hussain.mahammed
a lonely traveller
The Islamic City of Marawi in the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. It is the capital city of Lanao del Sur. Marawi City is bounded on the west by Marantao and Saguiaran, on the east by Bubong and Ditsaan Ramain, on the north by Kapai, and on the south by Lake Lanao.
The name of Marawi was derived from the Maranao word "rawi" which locally means "reclining" and refers to the lilies that bend northward on the banks of the mouth of the Agus River.
With signs across the city's pedicabs reading "Gift of Allah" rather than "Gift of Jesus", the Philippines' only Muslim city is proud to be different.
The ramshackle city of Marawi, which is around 385 miles south of the capital Manila, has many shabbily elegant mosques. The local bank is running in compliance with Shari`ah and Muslim moral rules are part of the city's code with women wearing hijab.
The city celebrates hajj or family members' educational achievements with banners and brassware, ceremonial bolos and swords.
In addition to Christian festivals such as Easter and Christmas, schools in the city get the entire holy fasting month of Ramadan off.
"That was done to assert our identity, to show that we are different," said Paladan Badron, the city's acting administrator.
"It's nice to be a pupil here."
Marawi is the spiritual center for the Maranao, the most devout of three major Muslim groups in the Philippines.
Muslims make up nearly 8 percent of the total populace in largely Catholic Philippines.
The mineral-rich southern region of Mindanao, Islam's birthplace in the Philippines, is home to 5 million Muslims.
Alcohol, gambling and karaoke clubs, the beating heart of village life across the largely Catholic country, are banned.
"At home with the family we can do karaoke but we do not allow it in public," said Camid Gandamra, one of the province's numerous sultans.
"It might encourage people to go to nightclubs and other places of amusement that are prohibited for our tribe," said the father of 12, over tea and muffins in his smart city residence.
Gandamra is also secretary of transport and communications in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The Marawi city, which overlooks the country's second-largest lake, is distinguished for the harmonious relations between its Muslim majority and Christian minority.
"To avoid arguments and to avoid further misunderstandings we just plant the cross deep in our hearts," says Father Teresito Soganub, the city's priest.
He added that local Muslim leaders always include him in community discussions to represent Catholics, who account for around 1 percent of Marawi's 160,000 population.
In reciprocation, the 47-year-old priest doesn't wear a crucifix or a clerical collar and sports a beard out of respect for his Muslim neighbors.
Islam was practiced in the Philippines before the Spanish converted many to Catholicism in the 1500s.
Mindanao remained largely Muslim and its religious balance was tipped in favor of Christianity only due to resettlement programs started during the US colonial period in the early part of the twentieth century and accelerated after World War II.
courtesy: islamonline & other agencies
The name of Marawi was derived from the Maranao word "rawi" which locally means "reclining" and refers to the lilies that bend northward on the banks of the mouth of the Agus River.
With signs across the city's pedicabs reading "Gift of Allah" rather than "Gift of Jesus", the Philippines' only Muslim city is proud to be different.
The ramshackle city of Marawi, which is around 385 miles south of the capital Manila, has many shabbily elegant mosques. The local bank is running in compliance with Shari`ah and Muslim moral rules are part of the city's code with women wearing hijab.
The city celebrates hajj or family members' educational achievements with banners and brassware, ceremonial bolos and swords.
In addition to Christian festivals such as Easter and Christmas, schools in the city get the entire holy fasting month of Ramadan off.
"That was done to assert our identity, to show that we are different," said Paladan Badron, the city's acting administrator.
"It's nice to be a pupil here."
Marawi is the spiritual center for the Maranao, the most devout of three major Muslim groups in the Philippines.
Muslims make up nearly 8 percent of the total populace in largely Catholic Philippines.
The mineral-rich southern region of Mindanao, Islam's birthplace in the Philippines, is home to 5 million Muslims.
Alcohol, gambling and karaoke clubs, the beating heart of village life across the largely Catholic country, are banned.
"At home with the family we can do karaoke but we do not allow it in public," said Camid Gandamra, one of the province's numerous sultans.
"It might encourage people to go to nightclubs and other places of amusement that are prohibited for our tribe," said the father of 12, over tea and muffins in his smart city residence.
Gandamra is also secretary of transport and communications in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The Marawi city, which overlooks the country's second-largest lake, is distinguished for the harmonious relations between its Muslim majority and Christian minority.
"To avoid arguments and to avoid further misunderstandings we just plant the cross deep in our hearts," says Father Teresito Soganub, the city's priest.
He added that local Muslim leaders always include him in community discussions to represent Catholics, who account for around 1 percent of Marawi's 160,000 population.
In reciprocation, the 47-year-old priest doesn't wear a crucifix or a clerical collar and sports a beard out of respect for his Muslim neighbors.
Islam was practiced in the Philippines before the Spanish converted many to Catholicism in the 1500s.
Mindanao remained largely Muslim and its religious balance was tipped in favor of Christianity only due to resettlement programs started during the US colonial period in the early part of the twentieth century and accelerated after World War II.
courtesy: islamonline & other agencies