RAMADAN PROGRAMS ON THE PHILIPPINES TARGET MUSLIM YOUTH

By: Watteau  Ibrahim*

It is the holy month of Ramadan, a time to feed the spirit. Spiritual revival is common to all followers of Islam during Ramadan.

But nowhere it is more noteworthy and perhaps even more necessary than in this part of the world where to remain focused on the faith itself is a remarkable achievement in the face of various distractions.

Adverse influence of Western lifestyles  that work day and night on the religious and  socio-cultural identities of Muslim youths in particular are the focus of attention at this time. Ramadan programs are to be presented by Islamic preachers as ways of reinforcing the faith and remaining firm on the chosen path.

Thus elaborate programs have been laid out for the holy month of Ramadan at various mosques, Muslim associations and Islamic foundations all over the Philippines. While they concentrate on special nightly prayers and religious discourses for men and women, much attention is also being paid to explaining the true spirit and meaning of Ramadan to youths and children.

Those  will engage in Islamic propagation and education in the Philippines recognize the dire need to guide the younger generation especially  vulnerable teenagers at a time  when materialistic influences are vying to distract their attention from Islamic religious and cultural ways of life.

Therefore, special sessions and lessons are being organized for teenagers during Ramadan. The Muslims here are already quite active on the religious, cultural, socio-economic and political fronts.

Muslim groups have developed modern mosques, community schools providing young pupils firm grounding in Islam, special centers to familiarize women with their religious and family roles, and dawa networks to spread Islam in the Philippines.

Naturally, all these activities are getting a big boost during Ramadan, according to the AFMY Philippines, Muslim Community ( Jamaah Muslimin ) and the Islamic Dawah Council of the Philippines which are playing vital roles in shaping the spiritual and cultural lives of Muslims. (L/Imt/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)