Dubai - For thousands of Filipino and Indonesian Muslim expatriates in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Ramadan has become more than a time for spiritual renewal. With weekly gatherings scheduled throughout the holy month, the season has also been seen as an opportune time to strengthen the community ties while being in a foreign country.
Vanjo Andig, former president of the Filipino-Maranao Community, said that Ramadan is the time when people set aside their differences and build their relationships with one another. “There‘s a saying that people cannot enter paradise unless they believe. But they would never believe if they are not united. This is the reason why it is important for us to forgive one another and unite as a people,” he said.
The Maranao community, one of the 13 Muslim factions in the Philippines, holds a weekly gathering every Thursday evening in Dubai in observance of Ramadan. “During the gathering, we organise lectures to help our members understand and appreciate the essence of the holy month,” he said.
He added that iftar gatherings have served as a support system for their members, especially those who live in the UAE alone, as well as an event dedicated to welcoming new converts to the Islamic faith. Discussions during iftar mostly focus on recollections about traditions and customs observed by Maranaos in their native Lanao, a province in Mindanao.
Andig mentioned that an estimated 5 per cent of the more than 250,000 Filipinos in the UAE are Muslims.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Rifai of the Indonesian Muslim Association (IMA) said that they also hold weekly Iftars at the Indonesian Consulate General every Friday for Indonesians residing in Dubai and across the Northern Emirates.
“We take this as an opportunity to pray and celebrate the breaking of the fast together,” he said.
The weekly Ramadan event, Rifai added, features a lecture by an Indonesian imam or Islamic scholar in a bid to enlighten participants about the true meaning of the season.
As expatriates, Rifai said, they are also mindful of the plight of their fellowmen in Indonesia who are suffering from natural disasters like earthquakes.
“Every Ramadan meeting, we solicit financial support from our members. The proceeds are sent to a charity organisation in our country to help those in need. Last year, we were able to collect around Dh8,000, which we sent to Java to assist the victims of a strong earthquake,” he said.
Source: www.khaleejtimes.com (17 September 2007)
