Eid Al Fitr in the UAE: Filipino Muslims’ way of honoring faith and family

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Filipino Muslims in the United Arab Emirates joyously marks the conclusion of the blessed month of Ramadan as they prepare for the grand celebration of Eid Al Fitr, which translates to the “Festival of Breaking the Fast.”

Eid Al Fitr, is a momentous Islamic holiday that signifies the end of Ramadan, a month-long period dedicated to spiritual reflection, fasting and heightened devotion observed by Muslims worldwide.

Zahir Tapodoc Luna, a born-Muslim and president of the Philippine Bangsamoro Basketball League (PBBL), told GMA Integrated News that this special day of festivity and thanksgiving is a time of communal prayers, unity, joy and charity, where the spirt of giving and togetherness is celebrated among family, friends and the wider Islamic community.

Luna, a Muslim Imam (prayer leader) who hails from Maguindanao, said Eid Al Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which immediately follows the month of Ramadhan.

Depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, Eid Al Fitr is anticipated to be observed on Sunday, March 30 or Monday, March 31, he said.

In the UAE, the government has already announced the holidays to start on Sunday, March 30 until Tuesday, April 1, or an additional day on Wednesday, April 2, if Ramadan completes 30 days. Each month of the Islamic calendar lasts for 29 or 30 days.

“Eid Al Fitr is a time of joy and gratitude, celebrating the successful completion of a month of fasting, self-discipline, and spiritual growth. Muslims thank Allah for giving them the strength to fast and engage in increased worship,” Luna said.

Luna also said Filipino Muslims especially the men will go to the masjid (mosque) in large congregations to attend the communal prayer followed by the khutba, a sermon delivered by the imam while the women can opt to pray in their houses.

Luna, who often takes on the role of an imam, told GMA Integrated News that he feels honored to lead the congregation prayers and fulfil his obligations to Allah. He added that Eid Al Fitr is one of the few holidays permitted in Islam for Muslims to celebrate.

“Ang Eid Al Fitr ay isang sunah (Islamic term which refers to the practices, actions and sayings of Prophet Muhammad) na hindi pwedeng isawalang bahala. Di naman sya obligado but eto ay Sunah. Need magkaroon ng araw ng kasayahan, magpunta sa mga kamag-anak, maaring mag celebrate at pag walang kaya, okay lang naman as long as nakadasal,” he said.

MJ Maria Uy Lami-in, a Cebuana and a member of the academe, a businesswoman and founder of SocioCultural Lifestyle (SCLC ACS), shared with GMA Integrated News that the celebration of Eid is far more than a festive occasion. Eid serves as a profound reminder of the core values instilled during Ramadhan, such as self-discipline, compassion, and unwavering devotion to God.

Lami-in, who is married to a Muslim Maranao from Kapatagan in Lanao Del Norte, also highlighted the distinct differences in how Eid is celebrated in a Muslim country compared to the Philippines.

In the Philippines, she noted, the celebration tends to be more intimate, with Muslim families coming together in smaller, close-knit gatherings to mark the occasion. This contrasts with the larger public celebrations seen in many Muslim countries like the UAE, where the festivities are often more expansive and communal.

“Beyond the traditional Eid prayer and family gatherings, we focus on offering zakat (charity), ensuring that those less fortunate than us also experience the joy of Eid. We also take time to reflect on our Ramadhan journey, set personal and family goals for spiritual growth, and reinforce the values of gratitude and generosity in our children. We really need to remember though that the practices, values and discipline of Ramadan and Eid are not just on these designated days but on a daily basis,” Lami-in said.

Architect Abdulrahman Agao, who hails from Sorsogon and Vice-President of The Light of Islam for Enlightenment (LIFE), in a separate interview said that Eid is a special occasion marking the end of fasting and a time for families and friends to come together, celebrate and strengthen bonds.

Agao said the celebration is characterized by sharing of meals, the giving of gifts, and the demonstration of unity within the community.

“For our family, we prepare the night before the Eid. We are always excited; we always wear our best attire and sleep early so we are ready for the prayer the next day. We always see to it that we take a bath as this is a sunah of Prophet Muhamad,” he told GMA Integrated News.

Agao, who has been residing in the UAE since 2002 and who occasionally leads the congressional prayer as an imam, emphasized that another vital aspect of celebrating Eid is the giving of Zakat Al-Fitr.

This form of charity, offered by Muslims at the conclusion of Ramadan, serves to purify the fast and ensure that those in need can also partake in the joys of Eid, he said.

According to Agao, Zakat Al-Fitr is not only a religious obligation but also an essential act of compassion and solidarity within the Muslim community, ensuring that no one is left behind in the celebrations.

A revert to Islam since 1998, he explained to GMA Integrated News the amount of Zakat al-Fitr is generally based on the cost of staple food like dates, rice or barley or an amount equivalent to 2.5 percent of a Muslim’s annual income.

“Importante sa ating mga Muslim at eto ay mandatory na magbigay tayo ng Zakat al-Fitr at gawin natin eto bago ang dasal sa Eid kasi pag magbigay tayo after ng Eid consider na yan as charity na lang. Ang purpose nito ay maipadama natin sa mga kapwa Muslim ang ating pagmamahal lalo na sa mga less fortunate, na i-share natin ang blessings,” he said.

As Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims around the world are eagerly preparing for the arrival of Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Decree, which falls during the last ten days of Ramadan.

This sacred night is regarded as one of the most spiritually significant moments in Islam where many deepen their devotion by intensifying acts of worship—reciting the Qur'an, making heartfelt supplications, and seeking the blessings and forgiveness of Allah, Agao said.

Agao emphasized that Laylatul Qadr is the most sacred and powerful night in Islam, owing to its immense reward and spiritual significance where it is believed to be the night when the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through the Angel Jibril (Gabriel).

For Muslims, Laylatul Qadr is not just a night to reflect on the past month of fasting and devotion but also a time to seek closeness to Allah, asking for forgiveness, strength, and guidance for the coming year.

“Napaka importante sa amin ang Laylatul Qader as it is described to be “Better than a Thousand Months” or if i-calculate natin over 83 years of worship. It is said to be the Night of Divine Decree where Allah determines the fate of the people for the coming year kaya mas intense yung prayers, acts of worship and Tahajjud (a voluntary prayer in Islam that involves waking up from sleep to stand in prayer during the night). Usually, gumising tayo for Tahajjud around 1am to 3am. We are lucky, yung Arabic na Imam sa amin area, he always knocks on our door at 3am to pray Tahajjud with us,” he said.

Amal Cabuso, an executive secretary professional and co-founder of LIFE, told GMA Integrated News on a separate interview that they always anticipate Eid as a time of unity and solidarity.

Cabuso, who has been in the UAE since 1996 and who embraced Islam in 1999 said that their group is holding Eid celebration on its second day with other Muslim communities such as the PBBL and Philippine Muslim Basketball League at the International Community School (ICS) in Al Najda Street in Abu Dhabi.

Just like many Muslim reverts (converts), Cabuso said embracing Islam made her find her peace.

“It took me three years to embrace Islam until a miracle happened in 1999. I was suffering from excruciating pain in my shoulders. In fact, I was taking medicines to ease the pain and when I remember the preacher who convinced me to embrace Islam to call on Allah alone, I invoked His name and Alhamdullillah, the pain disappeared & never came back,” Cabuso said.

Bensal Baga, a born Muslim from Zamboanga City, said that Ramadan is a very special occasion for all Muslims as it is the time for reflection, worship, patience and forgiveness.

Baga, a LIFE official, said that that even Ramadan is coming to an end soon, their group continues to distribute free Iftar meals until the Eid to around 70 packs in Mussafah Industrial Area in Abu Dhabi, where majority of the laborers and blue-collar job workers are residing.

“Aside from distributing free Iftar food in Abu Dhabi, we are also sending dried dates, prayer mats and Quran to different masjid (mosques) in the Philippines. It is very fulfilling and overwhelming to share our blessings especially in this Holy Month of Ramadan,” he said. — BAP, GMA Integrated News