Ramadan is one of the holiest and most transformative months for Muslims. This practice begins with a fasting period and ends with the sighting of the new moon. But beyond the religious prescription, the holy month provides a period for deep reflection and personal growth for those who truly embrace its message. 

How Ramadan Starts

The start of Ramadan is primarily determined by the sighting of the new crescent moon. Here’s something that might surprise you: the crescent moon was not used as an Islamic symbol in the early years of the religion. Islam didn’t have symbols and generally avoided aniconism to prevent anything that might look like idolatry. Mosques and Islamic art instead focused on calligraphy and geometric designs. So how did we get here? This is because the Ottoman Empire started placing crescents on everything that the symbol had completed its journey from an ancient moon-god emblem to a universal symbol of Islamic identity.

On February 17, 2026, the official moon-sighting groups in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region announced that Ramadan would begin in the Philippines on February 19. Since the exact date depends on when the moon is actually seen, it can vary by place and may differ by a day between countries. Surprisingly, the Lunar New Year, Ramadan, and Lent all began within a few days of each other this February, in such a rare occurrence!

The Holy Month of Ramadan

When the first revelations of the Qur’an were received by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), Ramadan became a period for Muslims who fast from dawn to dusk. But it is more than just not eating during the day; it’s a whole month of discipline and developing taqwa (awareness of God) through observing the nightly Taraweeh prayers and reading the Qur’an.

One of the most beautiful things about Ramadan is that it is open for people of other faiths to join during the breaking of the fast. As a month dedicated to generosity and compassion, it is a meaningful time to share blessings with the hungry and less fortunate. 

Fasting Across Beliefs

There are different ways of fasting among religions. When you look at Judaism, Jews fast for about 25 hours from sunset to sunset during the Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Believers focus on praying and repentance. Even in the most mundane of things, like wearing leather shoes, they must show humility and avoid luxury. 

And just like the Jews, Christians fast in a way that humbles themselves by giving up material or physical things to renew their faith. It is really a time to reflect and grow closer to God. On the other hand, Evangelical Christianity sees fasting as a private time to connect with the divine force of God (Holy Spirit). 

There is something so profound about how fasting isn’t just about skipping meals. Whether it’s for religious reasons or personal growth, it quietly challenges the loud and busy world’s obsession with always wanting more. It shows us that we don’t live by bread alone, but by our character, kindness, and connection to the divine.

Ramadan is a gift of infinite mercy. Its meaningful impact should not end with the disappearance of the moon crescent but should shine through every person’s character and soul all year round. As we celebrate the month of Ramadan, may we set aside our distractions and nurture a sense of discipline and good purpose that lasts long. Let us remind ourselves to be more empathetic, humble, and mindful of those who need help and care.

Zoom Link: https://churchofjesuschrist.zoom.us/j/94356387888?pwd=YWtha0NzSGoxMFdUelY1R

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Meeting ID: 943 5638 7888

Passcode: 2021

The theme of this forum, “Finding Collaborative Measures in Support of Religious Freedom and Belief
in the Philippines,” builds upon sacrosanct principles enshrined in Article III, Section 5 of the Bill of
Rights (Philippines Constitution-1987), which states: “No law shall be made respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious
profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test
shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.”
Scheduled on December 7, 2021,9:30 am – 11:30 am, this event aptly coincides with the National
Human Rights Consciousness Week in the Philippines (December 6-10, 2021) and International Human
Rights Day which falls on December 10, 2021.
The forum will gather legislators from the Philippine Congress with the special participation of the
authors and Members of the House of Representatives Human Rights Committee, and other thought
leaders in the field of religious freedom. The event aims to provide an ideal venue to:
• Encourage and promote an open, inclusive, dynamic and constructive discourse on human rights
and religious freedom among legislators and sustain their full support for human rights in the
Philippines;
• Consider perspectives on the status of human rights with a keen focus on religious freedom
protection, mainly in the Philippines and the Southeast Asian region;
• Review legislative initiatives and other policymaking measures of other countries, with
recognition of the relentless efforts of the Philippine legislators and local policymakers toward
the passage of the proposed Magna Carta on Religious Freedom, as the national model for
practical, sustainable, beneficial and balanced piece of legislation on religious freedom.

The Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), supported by the Islamic Legal Studies Program of the UP Law Center and the Church of the Latter Day Saints, held the initial forum of the Law and Religion 2020 Series with timely focus on peacebuilding in vulnerable and conflict affected communities. Our featured guest was Dr. Liberato Bautista, the President of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CoNGO) in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (2018-2021). He is Assistant General Secretary for United Nations and International Affairs of the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS). GBCS is the international public policy and social justice agency of The United Methodist Church.

The Forum on “Interfaith Perspectives on Human Security Through Peacebuilding” Law and Religion Series was held at the Case Room (104), Ground Floor of the Henry Sy Sr Hall, University of the Philippines BGC, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, on 12 February 2020. Dr. Bautista shared his experience on various interfaith initiatives among migrant and refugee communities.

4th Floor Henry Sy Sr. Hall, University of the Philippines BGC Auditorium, Taguig City

The Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy in partnership with the UP College of Law and Brigham Young University organized the 2^nd Annual International Forum on Law and Religion – Religious Freedom: Rights, Trends and Opportunities last June 14, 2018 at the Henry Sy, Sr. Hall of the University of the Philippines BGC. The forum sought to continue the intellectual discourse among and between lawyers, legal scholars, human rights and rule of law advocates on issues that interface religion with governance and regulatory structures, legal norms and processes.

In his key note address, Elder Todd Christofferson emphasized that a robust freedom of religion is not merely the freedom to be left alone. Instead he stated that religious freedom is the “the freedom to live one’s religion or belief in a legal, political, social environment that is tolerant and respectful and accommodating of diverse stories.”

Atty. Salma Pir Rasul on the other hand highlighted the fact that freedom of religion is essential to the preservation of civic virtue and moral tabla necessary for a free and democratic society. “Religious freedom erects an effective shield for other individual freedoms. Such freedom protects and yields social and political diversity and these mutually supporting liberties benefit all of society. Not only religious people and institutions of law.”

As an integral and essential component of human rights, the freedom of religion continues to affect and impact the evolution and development of legal systems and laws worldwide. The influence of religion is more pronounced in the Philippines than in any other country in the Asia-Pacific region. With its predominantly Roman Catholic populace and distinctly Islamic faith antecedents, the Philippines mirrors the interplay of law and religion.

At present, the influence of the church in the public sphere may be seen in the struggle to pass critical legislation, including but not limited to the pending bills on divorce and recognition of church annulment of marriages, and the SOGIE equality. More importantly, the predominantly Christian legislature will deliberate on the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the enabling instrument for the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, that aims to strengthen the autonomy for the Muslims in the region.

From its modest antecedent as a council in 2002, the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy was established amid global and domestic challenges  confronting Islam and Muslims. The articulation of the perspectives of Mindanao-based constituencies, particularly the Moros and IPs, on issues that impact  the region and its people, and the encouragement  of discourse between Muslims and non-Muslims on such issues, have been  long standing goals of PCID.

Today, we face similar challenges, as we grapple with the egregious impact of violent extremism in our country and in the ASEAN region, and address the clamor for establishing stronger democratic institutions and the rule of law in the conflict-affected region of Muslim Mindanao.

We welcome the continuing partnership with the University of the Philippines Law Center and the Brigham Young University in encouraging the relevant discourse on law and religion, especially as we look towards strengthening the region of autonomy for the Bangsamoro and  formulating  a national action plan for the prevention of violent extremism.

The ensuing presentations on the myriad of issues arising from the convergence of law and religion will certainly provoke intellectual exchange of diverse opinions.  We hope the interest generated will yield a scholarly review of current policies that impact the rights of minorities,  advocate for social cohesion as requisite for the resiliency of democratic institutions  and continue the discourse on the interface of law and religion.

Programme

2nd Annual International Forum on Law and Religion with theme

Religious Freedom: Rights, Trends and Opportunities.

14 June 2018 | Thurs | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

4th Floor Henry Sy Sr. Hall, University of the Philippines BGC Auditorium, Taguig City

]]> 2084 https://www.pcid.com.ph/story/law-and-religion-series-family-law-within-a-shariah-framework/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=law-and-religion-series-family-law-within-a-shariah-framework Sun, 11 Mar 2018 16:51:13 +0000 http://www.pcid.com.ph/?post_type=story&p=2050

Ground Floor Lecture Room, Henry Sy Sr. Hall, UP-BGC, Taguig City, Monday, 12 March 2018

BACKGROUND

The UP-Law Center in partnership with the Philippine Center on Islam and Democracy held the second forum of the Law and Religion Series entitled; “Family Law within A Shari’ah Framework,” last March 12, 2018. The forum focused on women’s rights, Shari’ah, and Islamic jurisprudence. The Law and Religion Series is envisioned to promote intellectual discourse among and between lawyers and legal scholars on issues that interface religion and the legal system.

SYNTHESIS

Participants from the UP-Law Center, various government agencies, foreign embassies, international foundations and NGOs, as well as religious organizations, attended the second forum of the Law and Religion series which focused on family law within a Shari’ah framework. The forum was held at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall, UP-BGC, Taguig City. It was a whole day event that aims to educate lawyers and legal scholars on Islamic jurisprudence on marriage and foster care.

Atty. Nasser Marohomsalic gave the opening remarks and laid down his expectations about the forum He emphasized the right of Muslim minority to observe and enjoy Islamic injunctions in a non-Musim majority country.

The first to speak in the event was Dr. Azizah Y. al-Hibri, Esq. , the first Muslim woman law professor in the United States and the founder of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, a non-profit organization that support the rights of Muslim women worldwide through educational programs, jurisprudential scholarship, and a network of Muslim jurists and leaders. Dr. al-Hibri’s most recent publication, “Islamic Worldview: Islamic Jurisprudence, An American Muslim Perspective, Vol. 1 (ABA Book Publishing 2014) revisits traditional Islamic Jurisprudence in order to develop a modern enlightened understanding of Islam with respect to gender, marriage, family, and democratic governance. The focus of her discussion was on Islamic marriage contract and marital relations.

Next to speak was Dr. Zainab Alwani, the Founder, Program Director, and the first Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at the Howard School of Divinity (HUSD) where she is also the chair of the Master of Arts (Religious Studies) program. She currently serves as the Fiqh Council of North America’s Vice-Chair and spearheads the Orphan Care Project. Dr. Alwani’s discussion centered on kafala, adoption, and foster care from an Islamic perspective.

After every discussion, participants were given time to ask their questions about the topics presented by both speakers which Dr. al-Hibri and Dr. Alwani willingly answered.

Atty. Fides Cordero-Tan, Dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law, closed the forum by highlighting the important learnings from both discussions. She reiterated the need for concrete actions and plans on matters that impact policy formulation and legislation towards tolerance and world peace.

Round Table Discussion on “WOMEN’S RIGHTS UNDER SHARI’AH LAW”, with ​Special Guest and Resource Person, Dr. Azizah al-Hibri, Founder, KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, Saturday, March 10, 2018, (1:00PM to 5:00PM), 5th floor Meeting Room, Henry Sy, Sr. Hall, UP-BGC, Taguig City

The UP Law Center in partnership with the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) held the second Round Table Discussion of the Law and Religion Series with timely focus on women’s rights, Shari’ah, and Islamic jurisprudence. The Law and Religion RTD Series is envisioned to promote intellectual discourse among and between lawyers and legal scholars on issues that interface religion and the legal system.

Guest speaker and resource person, Dr. Azizah Y. al-Hibri, the first Muslim woman law professor in the United States and the founder of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights. Her insightful researches and analyses have been published in the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law, the Harvard International Review, and Fordham International Law Journal, to name a few. Dr. al-Hibri is currently a professor emerita at the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond, Virginia. She shared her perspectives on marriage, remedies for women in divorce cases, successional rights for wives and daughters.

Our featured guest is Dr. Azizah al-Hibri,  is the first Muslim woman law professor in the United States and the founder of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights.   Currently  a professor emerita at the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond, Virginia,   Dr. al-Hibri will discuss “Moral Failures and Global Consequences”.

We are honored to invite you and your colleagues to a morning of engaging discourse with Dr. al-Hibri at the Malcolm Theatre, UP College of Law, University of the Philippines, Diliman on August 18, 2016, Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

Should you need additional information or clarification, we can be reached at 09175826367 / 426-5886 / 426-9972 or through pcid.mainsecretariat@gmail.com / cfcapote@gmail.com.