Lobregat lauds Muslims for commitment to faith
Mayor Celso Lobregat has lauded the Muslim community for enduring the rigors of fasting and personal sacrifices with the intention of promoting good and just society, in fulfilment of their obligations in the Qur’an.
This, as Muslim communities all over the world marks Eid Ul Fitr, the culmination of the period of fasting of the Holy Month of Ramadan, today, September 21.
“I have great respect for the commitment that Muslims make to faith, family, community and the city. Ramadan has afforded us the opportunity to renew ties of friendship and mutual respect and to reflect on the values that bind the Muslims and Christians together,” the mayor said in his Eid ul Fitr message.
As a show of respect and gratitude to the Muslim community in the city, Lobregat and the city government last Monday, September 14, hosted Iftar or Pagbukah, the breaking of the fast, the 6th since he assumed office in 2004.
According to Islamic teachings, Eid ul Fitr is a day when Muslims show joy and express gratitude for the health, strength and opportunities of life that Allah bestowed on them to accomplish their obligation to fast and other good deeds during Ramadan.
Lobregat hoped that the virtues of goodness, self-restraint, charity and generosity and the care for the needy learned during Ramadan shall be carried-out beyond Ramadan and shall influence the everyday life of every Muslim.
“On behalf of the city government of Zamboanga, I extend my sincere greetings to the Muslim community as they celebrate Hariraya Puasa (Eid ul Fitr), culminating the period of fasting of the Holy Month of Ramadan,” Lobregat said.
When he hosted the Iftar last Monday, Lobregat stressed that “Ramadan is of great importance to us. It is the month of fasting and piety.” He cited Islamic teachings which emphasizes that Muslims throughout the world are called upon by God Almighty to observe obligatory fast during Ramadan to develop self-control, gain better understanding of God’s gift and greater compassion towards the deprived.
Fasting, he said, is emphasized in the Qur’an as he quoted the verse: “O you who believe, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become pious.” (Sheila Covarrubias)