Marawi is my birthplace and I cherish my childhood memories even if my family and I have moved to other parts of Mindanao. Marawi is part of my dreams and aspirations — that in my lifetime I will see its governance and economy improve for its people’s benefit.
Largely the urban center of Lanao del Sur, Marawi is my ancestors’ home and ultimately the home of the Maranao people and their culture. Muslims are a minority in the Philippines, and Marawi is where I feel comfortably free to express my Islamic and Maranao identity. In this city with a beautiful climate, most residents wake up to the call of adhan for the early morning prayers in Fajr.
The crisis in Marawi that broke out on May 23 is shocking and has been a cause of tears and sadness. Within a few days and weeks, our hearts became heavy with grief to see in the news and in social media that the city we cherish has been burned and turned to rubble, and that the people, driven by panic and fear, had gone on an exodus to neighboring cities and towns either by motor vehicle or on foot. Melancholy over the plight of the people of Marawi is felt not just by Muslims but also by many Filipinos, reflecting our common humanity.
While the displaced families languish in evacuation centers, some are still trapped in the city and dying of hunger. A beautiful city is now a battle zone because of a group whose members proclaim themselves as jihadists or mujahideen (freedom fighters). But with the terror, horror, damage, and death they brought to Marawi, they are actually extremists and lawless elements.
It has been more than a month since the siege of Marawi began. The people still there say they hear sounds in the night when the guns are silent — creepy echoes of screams that they surmise are from the souls who died unprepared or unforgiving of how they were killed. Less adhan are heard emanating from the mosques, and some who do pray in these mosques have become victims of stray bullets.
Why did the unimaginable happen to Marawi? Who are these armed men terrorizing the city? The crisis, which has become a national crisis, has triggered many questions to reflect upon at the individual level, community level, and international level: in the political, security, and spiritual aspects.
The Maute group that forged an alliance with the Abu Sayyaf and claims allegiance with the Islamic State has come out of its headquarters in the forest into the city streets for their “holy war,” which is aimed at establishing their extreme-fundamentalist vision of an Islamic caliphate.
But instead of winning the sympathy and support of (Muslim) communities, the Mautes hurt the people: by violating the values of Islam, by taking the lives of their loved ones, by violating their houses and properties, and by destroying the city where people live, work, and practice their faith.
Muslims cling to their faith first and foremost, next to their families. The Maranao are generally clannish or clan-centric. It is apparent in the Maute group whose members are mostly from their bloodline aside from their radicalized recruits. It is sad that some use, interpret, and politicize Islam for their own advantage.
But are Muslims in the Philippines truly oppressed, thus legitimizing their cause? The predicament of Muslim Filipinos is not the worst. Here, Muslims can practice some aspects of Shariah law, specifically on marriage, family, and inheritance. Moro rebel organizations are involved in a peace process with the government. There are many Muslim professionals in the three branches of government. And although instances of discrimination occur, and there is a constant call for structural policies to bring about interfaith understanding, violence and aggression will not deliver peace and prosperity to our brothers and sisters.
Marawi is in our hearts. The Maranao and other Filipino residents of Marawi will eventually return to their homes. Baling tano bo (we shall come back) to our hometown and rebuild our society.
The Maranao have a pool of bright and talented professionals and promising youth who aspire for a better Marawi. Recently, Moro youth were among the top graduates of the Philippine Military Academy, and aced the engineering and education licensure exams, and so on.
Marawi is in our hearts. Many of us have left for greener pastures or livelihoods in other cities in the Philippines and abroad, but our bloodline and heritage are rooted there. A few privileged Maranao have visited beautiful cities in Europe and other continents, yet deep in our hearts we yearn for the development of our hometown so that our people can also experience better living conditions.
Islam is in our hearts. The extremists cannot dictate to us of how we understand and practice Islam. Our relationship with, love for, and obedience to Allah (swt) are neither to be mediated nor to be policed by them. As a Muslim, I believe that Islam is a religion perfected by Allah (swt), and a person’s shortcomings or frailties do not tarnish the religion as a whole.
Islam is in our hearts. One does not represent Islam when he/she acts in opposition to the values of justice, compassion, peace, and religious tolerance. Muslims cherish peace with God, peace with their fellow humans, and peace in and upkeep of their communities. We do not wish for the extinction of non-Muslims, but aim for peaceful coexistence and peaceful propagation of teaching of the Islamic faith.
It doesn’t bring us Muslim Filipinos pride and joy to see in the news that some arrested narcopoliticians also come from our region in the South and profess to be Muslims. I am hopeful that in the future, the top local executives who show exemplary governance will come from our region. In this period of crisis, it is not enough to blame; it is more important to reflect and act on positive changes that our (Maranao) society needs.
We must not lose hope in the mercy of Allah, in the power of working together for the good, and in the dreams of our youth.
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Tasneem AbdulRauf, 28, describes herself as a government employee who advocates peace and good governance.