As the Islamic month of Ramadhan culminates on Sunday with the celebration of Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Breaking the Fast), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urges Filipino Muslims to do their Eid prayer and feast in their homes while the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains a threat to public health.
“Eid mubarak (blessed feast) to our Filipino Muslim brothers and sisters! May you have a meaningful celebration of this awaited festivity that marks the end of your month-long, dawn-to-sunset fasting that surely strengthened your faith in God and compassion towards the less privileged,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año.
“To ensure the safety of your families and communities, the government enjoins that Eid prayers and festivity be observed in your homes to prevent mass gatherings as our fight against COVID-19 continues,” Año said in an advisory to local government units (LGUs) including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“May you continue to practice discipline which is an important virtue in observing quarantine protocols and safety health measures for common good,” he added.
The DILG Chief said this directive is consistent among all LGUs whether under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified ECQ, or general community quarantine (GCQ).
“Prevention is always better than cure but yet there is no proven cure and vaccine of COVID-19 as of now. Kaya sa ngayon, konting sakripisyo’t disiplina pa po para sa kaligtasan ng nakararami. Sa ating kanya-kanyang tahanan po muna tayo magsagawa ng ating simpleng pagdiriwang,” he said.
Meanwhile, DILG Spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya said that Filipino Muslims may tune in to IBC (Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation) TV 13 or 15 which will air an Eid prayer and khutba (sermon) to be officiated by Dr. Julkipli Wadi of the University of the Philippines – Institute of Islamic Studies in Quezon City on Sunday at 7 to 8 am.
“Nawa’y sa pamamagitan nito’y maramdaman pa rin ng ating mga kababayang Muslim ang diwa ng Eid’l Fitr na sama-samang nagdarasal at nakikinig sa pangaral ng imam,” he said as he emphasized that tuning in to the IBC special airing on television of Eid prayer is better than tuning in online as there may be internet disruption and would make the prayer not synchronous.
“Batid po ng pamahalaan na sa matagal ng panahon ay ngayon lang nakaranas ng Ramadhan sa ilalim ng quarantine. And so may this Eid telecast initiative help foster the spirit of unity and togetherness amid the quarantine time,” Malaya said.
Malaya further assured that the DILG is working closely with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), one of its attached agencies, in ensuring the welfare of Muslim Filipinos amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Eid’l Fitr is observed on Sunday, May 24, in line with the advice of local and global Islamic scholars based on moon sighting activity. However, May 25 is the Eid’l Fitr regular holiday throughout the country under Proclamation No. 944.
