Cotabato City (May 24, 2020)—As the entire world continues to combat
the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) pandemic, Muslims were placed in an entirely
unique position for the past 30 days. Aside from adapting to the quarantine
measures, Muslims had to observe the sacred month of Ramadhan inside their
homes.
For the Bangsamoro communities in the Philippines, the celebration of
this year’s is Eid’l Fitr is not an exemption to the restrictions caused by the
crisis; prompting various feelings and ways to enjoy one of the two biggest
festivities in Islam.
Just like major gatherings affected by the Covid-19 crisis, Eid’l Fitr
was observed quite differently this year. Contrary to what has been practiced
in various Bangsamoro communities all over the country, where Muslims would
gather up for the congregational prayer usually performed in open fields
followed up by various social gatherings, like eating together or going to
beaches.
This time, none of those would be possible. With quarantine measures
still in place, the Bangsamoro celebrated Eid’l Fitr inside their respective
homes.
Emotional Shift
While religious clerics all over the Bangsamoro consistently reminds
Muslim worshippers to abide by the ongoing quarantine measures, it’s expected
that the transition is not easy, especially for those who would take Ramadhan
and the Eid celebrations to be with their families and in some cases, rekindle
ties.
For some, it is not just the physical adjustments that make this year’s
Eid different, but the emotional shift going towards the celebration.
“It’s sad, because usually after the Eid prayer, we’d visit our
relatives and even the graves of those who already departed. We would have
‘kandulis’ (traditional food offering). Eid has somehow become an annual
reunion for our family,” said 26-year-old Ashreabai Sinarimbo, who currently
works in a local government unit in Maguindanao.
Roaming around to visit loved ones was not be possible this year due to
quarantine protocols. Families had to make use technology to greet and
reconnect with each other for the meantime.
“Now, I’m not sure what to do or expect. The feeling this year is
different from what we’re used to. I mean, before, because you would really
feel you belong to a community, united for worship. But now, we cannot see that
anymore, since we’re stuck in our homes,” Sinarimbo added.
For Al-raffy Harun, a ground crew for an airport in Tawi-Tawi, this
year’s Ramadhan and Eid celebration changed the norm unexpectedly, especially
for their community who are used to traditional “takbir,” when culminating the
end of the 30-day long fasting.
“Honestly, nakakapanibago, at ang hirap tanggapin na yung dating
nakasanayan mo ay bigla na lang hindi na pwedeng gawin. Lalo na dito sa amin sa
Sitangkay, Tawi-Tawi na halos lahat ay Muslim at nakasanayan na tuwing Eid
celebration ay inaabangan ang “takbir” kasama na ang sobra-sobrang paghahanda
ng bawat bahay sa pagdating kani-kanilang mga bisita, kasama na ang paghahanda
ng mga kasuotan” Harun said.
Acceptance and Optimism
Harun also said that despite the cancellation of traditional practices
during Eid, Muslims should find positivity from this sudden shift including the
gift of being with the family throughout the quarantine period.
“I believe that everything happens for a reason at kung hindi man
pwedeng magdasal sa Masjid, at least pwede sa bahay kasama ang pamilya,” Harun
added.
For Mindanao State University – Malabang Community High School teacher
Jamal M. Baulo, Muslims should see both the good and the bad as equal
opportunities for learning and making the most in isolation.
“I feel blessed for this year’s celebration, since I have become more
closer to my family since the ECQ began, especially most of our family stayed
at home. We cannot deny the fact na mas masaya pa rin kapag ginagawa ang
Salatul Eid sa ating mga Masjid,” Baulo said.
Baulo added that he had to research how to lead the Eid prayer but felt
happy that he gets to perform it with his family.
“Napasearch rin ako kung paano ko ito isasagawa kasama ang pamilya sa
loob ng bahay. Nakakatuwa na sa kabila ng pangamba at kalungkutan ay biniyayaan
parin tayo ni Allah ng ating mga bahay kung saan ating itatayo ang Salatul
‘Eid. Very challenging at the same time nakakagaan ng kaluoban na literal na
magkakasama kayo ng pamilya mo sa pagtayo ng salatul eid. Walhamdulillah, kahit
sa kabila ng pandemic na ito ay masaya parin naming ipagdidiriwang ang Eid-ul
Fitr kasama ang aking mga pamilya,” Baulo added.
Resilience
The Bangsamoro is expected not just to embrace the changes brought upon
by Covid-19, but to take this experience as another chapter to their long and
storied history.
The changes are there but the Bangsamoro remains faithful and most
importantly, resilient. And as cliché as it may seem, this, too, shall pass.
(Bureau of Public Information)
