COTABATO CITY, (PNA) — Muslim Filipinos in large parts of Mindanao observed Monday “Amon Jadid” holiday with solemn prayer and gratitude after Mlacanang declared Nov. 4 a regional non-working holiday.
The Amon Jadid marks the first day in the lunar-based Islamic Hijrah calendar.
It is the first day in the Islamic month of Muharram in Hijrah Year 1435 which falls on Nov. 4, 2013 in the Gregorian calendar. Last year, Amon Jaded fell on October 15.
Amon Jadid comes at the end of the annual hajj or pilgrimage to the holy land of Mecca, Saudi Arabia among Muslim faithful.
The annual hajj is obligatory for Muslims who can afford the cost of travel from their country of origin to Mecca. It is one of the five pillars of Islamic religion.
Other pillars include absolute belief in Allah, praying five times a day facing the west, giving of zakat (alms) to the poor, and fasting during the 30-day Ramadhan season.
The Amon Jadid is one of the Muslim Holidays the national government recognizes under Presidential Decree 1083.
Non-working holiday is effective in the defunct Regional Autonomous Government in Regions 9 and 12 which includes the provinces of the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte and the cities therein.
ARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman has urged fellow Muslims to ponder on how they can best support the government peace process in southern Philippines while observing the Amon Jadid Holiday.