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Muslims celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday

By Rey-Luis Banagudos

November 21, 2018, 2:47 pm

ZAMBOANGA CITY – November 20 was a Muslim holiday in the cities of Zamboanga, Cotabato, Pagadian, Iligan and Marawi as well as the provinces of Basilan, Lanaodel Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur.

The day coincided with the Hijrah (Islamic) month of Rabbih’ul Awwal, day 12, and year 1440, marking the birth of Prophet Muhammad, or the Maulidin Nabi.

According to a recently issued memorandum by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) regional office in Zamboanga City, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1083 otherwise known as “Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines,” Maulidin Nabi or Birth of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. is recognized as a Muslim legal holiday.

The cities and provinces covered by Muslim holidays like Maulidin Nabi are part of the original region listed in the 1976 Tripoli Agreement.

“All Muslim government officials and employees in place other than enumerated in Article 170 (of PD 1083) shall also be excused from reporting in order that they may be able to observe Muslim holidays,” the NCMF advisory stated.

“The President of the Philippines may, by proclamation, require private offices, agencies or establishment to excuse their Muslim employees from reporting for work during a Muslim holiday with no reduction in their usual compensation,” it added.

The NCMF memorandum was signed by regional director Zulfikar Abantas.

According to a Wikipedia, Muhammad’s birth was approximately in the year 570 (in the Gregorian Calendar). His uncle raised him after both the boy’s parents died while he was very young.

Prophet Muhammad learned the trades of the merchant and of shepherding. He began to preach around the age of 40.

Eventually, he and his followers numbering around ten thousand took control of Mecca. Muhammad died from an illness in 632 after uniting Arabia into a single Muslim entity. (PNA)

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