Islamic City of Marawi (06 December) -- Muslims across the globe will celebrate Amon Jaded (Islamic New Year) on Tuesday, December 7, a major Islamic holiday marking the start of Muharram, the first month of the lunar Hijra calendar.
The Qur'an uses the word Hijra to mean moving from a bad place or state to a good one so Muslims regard this day as a good time to leave behind bad ways of living and look forward to a better life.
Many Muslims also use this day to remember the significance of Muharram, the month in which Prophet Muhammad emigrated from Mecca to Medina and set up the first Islamic State.
In the country, Amon Jaded is declared a non-working legal Muslim holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Regions 9 and 12 or those areas formerly under the defunct Region 12 by virtue of Article 170 of Presidential Decree 1083 otherwise known as the Code of Muslim Laws of the Philippines and the Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 81-1277 dated November 13, 1981.
Muslim holidays shall be officially observed in the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and in the cities of Cotabato, Iligan, Marawi, Pagadian and Zamboanga and in such other Muslim provinces and cities as may hereafter created like cities of Kidapawan and Tacurong.
Meanwhile, Article 172 of Presidential Decree 1083 provides that all Muslim government officials and employees in places other than those enumerated under Article 170 shall be excused from reporting to office in observance of the Muslim Holidays.
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