MUSLIMS in Cebu City prayed for unity and a swift end to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic during their celebration of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice on Saturday, July 9, 2022.Muslims living in the city marked the holiday by attending mass prayer activities at the Plaza Independencia and at the Al-Khariah Mosque in Barangay Mambaling.Staff Sgt. Awing Tabayag, a police officer and current administrator of the Al-Khariah Mosque, told SunStar Cebu that they are praying for unity for all faiths during this holiday.“To our brothers and sisters, whether you are a Muslim or Christian, there is no religion that permits violence upon his fellow man. Whatever faith you follow, our common goal is to be united and to help and love one another,” Tabayag said in Cebuano.He also prayed for the end of the Covid-19 pandemic that is sweeping the world and for everything to go back to normal.Tabayag admitted that he and his fellow Muslims had a hard time conducting their prayers at their mosque because of the Covid-19 restrictions against overcrowding.But he believes that the pandemic is just Allah’s way of testing their faith.Plaza IndependenciaIn downtown Cebu City, numerous Muslims gathered at the Plaza Independencia at 6 a.m. on Saturday to celebrate Eid’l Adha.Normina Casan, a Muslim community representative, told SunStar Cebu that the celebration is more than just a ritual that Muslims follow because it has become a part of their lives.Despite the fact that other Muslims are unable to attend due to the pandemic, Casan was grateful that they had gathered for this important celebration of their faith.“Kahit na wala kaming pang-prepare or malayo kami sa lugar, talagang pinag-sisikapan namin na makapag-celebrate ng Eid al-Adha. Importante kasi ang selebrasyon na ito. Kahit walang-wala ka, kailangan talaga makadalo dito,” Casan said.Eid’l Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is considered the second most important Islamic festival observed by Muslims worldwide. (IRISH DELIMA AND RYAN MEGABON, CNU Interns)