I was born in the Philippines and raised by devout Roman Catholic grandparents. I knew very little about the religion of Islam and its followers.
When I was younger, I had no opinions of my own and it was easy to find mediums that fed stereotypes about Muslims.
The youth today are still easily prone to such stereotypes, with people like US President Donald Trump associating radical Islam with terrorism – making him the most backward-thinking American president ever (or, perhaps, the most upfront).
Muslims have suffered from so many stereotypes and Islam is a religion that is greatly misconstrued.
Having firsthand experience with Muslims and observing them as I walk past their desks, it has been both amusing and enlightening.
In our office, one of the bosses is Muslim, and once a colleague ordered food and made the delivery guy wait around five to 10 minutes in the lobby. Our boss, a gracious and fair man, happened to be standing by the door and noticed how long the delivery guy had been waiting and he hates making people wait.
He eventually paid the delivery guy and brought to food to my colleague where she was then reprimanded.
“Never let anyone wait, “he said. “Whether it’s your boss or employee, respect their time.”
This man is a Muslim.
For the entire observance of Ramadan, he and other Muslim colleagues have shown the beauty of sacrifice – a sacrifice for God. The sacrifice made by Muslims during Ramadan is so beautiful in my eyes because it an act done for something greater than themselves.
Islam preaches about peace and love.
These are dire times for Filipinos in Marawi City, both Christians and Muslims alike, but when the unenlightened say things like “Muslims are terrorists,” let us not forget former ARMM Deputy Governor Norodin Alonto Lucman, who sheltered over 70 people when the siege took place.
The rebel groups pillaging Mindanao are committing these acts because of brainwashing and not religion.
Happy Eid Mubarak to our dear Muslim brothers and sisters./WDJ