Cebu Muslims to observe Ramadhan without congregational prayers

 By John Rey Saavedra 

RAMADHAN. Muslims perform prayers at the Al-Khairiah Masjid in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City on March 6, 2020. The Cebu City Office of Muslim Affairs and Indigenous Cultural Communities on Thursday (April 23, 2020) said congregational prayers and “tarawih” prayer are temporarily suspended due to the enhanced community quarantine. (Photo courtesy of Al-Khairiah Masjid) 

CEBU CITY – Muslims here will celebrate the holy month of Ramadhan without congregational prayers and gathering in support of the city government’s efforts to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) threat to public health.

Dr. Ijoden Saripada Mamacol, executive director of Cebu City’s Office of Muslim Affairs and Indigenous Cultural Communities (OMAICC), said leaders of different Muslim organizations in the city “highly recommended the temporary suspension of congregational prayers and tarawih prayer” due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

The suspension of Muslim religious activities may also affect the culmination of Ramadhan on the day of Eid al Fitr.

Mamacol said his office has consulted the Cebu Mufti Alim Majid Said, the Sugbo Muslims Imam, and Ustadz Organization, religious leaders, and some Muslim community leaders in arriving at the best decision amid the ECQ.

“As officially declared by Mufti of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) that our Ramadhan will begin this April 24, I would like to extend my greetings to my fellow Muslims ‘Ramadhan Mubarak’ (blessed happy Ramadhan),” he said in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Mamacol explained that the holy month in every ninth month of the Islamic calendar is a time for religious gatherings of Muslim families to celebrate, read the Quran, and pray to become closer to Allah.

As one of the five pillars of Islam, Ramadhan is a time for Muslims to do fasting and iftar (breaking of the fast), he said.

During the month, Muslims converge in a masjid (mosque) and do the congregational prayers every evening, which they call the “tarawih” prayer.

“This year, our Ramadhan is very challenging for us and (will be celebrated) very different from the past. Unfortunately for us Muslims, our holy month falls in this time that (the) Covid-19 pandemic persists," Mamacol said.

He encouraged his fellow Muslims to observe “Ramadhan in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic” by obeying the protocol set by health officials, such as social distancing, wearing of face mask, hand washing, and staying and praying at home.

“I think once it (ECQ) will be lifted, we can do the congregational prayers, and, inshallah (God willing), normal life will be back,” Mamacol said. (PNA)