangon attended the gathering with his wife and five children in Mambaling.
“I am very happy that me and my family celebrated the end of Ramadan together,” he said.
At the Al-Khariah Mosque in Mambaling, Cebu City, the Muslim faithful prayed, raised their hands and uttered “Allahu Akbar” or “God is the greatest” and listened to the Imam’s message.
“Aside from celebrating the end of fasting, it is also our time to forgive, visit our friends, families, relatives, and to perform acts of charity,” said Imam Aladdin S. Ubpon.
Ubpon also asked the gathered Muslims to pray for the families of those involved in the Cotabato City bombing.
“I included them in my supplications that Allah will enlighten them to do good instead of doing sinful things,” he added.
Ubpon said his relative was at the bus stop in Cotabato City when he died in the explosion.
“We Muslims came to Cebu City to earn a living, operate private businesses and work in government agencies,” he added.
The Imam said he prays to Allah that what happened in Cotabato City won’t happen in Cebu City and that Christians and Muslims live in peace and unity.
“If possible, it won’t happen anymore in all parts of the country and the rest of the world. We need to cooperate whatever our religion is in promoting world peace,” Ubpon said.
He also said leaders of Muslim communities in Cebu met with law enforcement agencies following the bombing.