COTABATO CITY, Philippines, March 23 ------ The holy month of Ramadan officially starts today.
This was announced by Abdulrauf Guialani, Bangsamoro Jurist (Deputy Mufti) and officer in charge of the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta (House of Opinion) — the top Muslim religious leader in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The Bangsamoro Darul Ifta, headed by Bangsamoro Mufti Abuhuraira A. Udasan, earlier assigned groups to do moonsighting. “They (the groups) have performed what they were assigned to do, and then finally, the result of the moonsighting is that the crescent moon has not been sighted,” Guialani said. “Based on this, the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta has decided that the beginning of Ramadan will be on 23rd of March, 2023.”
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is one of the most sacred times for Muslims. For 30 days, Muslims will observe a strict daily fast from dawn until sunset. They will refrain from eating or drinking water during these daylight hours and spend more time in prayers. The Muslim faithful are encouraged to study the Quran, hold prayer, and do fasting during this month.
Despite the start of Ramadan, March 23 will not be a holiday, the Presidential Communications Office said. PCO Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil told reporters that only April 20 – or the end of Ramadan – will be considered a holiday.
Source: inquirer.net
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