text & photos HADER GLANG
Ms. Amina Rasul, Lead Convenor of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID), delivers her message during a regional forum/workshop attended by religious leaders of the Muslim communities from Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga.
Ms. Amina Rasul, Lead Convenor of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID), delivers her message during a regional forum/workshop attended by religious leaders of the Muslim communities from Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga.Some of the Mindanao's influential religious leaders of Muslim communities and intellectuals met Tuesday in Zamboanga City in an effort to define practical ways to help address the seemingly unending problems confronting the Bangsamoro people.
The meeting, dubbed: "Empowering the Ulamas of the Philippines,'" was convened by the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and the Magbasa Kita Foundation, Inc. (MKFI) through the assistance of the British and Netherlands embassies at the Amil's Tower Hotel.
At the opening ceremony, Amina Rasul, PCID Lead Convenor, considered the event in Zamboanga City as the first regional consultative forum/workshop and one that is intended to give the Muslim religious leaders the avenue to discuss issues that are important to them.
"Similar efforts will also be held in Cotabato City, Cagayan de Oro, Lanao, and other parts in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) leading up to a National Summit to be held in November this year," she added.
In recent round table discussions in Manila, muftis asked PCID to help the ulama organize a national forum to meet together different religious leaders from all Muslim communities in the country, including Luzon and Visayas that have 2 million Muslims.
"We have to try and bring them together through the ulamas and see whether we can come up with a national strategy and priority so that our people overcome conflict, poverty, injustice, social and political inequity and get into the development," said Rasul.
For one day, participants from Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga came up with some suggestions and ideas such as strengthening the Islamic education, unity among the ulamas and the Bangsamoro people and promoting peace and development in the country, especially in Mindanao.
They recommended very strongly to President Arroyo the change of leadership in the Office Muslim Affairs (OMA) from the hands of politicians or businessmen to the religious leaders and for the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) to take a look at how it can assess them as a sector so that they can handle poverty alleviation and development projects.
Dr. Abdulkhair Tarasun, who lectured the participants on the role of the ulama in peace and development in Muslim Mindanao, gave emphasis to understanding, unity and respect among the Muslim religious leaders and the Bangsamoro people.
Tarasun also expressed his total rejection of extremist approaches, saying that moderation is the true essence of true Islam. He, likewise, touched upon the important role that ulama should play in educating the youth.
Meanwhile, Atty. Hamid Barra of the Mindanao State University (MSU), who lectured on the importance of unity in Islam, also stressed the need for unity within the Muslim community.
"Islam is more than a religion. It is a complete way of life," said Barra. "The absence of unity brings and breeds disruption, devastation and disputes. The unity of all humans is the ultimate aim of the teachings of Islam."
During the workshop, forum organizers asked the participants on what are the socio-economic conditions of the ulama in the region and what are their strengths and weaknesses and their opportunities and challenges.
Former Senator Santanina Rasul, MKFI chairperson, gave a message while Prof. Moner Bajunaid, executive director of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) called MIND Center, spoke on the forum expectations. Dr. Mashur Bin-Ghalib Jundam of the University of the Philippines' Institute of Islamic Studies was also in attendance.
Prominent Muslim religious leaders -- Ustadz Habib Zain Jali, chair of the Bangsamoro People's Congress, Ustadz Shariff Julabbi of the Ulama League of the Philippines, Mufti Tanjilil of Zamboanga City, Mufti Abirin of Sulu and Mufti Hamja Oto of Basilan -- were among the participants.
The meeting, dubbed: "Empowering the Ulamas of the Philippines,'" was convened by the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and the Magbasa Kita Foundation, Inc. (MKFI) through the assistance of the British and Netherlands embassies at the Amil's Tower Hotel.
At the opening ceremony, Amina Rasul, PCID Lead Convenor, considered the event in Zamboanga City as the first regional consultative forum/workshop and one that is intended to give the Muslim religious leaders the avenue to discuss issues that are important to them.
"Similar efforts will also be held in Cotabato City, Cagayan de Oro, Lanao, and other parts in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) leading up to a National Summit to be held in November this year," she added.
In recent round table discussions in Manila, muftis asked PCID to help the ulama organize a national forum to meet together different religious leaders from all Muslim communities in the country, including Luzon and Visayas that have 2 million Muslims.
"We have to try and bring them together through the ulamas and see whether we can come up with a national strategy and priority so that our people overcome conflict, poverty, injustice, social and political inequity and get into the development," said Rasul.
For one day, participants from Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga came up with some suggestions and ideas such as strengthening the Islamic education, unity among the ulamas and the Bangsamoro people and promoting peace and development in the country, especially in Mindanao.
They recommended very strongly to President Arroyo the change of leadership in the Office Muslim Affairs (OMA) from the hands of politicians or businessmen to the religious leaders and for the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) to take a look at how it can assess them as a sector so that they can handle poverty alleviation and development projects.
Dr. Abdulkhair Tarasun, who lectured the participants on the role of the ulama in peace and development in Muslim Mindanao, gave emphasis to understanding, unity and respect among the Muslim religious leaders and the Bangsamoro people.
Tarasun also expressed his total rejection of extremist approaches, saying that moderation is the true essence of true Islam. He, likewise, touched upon the important role that ulama should play in educating the youth.
Meanwhile, Atty. Hamid Barra of the Mindanao State University (MSU), who lectured on the importance of unity in Islam, also stressed the need for unity within the Muslim community.
"Islam is more than a religion. It is a complete way of life," said Barra. "The absence of unity brings and breeds disruption, devastation and disputes. The unity of all humans is the ultimate aim of the teachings of Islam."
During the workshop, forum organizers asked the participants on what are the socio-economic conditions of the ulama in the region and what are their strengths and weaknesses and their opportunities and challenges.
Former Senator Santanina Rasul, MKFI chairperson, gave a message while Prof. Moner Bajunaid, executive director of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) called MIND Center, spoke on the forum expectations. Dr. Mashur Bin-Ghalib Jundam of the University of the Philippines' Institute of Islamic Studies was also in attendance.
Prominent Muslim religious leaders -- Ustadz Habib Zain Jali, chair of the Bangsamoro People's Congress, Ustadz Shariff Julabbi of the Ulama League of the Philippines, Mufti Tanjilil of Zamboanga City, Mufti Abirin of Sulu and Mufti Hamja Oto of Basilan -- were among the participants.
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