Hatamanand Let us spread peace, love during Ramadhan

COTABATO CITY -- Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Wednesday called on fellow Muslims to spread the message of love and compassion as they prepare for the observance of the fasting month of Ramadhan. Let us take this opportunity to spread the message of love, compassion, and peace among us and to our non-Muslim brothers and sisters in Mindanao, the Philippines, and across the world, Hataman said in his Ramadhan message to about five million Muslims in the five provinces of ARMM.Hataman's message was released by the ARMM bureau of public information. Let us take this opportunity to touch and change lives, and end the tyranny of poverty and injustice. Let us use this time to promote compassion and respect for human dignity, he added.Fasting officially startsThursday. This is the time where we renew our devotion and reflect on our faith as Muslims who are guided by the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Almighty and merciful Allah, he said. This is the time when we strengthen our commitment to lasting peace and development in Mindanao through fasting and prayers, he said even as he vowed to offer prayers for the attainment of genuine peace in Mindanao.He said the desire for peace and the Muslims are faced with so many challenges but he believed these can be hurdled. There are enormous challenges in our midst and we will be facing bigger battles ahead of us, but our collective power as a nation will allow us to claim victory over these challenges and battles, he said.He said Muslims should take this opportunity to spread the message of love, peace and work for the development of the island.During the fasting month, various activities related to Ramadhan are up in the ARMM compound here. A nightly cultural presentation will be featured from among various tribal groups of the region.