Muslims in the Philippines

CHAPTER 3: The 7 Obstacles Regarding the Conversion of Muslims in the Philippines

1. The pride of the Muslim leaders who have been used to governing, as well as the loyalty of their
followers to them and to their religion.

2. The Muslims have seen how the other natives of the Philippines were paying taxes and cedulas
personales while they did not.
 The Muslims saw the giving of cedulas and polo y servicio as slavery to the people of Luzon and
Visayas.

3 and 4. The religious hierarchy whose base of power was Islam and the hajis who presumably returned
with more knowledge about their faith.

5. The liberalism of the times and religious indifference among Spanish colonial officials. It was the idea
of religious freedom which hampered the recognition of the necessity of conversion.

6. The Chinese who embraced Islam when they came to live with the Muslims or who married Muslim
women and whose children did not grow up among the indios but among the Moros with whom they
got their education.

7. The Divine Message (meaning Christianity) had not yet reached the Muslims.

CHAPTER 4: First Four Stages of the Moro War

1. The conflict between the Spaniards, who out to transform the Philippines into a colony of Spain
and Christianize its inhabitants, and the Borneans who were accelerating their political, economic, and
religious influence over the archipelago.

2. The efforts of the Spaniards to reduce the peoples of Maguindanao and Sulu into vassalage.

3. From 1599 to 1635, was the period of about 35 years when the Maguindanao contested the rule of
Spain in the Archipelago by attacking or intimidating those natives utilized the Spaniards to strengthen
their hold on the islands.

4. Started with the establishment of Zamboanga fort in 1635 in a site that formed part of the dominions of
the Sulu ruler, clearly revealing the Spanish intentions—the conquest of Muslim lands and the eventual
conversion of the people into their religion. This ended with the abandonment of Zamboanga in 1663 due
to the threat of Koxinga in Manila.
More on Islam

Five Pillars of Islam (SSSZH)

1. Kalimatu Shahada – profession of faith

- “I profess that there is no god but Allah and no prophet but Muhammed”
2. Salah – prayer
- Dua is what private prayer is called
- Muslims pray 5 times a day: mnemonic ISLAM
- Issa: 730pm
- Subus: 530am
- Luhur/Juhur: 1145am
- Ashar: 300pm
- Magrib: 530pm
3. Saum/Sawm – fasting during Ramadan
- Part of the rationale is for the rich Muslims to experience what is it like to live in poverty.
- Iftar – breaking the fasting
4. Zaqat/Sadaqa – alms giving; charity
5. Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca
- Muslims walk around and pray to the Kaaba
- According to legend, under the Kaaba is the spring of water God provided to Hagar and
Ishmael

Six Articles of Faith (SQAPJF)

1. Shahada
2. Belief in the Quran, sent to Muhammed by archangel Gabriel (Gibrail)
- This distinguishes Islam from Christianity where the Gospels are attributed to apostles.
- Whereas in Islam, the Gospel comes directly from God
3. Belief in Angels as messengers of Allah
4. Belief in the 5 major prophets: Adam, Moses, Jesus, Noah, Abraham
- There is said to be 2000+ prophets in Islam
5. Belief in a Last Judgement
6. Belief that Allah has already set our fortune/destiny