Muslims bow down in prayer at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila, as Ramadan winds down. (Photo by ROUELLE UMALI)

As the Ramadan holy month of fasting winds down to its last days this weekend, Muslims around the world, including in the Philippines, are anticipating and preparing for the three-day Eid'l Fitr, the fast-breaking festival of reconciliation, forgiveness and gratitude to God.

According to Muslim scholars, “Eid, in Islam, is a day of joy, thanksgiving, worship, brotherhood, solidarity, and morality. A Muslim should take the advantage of this day to bring himself nearer to Allah, Most High."

Major mosques in Metro Manila, such as the Blue Mosque in Maharlika Village, Taguig City; Green Mosque in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City; Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila; and Islamic Center Mosque in Carlos Palanca street, also in Quiapo, are preparing for the influx of Islam believers who are expected to overflow for the annual Eid'l Fitr early morning Sunnah (optional) prayers.

However, the first day of the month of Shawwal (which follows Ramadan) and first day also of the three-day Eid'l Fitr (Hariraya Puasa among Malay Muslims in Southeast Asia), will be known only after the moon sighting on Saturday.

The Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA) headed by Executive Director Datu Ali B. Sangki has activated its National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) which will work in coordination with the Darul Iftah (House of Opinion) in Cotabato City in defining the first day of Eid celebrations.

President Arroyo, on OMA's recommendation, has earlier declared Monday, September 21, a non-working national holiday in observance of the Eid'l Fitr, one of Islam's only two major festivals.

In Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Court on Wednesday Muslims in the kingdom "to look for the new Shawwal crescent moon tonight "to determine the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and the first day of Eid'l Fitr."

Saturday, September 19, is the 29th day of Ramadan, Hijrah year 1430.

Other Eid prayers will be held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle and at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City to be organized by the Salaam Police Community Relations Civilian Volunteers, Inc., under the auspices of Police Supt. Datumama M. Mokalid, Al-Hajj, chief of the Regional Human Rights Affairs Office.

Mokalid and the hundreds of Salaam Police civilian volunteers, active partners of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in peace activities, thanked and lauded the PNP leadership led by Director General Jesus Verzosa accommodating the Eid' Fitr prayers at the police camp.

On Monday until Tuesday (September 21-22), Samira Gutoc-Tomawis said the Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN) will hold the yearly International Ramadan Fair with the theme "Recognizing Diversity in Faith."