Prominent Ulama leaders appeals to BARMM Darul Ifta to Open Mosques to Perform Taraweeh in observance of Ramadan Fasting

King Faisal Mosque at Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus, Marawi City. 

BY ASA T. MADALE

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur - Despite that the National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Covid-19,banning the holding of Congregational and Friday Prayers and other religious activities, prominent leaders in Mindanao led by Dr Abdul Hannan M. Tago Acting  President of Dhaylafullah Islamic Institute and Chairman of Saudi Philippines appeals to the Head of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Darul Ifta through special request to open the Jammah Taraweeh in all Mosques in the Bangsamoro areas and outside BARMM region shall be granted to perform their daily Taraweeh after iftar, considering that there is only 15 days left in the observance of the holy month Ramadan fasting expected to end on May 24, 2020. Iftar is a social event as much as it is a gastronomical adventure after susset prayer, a large feast known as "Iftar" is shared with family and friends.

Aleem Mitocur Mustapha Macabando former Regional Director of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) cited Dr. Saffrullah M. Dipatuan, BARMM Minister of Health pronouncement that following the disappearance of Covid-19 in Lanao del sur and Marawi City has zero cases in the region for nearly two weeks.

Aleem Abbas Saumay of UMMA Party support also the group requesting BARMM Chief Minister Ahoh Balawag Al-Hajj Murad Ibrahim as being BARMM Chair of IATF to allow worshipers perform their Taraweeh inside the mosques as being practice before.

Meanwhile, Dr. Allen Minalang IPHO-LDS Chief said "we are flattening the Covid-19 Curve in Lanao del sur and Marawi City." Too early to tell, but with stringent precautionary and scientifically sound preventive measures in place coupled with strong people's supports and cooperation, health system strengthen, we can see light at the end of the tunnel. We have zero case for almost 3 weeks but are not COVID-19-free yet. I previously recovered case turned positive again on 3rd test after two 2 negative results. In the absence of mass testing using confirmatory method like RT-PCR, we cannot say that we are already safe from COvid-19 since we don't know who is carrying the virus, whether asymptomatic or not and who is virus free. Our standard RT-PCR laboratory however at APMC is forthcoming, Minalang stressed.

Meanwhile, on May 2, 2020, Bangsamoro Regional darul Ifta headed by Abuhuraira A. Udasan, Mufti, who handles religious activities of the BARMM, issued Advisory Religious Gatherings in the region has not lifted the Temporary suspension of congregational prayers and other forms of religious gatherings.

Earlier, lawyer Secretary Saidamen B. Pangarungan of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) also issued Memorandum Order dated April 18, 2020 Temporary Suspension of Taraweeh Prayers in the Mosques and prayer rooms during Ramadan 2020.

He encouraged everyone to perform the Taraweeh Prayer at Home and to Stay at Home at all times during the period of emergency, stressing it is in line with the Islamic principle of necessity and emergency to ward off the rapid spread of the Corona Virus pandemic (COVID-19).

However, Mr Alan Balangi-Amer, President of One Bangsamoro Movement (OBM) suggested that we can modify holding our Taraweeh inside the mosque but each worshipers should be required to bring their own mat or prayer material tantamount to strictly observe social distancing and other protocols in preventing the spread transmission of the corona virus diseases. (Edited and Published by Jun Enriquez)