MANILA, Philippines — Muslims in the Philippines joined on Tuesday the 1.5-billion strong Islamic world on the occasion of Eid’l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) as they collectively paid tribute to the Patriarch Abraham for his unwavering obedience to God as exemplified by his readiness to sacrifice his son. Abraham, whom Muslims call Ibrahim, is mentioned both in the Holy Books of Christianity (Bible) and Islam (Qur'an).
Christianity says the sacrificial son, whom God replaced with a ram, was Isaac; for Muslims it was Ismael.
Aleem Said Ahmad Basher, a graduate of Islamic Propagation degree at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, said among the messages of Eid'l Adha are obedience to God, patience, peace, love, reconciliation, and forgiveness for fellow man.
President Aquino stressed the importance of “steadfast faith and sacrifice for the greater good” in the country’s trek of the righteous path during Tuesday's celebration of Islam's Eid’l Adha.
In his message to the Muslim Filipino community, the President said one of Islam’s great feasts and is laden with both religious and social significance in Eid’l Adha has the message of steadfast faith and sacrifice for the greater good which is congruent with the journey of transformation the Philippines is undertaking — within the government and among our people — for the realization of our collective dreams for the nation.
Edd Usman, Manila Bulletin
