Duterte calls for peace in Islamic New Year message

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, September 21, called for peace as Muslims celebrate Amun Jadid or the Islamic New Year.

“On this day, I pray with you that we may all find the peace that we seek in ourselves, in our country and in all of humanity,” he said in his message.

Duterte, the first Mindanaoan president, also hoped that Filipinos would be able to rise up to the many challenges the country faces with “trust” and “mutual respect.” 

“Now is the time to start anew and inspire our endeavors with trust, understanding and mutual respect,” he said.

Read President Duterte’s Amun Jadid message in full below:

I join the Muslim Filipino community and all the Muslims in the world in commemorating Amun Jadid or Islamic New Year.

This occasion is one of the mos important events in the culture of Islam. Indeed, Amun Jadid provides a reason to celebrate faith, offers the opportunity to contemplate life’s real purpose and grants the chance to reassess your dealings with other people. More importantly, it is a time to stregthen your love for Allah by translating the readings of the Holy Qur’an into actions that demonstrate goodwill, obedience, harmony, vitality and hope.

On this day, I pray with you that we may all find the peace that we seek in ourselves, in our country and in all of humanity. The Filipino people have faced many challenges that tested our respective beliefs, principles and ways of life. Now is the time to start anew and inspire our endeavors with trust, understanding and mutual respect. 

Let us work as one nation to fight the ills of society and never waver on our journey towards the fulfillment of our promise of real change.

I wish you a happy new year and may Allah bless you always.

– Rappler.com