COTABATO CITY (PNA) – Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday urged all Muslims to be true messengers of Islam.
“As Muslims who live true to the values of Islam, we make many sacrifices based on faith – faith in ourselves, faith in others, and faith in Allah,” Hataman said in his Eid’l Adha (feast of sacrifice) message.
Malacañang earlier declared Eid’l Adha as national holiday to celebrate the Islamic feast of sacrifice.
“Today we remember Ibrahim’s sacrifice, one that is guided by his faith in Allah. It is an example we aspire to live up to as we celebrate Eid’l Adha. Today, we take pause to remember what Islam means to us as Muslims living in a time where many choose turn a blind eye to our sacrifices and in a world where many look upon our faith with prejudice,” Hataman said in his message as Muslims gather in many open fields across the region to celebrate Eid’l Adha.
He said Muslims have offered many sacrifices in the past. He added there are Muslims who were persecuted because of the works of others which are not the teachings of Allah.
“As Muslims, this prejudice is a burden that is familiar to us. We are often persecuted because of our faith, because there are those who sow fear and terror as they claim they are Muslims who follow the path of Islam,” he said.
Hataman said there are people who proclaimed they are Muslims but are actually not. They offered sacrifices for self interest.
“Their so-called sacrifices are nothing but self-serving acts of violence; their so-called faith is nothing but a lie. Theirs is the work of the devil and they are a disgrace to the Ummah,” he said.
He asked Muslims in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to stand together and unite against what he called as “traitors.”
Even Prophet Muhammad has experienced sacrifices as he preached Islam. “As the Prophet Muhammad once walked the earth and preached Islam, he himself faced great doubt and persecution. He endured great sacrifices so that he can carry with him the true message of our faith,” Hataman said.
