Spiritual Tabligh gathering to gather 1,000 followers in Zamboanga

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 18): Spiritual Tabligh gathering to gather 1,000 followers in Zamboanga

Approximately 700 to 1,000 followers of the Tabligh Islamic Religious Movement coming from the neighboring towns and this city will converge here for a gathering that aims to promote renewed spiritual cleansing on June 23-24.

Professor Jawali Mandain in a press conference Monday said that the two-day assembly will be held in Masjid Lanjang in barangay Recodo and will have participants from Sibuco, Sirawai and Siocon in Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay province.

“This is mainly a religious activity, where we promote self-rectification along the practices of Islam,” said Professor Mandain.

He explained that during the gathering, the members will be organized into volunteer groups; one group will be staying in one mosque in the city for three days, another will visit mosques in the different parts of the country, while the last group will visit mosques outside the country such as in India and Bangladesh. These stays are part of the spiritual process that hopes to transform a person for the better.

“Our focus is to discuss the importance of the movement, which is spiritual development within the individual so that they will become peaceful, productive and spiritual citizens,” he emphasized.

According to Professor Mandain, there are approximately 500 mosques in Zamboanga City alone, however, only 30 of them participate in Tabligh.

“We want to revive the practices of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the mosques, down to the homes,” he said, adding that the Tabligh followers will also be conducting home visits to inspire more to have a spiritual cleansing.

The followers of the Tabligh, said Professor Mandain include engineers, judges, professors like himself, and even some members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “Anyone is welcome to this group since this is about self-rectification and promoting peace.”

Meanwhile, Police Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca of the Zamboanga City Police Office said that the group had already coordinated with them to ensure security for the whole duration of their stay and “checkpoints will be established in key points.”

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2651402985317