MILF hails US Congress's recognition of Ramadan

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) hailed Sunday the United States Congress's passage of a resolution recognizing the commencement of Ramadan as the holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal. In a statement on its website (www.luwaran.com), the MILF described the US Congress' resolution as an "epoch-making" act that will help stop bigotry and racism against 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. “This is indeed an epoch-making for the rest of the world to follow suit and recognize this holy month observed by fasting by more than one billion Muslims all over the world," said Sheikh Mohammad Muntassir, chairman of the MILF Committee on Da’wah. Muntassir's committee is in charge of calling people to Islam or to the straight path of correct belief and practice. He noted US Congress Resolution 635, introduced in the House of Congress last Tuesday, recognized that some extremists have attempted to use selective interpretations of Islam to justify and encourage hatred, persecution, oppression, violence and terrorism against the United States, the West, Israel, other Muslims, and non-Muslims. Yet, the resolution said some Muslims in the United States and abroad have courageously spoken out in rejection of interpretations of Islam that justify and encourage hatred, violence, and terror, and in support of interpretations of and movements within Islam that justify and encourage democracy, tolerance and full civil and political rights for Muslims and those of all faiths. Under the resolution, the US Congress recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world and expresses friendship and support for Muslims in the United States and worldwide. It also acknowledges the onset of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and conveys its respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this occasion. The US also "rejects hatred, bigotry, and violence directed against Muslims, both in the United States and worldwide." Likewise, it "commends Muslims in the United States and across the globe who have privately and publicly rejected interpretations and movements of Islam that justify and encourage hatred, violence, and terror." - GMANews.TV