BY ASANGAN T. MADALE
MARAWI CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. extends his solidarity to Filipino Muslims globally as they commemorate the Isra Wal Miraj, emphasizing the profound significance of Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey and Ascension in Islam.
In his message, PBBM urges individuals to derive strength from their faith to navigate challenges. He calls for collective efforts towards fostering a more harmonious, inclusive, and progressive future for the nation, highlighting the transformative power of faith in shaping societal renewal.
As one of the most celebrated events in Islam, The Journey and Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gives a perfect picture of the rewards that our Muslim brothers and sisters may reap by having faith in the All-Hearing All-Seeing Allah. More than that the narrative also
magnifies the glory and night of Allah who revealed , during the this difficult and perilous journey, the virtue of pursuing righteousness and the incomparable prize that await us when we remain true and devoted to our faith and our conviction.
Marcos said as you commemorate this splendid miracle through your prayers and supplication, may everyone be reminded that your gatherings, daily worships, and the account of his miraculous event were given for us to hold on to for strengthen and reinvigoration in times of despair. Through
these we are forged to become not only living witness of our faith but also Allah’s agent of transformation and renewal here on earth. Let this occasion imbue us with increased courage and optimism as we collectively face and transform the future of our nation to be more peaceful, inclusive, and progress for all Filipinos to enjoy.
I wish you a solemn and meaningful observance, Marcos said
Meantime, the said religious occassion falls on the twenty-seventh day of the seventh lunar month of Rajab according to the Islamic calendar.
However, an Ulama religious leader said there are conflicting announcements if February 8 is a special non-working holiday or no
This conflicting announcements aroused when the office of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has issued Proclamation #5 last December 2023 where Laitatul Isra Wal Mi’raj is only listed as a special working holiday.
In response to clarify the issue, the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippine issued statement stating in Observance of Al-Isra Wal Mi’raj, February 8,2024e has been declared a holiday in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and other Muslim-majority areas, where Muslim government employees outside of the BARMM are also entitled to observe this holiday.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) reiterates on the Recognition of Muslim Holidays for Purposes of the Observance of Lailatul Isra Wal Mi;raj on February 8,2024. The policy emphasize that all Muslim government officials and employees are free from office work on February 8 without being marked absent.
In the case of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) issued also Memorandum dated February 6,2024 citing Presidential Decree No. 1083 that February 8 is declared holiday in the observance of “ISRA WAL MIRAJ”. It emphasizes also that all government officials and employees are therefore excuse from reporting to their offices in commemoration of their Muslim affairs.
In Marawi City, Mindanao State University System President Atty Basari D. Mapupuno issued Memorandum dated February 6, 2024 declaring February 8 to 10 as Non-Working Holidays in Observance of Lailatul Isra Wal Mi’raj (Nocturnal Journey and Ascension of Prophet Muhammad SWT) and celebration of Chinese new Year.
Mapupuno emphasize in his Memorandum that the Observance of this Muslim affairs should be observed in the entire Mindanao State University campuses.
