Maria Virginia Sy

Under the same roof: Finding peace and community in the Culiat Iftar

Article (news)

Under the Same Roof: Finding Peace and Community in the Culiat Iftar

Maria Tan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-active" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nPSuEUq0JlU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span> As the golden hour fades over the bustling streets of Barangay Culiat, a profound shift in energy settles over the local mosque. The roar of tricycles fades into the background, replaced by the rhythmic rustle of mats being rolled out and the quiet clinking of water bottles.  </div><p>The air here isn’t just filled with the aroma of warm rice porridge—it’s thick with anticipation.</p><p>For the Muslim community in Culiat, this is the most sacred transition of the day: the arrival of Iftar.  </p><p>Since the first light of dawn, those gathered in the mosque have refrained from food and drink. For Abubakar Sappayani, a 29-year-old devotee at the Salam Green Grand Mosque, the month is defined by divine purpose.   &quot;’Yung ibig sabihin ng Ramadan, ito po ay utos ng Allah sa amin upang mag-ayuno kami,&quot; he explains.   (Ramadan is a command from Allah for us to fast throughout the holy month.)  </p><p>In the tropical heat, the discipline required is immense, but the motivation is internal.   &quot;The hunger is real, and the thirst is definitely real by 5:00 PM,&quot; says Ahmad, a long-time resident who helps coordinate the evening meals. &quot;But we don&#x27;t look at it as suffering. It’s a reset button for the soul. It teaches you that if you can control your stomach, you can control your temper, your words, and your actions.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A Table Set with Devotion </strong> </div><p>Across the floor, clean mats are laid out with a spread that is as humble as it is meaningful: dates, bottles of water, warm rice porridge, fried snacks, and sweet desserts. The preparation is a communal effort, ensuring every person—regardless of status—has a plate in front of them.</p><p>For Sappayani,a resident in the community,  the ritual of breaking the fast follows a specific, ancient path. &quot;Kaya ‘yung inuuna namin ‘yung tubig at saka tamar (dates), para ‘yun ang sunnah ng Rasul... para mabasa ‘yung leeg ng tao na nagpa-fasting,&quot; he says.   (That’s why we first take water and dates, as it’s the Sunnah of the Prophet... to moisten the throat of the person who is fasting.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>The Moment of Grace</strong> </div><p>Then, it happens: the Adhan (the call to prayer) for Maghrib fills the air.  </p><p>One date. A sip of water. A quiet prayer.  </p><p>There is no rush; instead, there is a collective exhale of pure gratitude. Amidst the quiet, Sappayani’s heart turned toward his loved ones.   &quot;’Yung ipinagdadasal ko, ‘yung mga family ko, sana maging healthy sila at saka sana kaya nila sa buwan ng Ramadan,&quot; he shares.   (I am praying for my family—that they stay healthy and that they find the strength to endure the month of Ramadan).</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>No One Eats Alone</strong> </div><p>In Culiat, Iftar is the ultimate equalizer. Strangers become familiar faces as volunteers pass around food and shared conversations fill the mosque. Beyond the meal, the evening serves as a call to action to support those in need.   &quot;Tayo ay magbigay ng sadaqah, ‘yung mga pera natin, sadaqah natin sa mga mahihirap&quot; (Let us give charity—our money—to the poor), Sappayani urges his fellow Muslims.  </p><p>As the sky turns a deep indigo and prayers continue, the mosque remains a beacon of peace. Iftar here is a reminder that while the fast is a solitary journey of faith, the breaking of it is a communal embrace—connected by belief, patience, and a humble meal shared in peace.  </p><p>In this part of Quezon City, the message is clear: No one eats alone, and everyone is welcome.</p><div>[[PHOTO ALBUM]]</div><div><em>(Production:  Maria Tan, Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News)</em></div>

<p>The arrival of Iftar, considered the most sacred transition of the day, unites Muslim brothers and sisters as they share meals after their daylong fast.</p>

The arrival of Iftar, considered the most sacred transition of the day, unites Muslim brothers and sisters as they share meals after their daylong fast.