BALANGA CITY — Muslims in Bataan celebrated Eid al Fitr marking the end of Ramadan in two different days with one group on April 21 (Friday) and another on April 22 (Saturday).
After separate prayer sessions on Friday and Saturday in the mosque and some barangay covered courts, a big number of Muslims from this city and Orani town continued the celebration in different inland resorts in Abucay town and here on Saturday.
Imam Hassan Macapua of the mosque in Barangay Cataning in Balanga City said they celebrated the important day on Friday after they were informed of sighting the new moon in Saudi Arabia.
“Nagdiwang kami noong Biyernes. Nang makita ang buwan sa Saudi Arabia, tumawag sila sa amin. Tinanggap namin nang sabihing sumama kami. Ang usapan noon ay Friday kaya nakahanda na kami para Friday at nakahanda na ang pagsalubong sa mga bisita kaya itinuloy namin. Ibinaba ang order ng Saudi Arabia na nakita ang buwan kaya doon kami sumunod pero ang iba ayaw at humiwalay sila sa grupo kaya nagdiwang sila ng Sabado,” Macapua said.
The imam said Maranaw Muslims prepare food during Eid al Fitr. “Naghahanda sila para kumain matapos mag-fasting ng isang buwan. Kailangan muna makakain bago kami magsamba.”
He imparted a message to his Muslim brothers with the conclusion of the month-long Ramadan.
“Naranasan natin ang aral ng Ramadan at ‘yan ang sundin natin. Sundin natin ang totoong pananampalataya at magkaroon tayo ng awa sa kapwa, magbigayan tayo. Itigil natin ang masamang gawa at yong marites na gawa, itigil natin ‘yon. Wala tayong gagawin kundi ang katotohanan na sinabi ng Allah at ginawa ni Prophet Mohammad,” Macapua said.
Abdulrajac Marajan said Muslims in Bataan were divided into two. “Ang iba sa Saudi Arabia sumama, ang iba sumama sa BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao). Ngayong Sabado ang BARMM, kahapon ang Saudi Arabia.”
He said that there are 40 of them from Orani at the Raven Resort in Abucay to celebrate Eid al Fitr.
