Author: mjibnqamar0611
Application for MA Islamic Studies for First Semester 2021-2022 is now open. Please email your inquiries and submit all scanned documents to iis@up.edu.ph, iis@upd.edu.ph, and djroldan@up.edu.ph.
DEADLINE OF APPLICATION: September 3, 2021
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
The University of the Philippines Institute of Islamic Studies (UP-IIS) joins the worldwide community in condemning the acts of violence and aggression in Jerusalem, Sheikh Jarrah and Gaza that first sparked on the 7th Day of May. Devout Muslim worshippers, gathered for the Ramadan prayers were stormed by Israeli police using tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades to allegedly quell Palestinian protesters.
Hundreds of innocent Palestinians, who were observing religious duties, were injured in Al-Aqsa premises that prompted militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to launch rocket attacks into Israel from the Gaza strip on May 10 hitting residences and a school. Israeli forces retaliated with devastating aerial strikes destroying a number of high-rise buildings, schools, hospitals, and a refugee camp that resulted in the death of hundreds of Palestinians including children and women. Thousands of innocent Palestinians have been displaced due to the conflict.
We, the UP-IIS family stand against any act of violence, oppression, and discrimination against any group whatsoever. We condemn these acts and share the same affection with our Palestinian Muslim brothers and sisters, since their suffering is our suffering and that of humanity.
Islam has taught us to consider all believers in God as one body, and that the suffering of one limb is felt by the whole body as stated by Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) in the Hadith:
“The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.”
As an academic institution that believes in the sacredness of human lives and the significance of finding peaceful resolution to any conflict and differences, UP-IIS calls for a halt in the violence and aggression, and the immediate intervention of the global world powers particularly the United States of America (USA) and the Muslim world leaders to stop the escalation of the conflict and save more innocent lives.
For humanity’s sake, may we all give our hearts and prayers for the safety of the innocent children, men and women of Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank. May our prayers ease the sufferings of our Muslim brothers and sisters and may our Muslim world leaders find ways in ending the violence and aggression committed against the Palestinian people.
May ALLAH grant peace and protection to all victims of violence, oppression and tyranny.
It has become a tradition of the UP Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS) to provide daily Iftar (breaking of the fast) to the UP Muslim community during the month of Ramadan. This act is a commendable gesture of love and generosity inspired by a saying of Prophet Muhammad (saw): “whoever feeds a person breaking his fast will earn the same reward as him, without anything being lessened from the reward of the fasting person (Tirmidhi).”
This year’s Ramadan commenced last April 13. With the pandemic and surging cases of COVID-19, the IIS yearly Iftar program at UP Diliman campus was suspended in compliance with the University’s health protocols. Communal breaking of the fast was discouraged to observe social distancing. Hence, iftar meals were distributed individually to UP Muslim students temporarily residing at the Muslim Compound in Barangay Culiat. The Iftar program was made possible through the generous donations of UP IIS faculty members, lecturers, alumni, friends, and other sponsors.
In addition to the iftar meals, the IIS distributed iftar packs containing rice, noodles, coffee, and dried fish. Recipients of these iftar packs were 35 UP Muslim students and 42 UP Access Program students. Moreover, on April 12, Muslim women inmates at Camp Karingal and Manila City jail received 60 and 90 iftar packs, respectively. Additional to the beneficiaries were some 157 needy families at the Muslim Compound in Barangay Culiat and 30 UP Muslim and non-Muslim security guards. The iftar pack provisions were sponsored by the Australian Muslim Community through Saleem Habibullah and M. Al-Rabah of Kuwait, both long time partners of the Institute.
The above initiatives were augmented through the sponsorship of UniHarmony Partners Manila, an interfaith organization working for peace among different faith traditions,and Ms. Anna Tajannah Basman of the Taha Basman Foundation. The Institute is one of the Institutional partners of UniHarmony Manila through Dean Macrina Morados who represents the academe and Islamic faith tradition. The interfaith group turned over 260 Iftar packs to the Institute while Ms. Basman delivered 200 packs of rice as zakat al-fitr. These donations were distributed to the community members at Muslim Compound in Barangay Culiat last May 3 and May 10, 2021. The priorities of the iftar packs distribution were the vulnerable families whose livelihoods were significantly affected by the Community Quarantine brought by the COVID-19 health crisis.
The Institute is thankful to its partners, benefactors, faculty members, lecturers, alumni, and friends for their continuing support to the IIS’s community outreach programs, especially in these challenging times. Eid al-Fitr (end of fasting) was celebrated last May 13, 2021.
We are also thankful to the Reskyu Team and the UP IIS student volunteers who helped us in implementing the smooth distribution of the iftar meals and packs all throughout the program.
You must be logged in to post a comment.