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Asian Muslims Start Ramadan
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA (IslamOnline) - Over 200 million Muslims in Southeast Asia started the fasting month of Ramadan this Monday. In the Philippines, it took a 10 man Moon Sighting Committee headed by Aleem Usman Sheik Al Aman, secretary general of the Ulamas Conference of the Philippines, the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA), to give the green light for the start of the holy month.
OMA Executive Director Acmad M. Tomawis said the committee had been authorized to seek the assistance and facilities of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in watching and determining the appearance of the moon.
The committee was also assigned to relay to the public, especially to Muslim communities in metro Manila, the result of its sighting.
Tomawis said OMA regional offices in Mindanao were also instructed to do their own monitoring and coordinate with the OMA main office in reporting accurate information to the public.
He expressed confidence that Muslim Filipinos will take the religious purpose of Ramadan and practice self-restraint in dealing with their neighbors and fellow human beings.
To insure accurate monitoring and fasting feedback, OMA's Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs announced that it has established coordination with the embassies of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam.
There is only a one-hour difference in the official time between these countries. Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia announced the start of the Ramadan with a brief TV interaction.
Most of these countries adopt modified working hours during the month of Ramadan. This year, the Philippines announced its first cut in working hours for Muslims observing the fasting month.
In Malaysia and Indonesia, there is also a cut in working hours for civil servants. This is to allow them to reach home earlier in preparation for the breaking of the fast, and not to have extra rest, officials say.
Some members of the Muslim ulama in both countries earlier attacked the shortening of hours of work in Ministries saying that Muslims should show that they could cope with fasting and working.
In the Philippines, working hours have been shortened to 7 hours from the normal 8-hour workday.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. The others are belief in Allah and Mohammad (SAW) as his prophet, prayer five times a day, giving of Zakat to needy and poor Muslims and the pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah, situated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at least once in a lifetime.
In Jakarta, nightclub workers rallied last week to force their establishments to remain open during the month of Ramadan. However, the government of Prime Minister Abdurrahman Wahid ordered alcohol-serving nightclubs to be closed in Jakarta.
Most of the clubs were closed on the first night of Ramadan, while some remained open. In Kuala Lumpur, nightclubs are allowed to remain open during the entire month while Muslim workers may not necessarily serve alcohol or any ‘haram’ products.
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