Happy Eid’l Fitr

Posted on September 30, 2008
Filed Under Celebration, Faith and Spirituality | Viewed 286 times

With the end of the Holy Month of Ramaddhan, I would like to greet my Filipino Muslim friends including blog friends, my non-Filipino Muslim friends based here in Manila and those living abroad (especially those from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka), a Happy Eid’l Fitr.

Happy Eid’l Fitr, too, to the whole Muslim community!

Here in the Philippines, I heard over the radio that the moon was sighted today, and a lot have already said their prayers. As a tradition, the Feast of Ramaddhan is a 3-day festival. It literally means “the feast to break the fast”.

It is always nice to reminisce my interaction with my Muslim friends—all of 22 years here in Manila and in various parts of the world. I cannot forget how they would greet each other, or even me, with Assalaam Allikum, Wa Alaikum, Assalaam (“May God’s Peace be upon you”, and “Upon You be Peace.”

My Muslim friends have always respected my Catholic upbringing, while I too respected theirs. While in Bangladesh, in Pakistan or Sri Lanka (though more of them in Sri Lanka are Buddhists), a number of friends would see to it that I got to be in Church in time for the Sunday services. When I happened to be in the towns or districts on field trips (Sunday is generally a working day for them), I only needed to ask if they had a Catholic Church, and they would graciously find out. If there was a Church in the area, arrangements would be made for me to be brought and waited on, while I heard Mass. Even the staff of the hotels which I frequented would make arrangements for a hotel car to bring me to Church if none of my friends were available.

I also remember the young Muslim girls in the Bongo Bazaar in Dhaka who used to help me while shopping, checking on the quality of the clothes that I bought, and and who would sometimes accompany me to the hotel when my finds would be too heavy for me to carry. How they have grown over the years.

To all of you dear friends, Thank You very much!

Muslims and Christians have one thing similar—their Ramaddhan and our Lenten Season, both are occasions for spiritual retreats, meditation, penance, prayers, fasting—this is why Christians and Muslims are supposed to understand each other.

Again, Happy Eid’l Fitr!

Comments

3 Responses to “Happy Eid’l Fitr”

Nica on September 30th, 2008 6:55 pm

I used to know a Muslim princess back in college. She was very soft spoken and usually quite. She was the only Muslim student in our class and perhaps this is the reason why she is quiet.
dimaks on October 1st, 2008 3:21 am

very heart warming Tita Dine. Again, thanks for the greetings.
annamanila on October 6th, 2008 3:14 am

A happy and blessed Eid’l Fitr to our Muslim brothers. (One of my most wonderful office colleagues/friends is one.)