By: Fr. Ernesto Amigleo, CICM

Land of Many Faiths
My name is Fr. Ernesto Amigleo, I am a CICM missionary lining in Indonesia- a country of many faiths but predominantly Muslim. In recent years I have been working close to Muslim community and have got to know them and their big feast deep well.

Idul Fitri
Idul Fitri Day for our Muslim sisters and brothers is a red letter day.. Last year it fell on March 25, 1993. it is a day when they blessed with “original holiness” (fitra), after thirty days of obligatory fasting or Ramadan.

14 hour Fast
During the fasting month our Muslim sisters and brothers do not eat or drink from four o’clock in the evening. This month is a time not only of curbing one’s passion’s and desires, but also of intense meditation, of  looking inward into one’s past life being, of being sorry for one’s sin’s and of deepening one’s faith. They believe that this Holy month of Ramadan is a graced event because it is the time that they are cleansed of all their sins in the past and therefore, a time when they are truly reconciled with Allah (God).

Day of Reconciliation
Idul Fitri is a celebration of great joy-joy because of the fact that Allah has forgiven all their sins, which calls for a truly communal celebration. At sunrise, dressed in their best suits they gather in big number either in an open field or a mosque to pray to Allah- a scene inspiringly beautiful and deeply touching. After the prayer service they shake hands or embrace one another, asking for peace and total forgiveness from one another for all their past faults and mistakes. The whole atmosphere breathes joy peace, and reconciliation and it awakens in them a deep sense of solidarity and sister and the Brotherhood. Then throughout the day they celebrate it by visiting one another, offering peace and reconciliation. This day is extended to the following day in the same spirit of joy and feast.

I Too Ask Forgiveness
It is on such occasion as this that I as Filipino Christian missionary, take advantage of this beautiful event by visiting my Muslim neighbors in the parish, by showing my solidarity with them. By reaching out to them, shaking hands and asking forgiveness from the elders, I try to bring home the idea that even us we differ in religious beliefs, we can be sisters and brother under the same Fatherhood of Allah who is merciful and kind towards all. It is in this same spirit that Christian all over part of the world visit their Muslim relatives, neighbors or friends to participate in the celebration.

Salamat
Idul Fitri, for me, as a Christian is a time to manifest and to deepen our sense of family and solidarity with our Muslim sisters and brother. It is a time to reach out, to extend hands in congratulations and to ask for total forgiveness inwards and outwards and to say: “Salamat Idul Fitri, Maaf lahir bathin.”

Note:
In my previous article entitled “I choose Indonesia” printed on Nov-Dec, 1991 issue, I have mixed up Lebaran for Muslim fasting and Ramadan for Muslim feast of Idul Fitri. It should rather be Lebaran for the Feast of Idul Fitri and Ramadan for fasting. My sincere apology.