THOUSANDS of Muslims gathered at the Rizal Park in Manila on Friday to celebrate Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.
After the morning prayers, the participants received food and gifts, and that was followed by an imam’s sermon.
Thousands more Muslims listened to the morning sermon at the Golden Mosque in Manila.
And as the Muslim world commemorates Eid’l Adha, the military operations in Marawi City were momentarily suspended early in the morning to show respect for the religious event.
“Early this morning prior to the moment for prayers, we momentarily silenced our guns and ceased operations to show respect for today’s observance of Eid’l Adha,” military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.
“The silence was observed for the entirety of the time for prayers.”
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier declared Sept. 1 a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Adha.
Eid’l Adha commemorates Ibrahim’s offer to sacrifice his son Ishmael to God, but was told to sacrifice an animal instead.
Eid’l Adha is a holy season of sacrifice and giving for Muslims.
Extending help to Muslims in Marawi and other conflict areas affected by the siege between the Maute group and the Philippine government would be part of their sacrifice this year.
Macatanong Dibarosan, national president of the Philippine Muslim Students Alumni Association, said the fund they had gathered would be given to the victims of the Marawi siege. With PNA