Filipino Muslims in Qatar to celebrate Islamic New Year by fasting

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino Muslims in Qatar will celebrate the Islamic New Year on Tuesday by fasting, an online report said on Saturday.

Amir Hawari, leader of the Filipino Muslim community in Doha, told the Peninsula that most of them would just fast the whole day, from dawn to dusk, as a simple way of celebration.

The Islamic New Year falls on the 10th day of Muharram – the first month of the Islamic calendar.

According to Ustadz Iljas Ismail, a Sunni scholar and former dean of the University of the Philippines' Institute of Islamic Studies, the 10th day of Muharram is God's day of salvation.

It was during this time, he said, that biblical characters Noah, Lot, Joseph, and Moses were spared from heavenly wrath.

Hawari explained that fasting during the Islamic New Year is voluntary. It is during the month of Ramadan when Muslims are obligated to fast.

"This is not obligatory, and it is a common practice among us here to just individually observe a fast," he said in the report.

Muslims also celebrate Eid Al Fitr that marks the end of Ramadan and the Eid Al Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), which follows the annual Islamic pilgrimage, Haj..

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, meanwhile, urged the Muslims in the country to help her bring peace to Mindanao.

She greeted them a Happy Amon Jadid (New Year) on the first day of Muharram, which is Monday.

Ali Sangki, the Philippine Muslim affairs undersecretary, quoted the President as saying that the first day of the year gives Muslims the opportunity to look forward to a better future and live in peace and prosperity. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV

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