Eid Mubarak to our Muslim brothers and sisters celebrating the Hari-raya Puasa or Eid al-Fitr!
Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan. During the Eid al-Fitr, Muslims hold communal prayers in mosques or open spaces, which are often adorned with special lamps, drapes, and mats. They also wear their finest clothes as they visit other households and create and renew bonds by sharing local delicacies specially prepared for Eid al-Fitr.
Joining today’s celebration, the #NationalMuseumPH features the mosque, a place of worship for our Muslim brothers and sisters. There are 2 types of mosques in the Philippines, the ranggar or langgal, and the masjid. The ranggar is a small structure accommodating a few individuals for daily prayers in rural areas. The masjid is a permanent structure facing the holy city of Mecca. Its architecture is inspired by Western influences such as the presence of minarets (tall towers attached to or adjacent to the mosque), mihrab (a niche indicating the direction of Mecca), minbar (a pulpit on which the imam or prayer leader stands when delivering a sermon), and a place of ablution. During prayer, the floor is covered with a tepo (prayer mat) or carpet. In most mosques, men and women have different entrances and also separate prayer rooms. There are, however, mosques wherein both men and women can enter together but women would pray behind men.
The Sheik Karimol Makhdum Mosque located in Tubig Indangan, Simunul, Tawi-Tawi is the oldest mosque in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia. It is believed to have been constructed in 1380 by Sheikh Makhdum Karim, an Arab trader who introduced Islam to the country. The 4 pillars found inside the mosque are the oldest Islamic artifacts in the country and date back to the 17th century.
The Sheik Karimol Makhdum Mosque was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in May 2013.
#EidAlFitr
#HappyEid
#EidMubarak
#MuseumFromHome
Text by the NMP Ethnology Division
Photo courtesy of Mr. Paul Quiambao
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