ILOILO City – Members of the Muslim community will gather to celebrate Eid’l Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, at the Iloilo City Hall grounds from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. tomorrow, June 28.
Eid’l Adha is one of the two official Islam holidays in the country, the other being Eid’l Fitr. It honors the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah.
Saadoden M. Mayo, imam at the Iloilo Pioneer Masjid (mosque) in Barangay Magdalo, La Paz district since 2002, said more than 3,000 Muslims in the city would participate in the one-hour prayer.
“Sa Wednesday lahat ng mga Muslim under sa mosque ng Iloilo Pioneer Masjid ang magtipon-tipon sa labas para magdasal (On Wednesday, all Muslims under the Iloilo Pioneer Masjid will gather to pray),” Mayo said in an interview with Panay News yesterday.
He added other mosques in Iloilo will also celebrate the same.
The Muslim community in Barangay Ticud, La Paz will celebrate at their mosque in Ticud; the same for those in Molo district; and those in Pavia town will gather at the municipal plaza.
Importance of Eid’l Adha
Eid’l Adha is considered by the Muslim community to be the most honorable day, according to Mayo, because those who do good on this day are rewarded by Allah.
Among the good deeds is praying that started yesterday. It will be followed by fasting from 4 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. a day before Eid’l Adha or today.
During fasting, Muslims do not consume food or water.
“Kon mag-fasting, pinapatawad ni panginoon Allah ang nauna mo nang kasalanan na one year at ‘yong darating mo pa na kasalanan. ‘Yon kalaki ang gantimpala ng panginoong Allah (Allah will reward your fasting by forgiving your sins within a year ago and those sins you are about to commit a year after, that is how big Allah’s reward is),” added Mayo.
After Eid’l Adha, the Muslim community, especially those well-off, has three days (from June 29 to July 1) to slaughter a cow or goat for a feast with the family and other Muslims, while others could offer prayers and praises to Allah.
According to Mayo, doing these would double the blessings.
“Ang tinatawag na Eid’l Adha ‘yon ang pinaka-magpala o marangal na araw sa panginoong Allah, ang tunay na naglikha. Ang Eid’l Adha ay isang tinatawag namin na fiesta or araw ng sacrifice. Kung sino man ang nakagawa ng mga mabubuti, na-mu-multiply ang kanilang gantimpala (Eid’l Adha is the most blessed or honorable day to Allah, the true creator. Eid’l Adha is what we call a fiesta or day of sacrifice. Whoever has done good deeds, their reward will be multiplied),” he added.
Here, Mayo enjoined Muslim communities in the city and province of Iloilo to celebrate Eid’l Adha by gathering at the mosque or offering prayer even at home.
This Wednesday is a regular holiday nationwide in observance of Eid’l Adha.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation 258 on June 13.
In the Philippines, Muslim Filipinos comprise about six percent of the population.
Republic Act (RA) 9849 states that Eid’l Adha shall be celebrated as a regular holiday.
According to RA 9849, the declaration of Eid’l Adha as a regular holiday will allow Muslims to “pay homage to Abraham’s supreme act of sacrifice and signifies mankind’s obedience to God.”
Eid’l Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the last month of the Islamic calendar.
It also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the fifth Pillar of Islam. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
