PHILIPPINES: Filipino Muslims travel to mosques in Manila to celebrate Eid el-Adha and pray for peace in the southern Philippines

Record ID: 862914

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: Filipino Muslims travel to mosques in Manila to celebrate Eid el-Adha and pray for peace in the southern Philippines
  • Date: 7th November 2011
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (NOVEMBER 6, 2011) (REUTERS) MUSLIMS OUTSIDE MOSQUE VARIOUS OF MUSLIMS PRAYING VARIOUS OF MUSLIMS BOWING MUSLIMS STANDING UP MUSLIMS OUTSIDE MOSQUE DEVOTEE RASHID DUMRA OUTSIDE MOSQUE (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) DEVOTEE RASHID DUMRA SAYING "We thank our god Allah for giving us long lives and letting us enjoy this happy day." CROWD MUSLIMS EXITING MOSQUE
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines, Philippines
  • City:
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVABCRN5V61OIUU9FBNQD21XYEFT
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Thousands of Filipino Muslims in Manila woke up early on Sunday (November 6) to celebrate Eid el-Adha, one of the most important celebrations in the Muslim calendar.
    Islamic believers crowded into mosques around Manila and attended morning prayers led by the Imam, a Muslim spiritual leader, and chanted prayers to their god Allah.
    Also known as the "Feast of Sacrifice", the festival recounts the story of the prophet Ibrahim and his willingness to sacrifice his son's life to show his commitment to Allah.
    Devotees thanked Allah for the blessings they have received throughout the year.
    "We thank our god Allah for giving us long lives and letting us enjoy this happy day," said devotee Rashid Dumra.
    They also prayed for peace around the world, especially the peaceful resolution in the war-torn Mindanao Island in southern Philippines where a majority of their brethren have been living.
    Tensions rose in the southern Philippines last month after at least 30 people were killed in a clash between Islamic rebels and Philippine troops, despite an on-going cease fire agreement.
    The rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, has been negotiating with the Philippines government to end more than four decades of conflict that has killed 120,000 people, displaced 2 million and hobbled growth in the poor but resource-rich Muslim areas in the south.
    Talks in Malaysia have been stalled since August after rebel leaders rejected an autonomy proposal from government. The rebels had demanded the creation of a sub-state in the south.
    Islam is the second most popular religion in the predominantly Catholic Philippines, with over five percent of the 94 million population are practicing the Muslim faith.
    The Philippine government has made today and tomorrow a holiday in respect of the Muslim festival.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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