Tribute to Shiekh Karimul Makhdum & Shariff Mohammad Kabunsuan bin Jainul Abedin — ISLAMIC SYMPOSIUM

Islamic Symposium

Mindanao Week of Peace 2012

Postpone due to Typhoon Pablo 

to be re-scheduled on December 14, 2012 @ 5:00pm - 8:00pm 

in front of ORG ARMM Compound, Cotabato City

Bangsamoro Song for Peace

23rd ARMM Anniversary Cultural Night Presentation

All Line Agencies & Bureau

23rd ARMM Anniversary preparation 2012

Tribes Banting

23rd ARMM Anniversary

Memo: All Line Agencies and Offices/Bureau

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Sheikh Karim ul Makhdum Day

Excerpt from the Speech of OIC-Regional Governor Hon. Mujiv S. Hataman during the 632^nd Founding Anniversary of Sheikh Karimul Mahkdum Mosque 
@ Boheh Indangan, Simunul, Tawi-Tawi.

November 7, 2012

“ I would not be here as your Regional Governor had it not been because of the Bangsamoro Struggle; there would be NO Bangsamoro Struggle without the Muslims in the Philippines; there would be NO Muslims in the Philippines without the coming of Islam centuries ago and; there would be NO coming of Islam to the Philippines without an Arab Missionary named Shiekh Karimul Mahkdum who planted the seeds of Islam in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi which now spread all over the country.” 

Karim ul-Makhdum (Sayyid un-Nikab Aminullah)

In the fouteenth century (about 1380), Karim ul-Makhdum built the Philippines' oldest mosque which still exists in Tubig Indangan, Simunul Tawi-Tawi.

More prominently, the earliest period that Islam was introduced in the southern islands has been associated with this religious landmark, if not attributed to Karm ul-Makhdum, whose proper name was Aminullah and was entitled Sayyid un-Nikab. (The country's oldest Masjid in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi has undergone reconstruction in various times). In Maguindanao and Lanao, the genealogical  personality of early missionary Shariff Awliya is sometimes associated to the reverence of a "Makhdum."

Dr. Cesar Adib Majul, and eminent Muslim scholar, hinted of earlier Muslim settlement in Sulu, first with the information about the coming of a certain Tuan Mashaika to Sulu. According to the Sulu Genealogy, Tuan Mashaika (probably from South Arabia) married a daughter of the "younger" Rajah Sipad (Sripada or Sripaduka), this ruler being a descendant of an earlier Sipad. The Sulu Genealogy does not specifically mention that Mashaika was a Muslim. But by the names of his children (Tuan Ilakim and Aisha) and of his grandchildren, Mashaika must have been a Muslim (Najeeb Saleeby, Sulu Historical Notes 1905).

Sometime after the arrival of Tuan Mashaika, the Badjaos were reported to have arrived in Sulu. This was supposed to be the fourth major group to have arrived in Sulu. The oldest groupd, the Buranuns (the mountaineers) settled in Maimbung and their chiefs were surnamed Siripada. The second group was of the Tagimahas from Basilan, who came and lived in the area near Buansa; and the third group the Baklayas, settled in nearby area of jolo. The Sulu Genealogy (preserved at the Sulu Museum) narrates:

"Sometimes after that there came Karimul Makhdum. He crossed the sea in a vase or pot of iron and was called sarip. He settled at Bwansa, the place where the nobles of Tagimaha (from Basilan) lived. There the people flocked to him from all directions, and he built a house for religious worship."

According to this source of local tradition, Makhdum did some conversion of the natives. That he was later call Tuan Shariff Aulia suggests that he was a missionary and preacher, since the term "aulia" sometimes carried this connotation in Malaysia. However, Majul creduts Shariful Hashim, the first sultan of Sulu, for the development of Islam's "foothold in Sulu", more that Makhdum efforts in building mosques and his conversion of the natives in both Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. This is because Hashim had estabished madaris (schools) as the center of learning of the teachings of the Qur'an.

Many legend have been woven around the personality of Makhdum. Among these are those which tell of how he walked on water and save people from drowning, and communicated by the paper flown in the air. These traditions, although pious in nature, suggest that the Makhdum was a sufi, and as well known, a great deal of magical powers had been attributed to the sufis, especially those in Bengal.   The Jesuit Francisco Combes, also reported about this attribution of "magical" powers to those who first brought Islam to the Philippines.

Indeed people in different parts of Sulu (and even in Maguindanao and Lanao) Genealogically trace descent from Shariff Aulia. The Karimul Mahkdum Sayyid un-Nikab Aminullah had been buried in Bud Agad in Sulu.

Majul wrote: "it is to the Makhdum Aminullah that stories about Chinese companions and the trading activities with them properly belong." Near his tomb is that of a Chinese, called by the caretakers as "Ho-Hoy", probably an altered local version of "Hue-Hue", the Chinese term for Muslim and which was used to refer to Chinese Muslim who constituted the groups of people in the Celestial Empire.

However, more problematical to Muslim Historians is the fact that different places claim the honor of having his grave.

In Tapul Island, there lies buries also a certain Abdu ur-Rahman, sometimes called Makhdum but distinguished from the one who was supposed to have left.

In Tandu Banak, there is the tomb of another Makhdum and thus, the tendency to associate this burial place with Karim ul-Makhdum. It is further asserted that the famous mosque still standing in Tubig Indangan was built by him. If tradition are to be relied upon, there were at least two Makhdumin.(A compilation of Philippine Muslim History by Nash Maulana, BPI-ARMM Executive Director).

References:
-Muslim in the Philippines, 1973 Dr. Cesar Adib Majul
-The History of the Sulu Sultanate, 1905 Dr. Najeeb Saleeby
-The Sulu Genealogy
-The Maguindanao Genealogy
-The Chronicles of Spanish Expeditions by Francisco Combes

CSC Anniversary Fun Run

The Bureau on Cultural Heritage - ARMM headed by Executive Director Ardan D. Sali actively participated in the Civil Service Commission FUN RUN on October 27, 2012 

The event was participated by ARMM employees including other government employees with an estimated number of more than 700 participants.

Qurban Preparation & Distribution

The office of the Regional Governor thru the Bureau on Cultural Heritage facilitated the “Qurban Preparation and Distribution, Handog ni OIC Governor MUJIV S. HATAMAN” in relation to the observance of Eid’l Adha, Thirteen (13) Cows were sacrificed for the purposed of Qurban.

CELEBRATING SACRIFICE AND CHARITY IN FAITHFUL SERVICE

The celebration of Qurban Hait or Eid al-Adha is one of the greatest and most celebrated of holidays in Islam. It falls on the 10th day of Zul-Khij and observed 70 days after another holiday – the Uraza-Bayram. It is Islam’s Festival of Sacrifice. 

The idea of sacrifice stems from the Scriptural story when Archangel Jabrail conveyed Allah’s message to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his only son Ismail. Beyond the pain of sacrificing his own flesh and blood, the Prophet took no hesitation of contradicting the will of Allah he brought his son to the Min Valley and started preparation for the sacrificial offering. Ismail, showed no sign of hesitation and resistance to both Allah’s and his father’s will. At the final moment, Allah found satisfaction in the prophet’s loyalty and immediately had the Archangel send the Prophet a sheep that was immolated instead. Allah completely showed His mercy.

God says in the Quran(37:104 - 111), thus:

"We called unto him: O Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! Thus do we reward the good? Lo! That verily was a clear test. Then we ransomed him with a tremendous sacrifice. And we left for him among the later folk (the salutation): Peace be unto Abraham! Thus do we reward the good. Lo! He is one of our believing slaves."

As faithful tradition, every end of Hajj, the three-day Festival of Sacrifice is celebrated by the Islamic world by doing prayers, visiting families and friends, and exchanging of “Eid Mubaraki” greetings. And commemoration of Ibrahim’s willingness to obey Allah, sacrificial ceremonies are held where a goat, lamb or cow is slaughtered and sacrificed. The meat is then distributed to poor and needy families. This is Islam’s act of generosity and charity.

The meat from the Qurban is distributed among 3 categories of people:

• 1/3 for the poor and needy.

• 1/3 for family members and friends.

• 1/3 for the person doing the Qurban - and this portion can be given to non-Muslims.

Traditionally, the celebration of Eid-al-Adha or Qurban Hait is done in the Holy City of Mecca at the end of the pilgrimage. It is a practice that all believers climb Mount Arafat and, next day, perform Tayaf – seven rounds around the Caaba, and sacrifice a sheep or cow. But it is Islamic custom that the celebration is observed wherever he is.

For a devout Muslim, the day of the Qurban must commence with the Morning Prayer, visit the mosque in clean clothes and, as the Prophet Muhammad did, choose a new road in going there. Visit to the dead may also be done and the occasion’s sacrificial offering is conducted in a ceremony. 

Customarily, among Filipino Muslims, a cow is slaughtered and the oblation meat is never sold. It is likewise widespread practice to greet one another “Eid Mubarak” which means “Bless the Holiday.”

Eid prayers must be offered in congregation as done in the mosque. The first Raka’ah has two rakats with seven Takbirs , and the second Raka’ah has five Takbirs. At the end of the prayers, Muslims embrace and exchange greetings.

The universal celebration of Eid al-Adha or Qurban Hait embraces all of Islam around the world and in the spirit of sacrifice and giving, exhibits the peaceful nature of the Faith. It is a faithful practice of the words of the Scriptures that lay the foundation of the ideals of life and the service to Allah.

Qurban never begins and ends with the slaughtering of cows and goats as sacrifices and more so, as just simple commemoration. The everyday slaughtering done all over is far too different from that conducted on the day of the Eid – it is done as a reminder of the faithfulness that every Muslim must espouse to Allah and His commands and translate them wholeheartedly to relations and peoples in pure and outright charity.

To many, the traditional meat distribution, in means dictated by the Scriptures, is deemed functional in obedience to the commands of the Faith. But nobody judges the heart of the one who gives from where charity springs except Allah and His omnipotent knowledge of each person’s conscience. Every Muslim’s action of charity must find root in a selfless soul.

Contemporary acts of charity and selfless giving are sometimes tainted by the mundane environment that renders them suspect. Not uncommon is the fact that people think giving expects something in return – that there is a price to the act of goodness. When the Prophet Ibrahim laid his son down on the kaaba to offer him to Allah, he cleared his heart of any motive of selfishness. He was willing to return to Allah the most precious gift he has. But all that Ibrahim possessed, he knew, came from his Creator and to whom nothing more will be pleasing but to offer the same to Him.

Qurban is and must be celebrated in the same spirit of offering, charity and sacrifice. In countless times, Allah may see man’s unconditional offerings in various ways and different gifts.

Qurban is a Holy Occasion but more than just a celebration, it is a gift. It is a grace of heart that Allah reminds every believer to give without counting the cost of doing so. And in ways and moments when material wealth falls short of tradition, none in the Faith halts the desire to give in what he has and how he offers.

Service to man and community is an offering that Allah appreciates with a full heart for as long as the spirit of Ibrahim lives within the giver. When a hand is extended in service, a heart toils in sincerity, Allah knows that Qurban Hait is celebrated consistently – not just once in a year, not just a moment of remembering friends and relatives – and becomes a way to live just as Islam genuinely is.

In the same spirit of sacrifice, serving people is genuine Qurban. It may take time before people realize that Islamic sacrifice and giving is omnipresent in thoughts and actions. In the same way, public service is a ”altar of sacrifice” where man can lay down his total person in selfless giving and, in so doing, returns to Allah the fruits of what have been given him. As such, only Allah can judge man’s actions in charity and service.

It is likewise of prime importance to remember that man, when bestowed with much, is constantly called to give back to Allah through others. Allah imposes no measures in His own giving just as man must do the same. In giving, man examines himself and his capacity for charity and, in the end, must effect the change necessary as Allah resides in him. 

The spirit of service and reform in individual lives and the systems to which man belongs must be in constant recall of Prophet Ibrahim and his unconditional fidelity to Allah’s call to give – whatever it may be and however the cost. Islam calls believers to the Faith that is rich in tradition and challenges them to re-live its ideals in new times and current calls. 

Eid al-Adha is beyond a feast and a holy celebration. When a gift is offered, let it be from a heart engulfed in a love unconditional and true. When service is given, let it be from hands that imitate those of Allah that are clean and willing.

JOHN AMIL MAGNO, MSPIOP, FRIEDr 

Regional Chief of Staff 

ORG-ARMM

HAPPY EIDIL ADHA ALMUBARAK 2012

Cotabato City, one of the most important Islamic occasions that Muslim Ummah is celebrating is the Eid’l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), the Office of the Regional Governor thru the Bureau on Cultural Heritage being the lead agency, facilitated for the smooth conduct of the congregational prayer held in-front of Office of the Regional Governor.

A huge number of Muslim Believers were gathered for the prayer which came from different Barangays of the city including the ARMM employees.

Lakbayan 2012

COTABATO CITY - The ARMM Regional Government under the active leadership of OIC Regional Governor MUJIV S. HATAMAN, has been supporting the Peace Negotiation between the Government of the Philippines and the  Moro Islamic Liberation Front in seeking a doable solution to the Bangsamoro problem and Alhamdullillah both panels agreed and come up with a FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT.

in this connection, the ARMM and its line agencies initiated and organized a PEACE CARAVAN that was participated in by different Civil Society Organizations, Peace Advocates, Religious Sector, Women Sectors, Youth Sectors and other Stakeholders to signify their full support to this historical signing of the Framework Agreement that would lead to the creation of New Political Entity. The Bureau on Cultural Heritage was one among the line agencies who have participated in the PEACE CARAVAN.

The Caravan kicked-off on October 12, 2012 from Cotabato City all the way to Mendiola in Metro Manila near Malacanang Palace to signify their supprot for the peace efforts of the national government in the autonomous region.

Sarah of BCH