Residents of Marawi mark Eid al-Adha amid fighting

MARAWI CITY—Residents who stayed put despite the fighting between soldiers and terrorists here trooped to mosques on Friday to celebrate Eid al-Adha or Day of Sacrifice, a key Muslim holiday.

But unlike in the past when Maranao families slaughtered animals for the feast, yesterday’s celebration was toned down. There was no revelry and very few families were able to slaughter animals.

The state of war in the city was obvious as mosques were not filled although the military took a pause in offensives against Islamic State followers belonging to Maute group and Abu Sayyaf.

At the sports complex of Mindanao State University (MSU), where congregational prayers were held, only a few people came.

End to war

Most residents of the predominantly Muslim city said they prayed for an end to war.

In a statement, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Murad Ebrahim acknowledged the suffering of the Maranao people due to the fighting.

He said the war was among “many tribulations” that faced the Moro people.

Ebrahim said the war in the city, and parts of Maguindanao, escalated because of the “intrusion of violent extremism.”

He said provinces belonging to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were also going through war because of extremism.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated each year in honor of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son—Ismael as Muslims believe—in obedience of Allah.

In the Quran, Ibrahim laid his son on a rock but, before the child was sacrificed, Allah intervened by sending Angel Jibrael (Gabriel) to replace the boy with a ram. The narrative is also found in the Jewish Torah and in the Old Testament.

Muslims observe this annual event, which falls on the 12th month of the Hijri calendar, by slaughtering animals and dividing the meat into three—one for the poor and needy, another for relatives, friends and neighbors, and the third for relatives or neighbors’ families. —JEOFFREY MAITEM