No problem for Muslims in Long Lama to observe Ramadan month
BARAM: The Muslims in Long Lama near here say they have no difficulty in observing the fasting month. The community – numbering around 30 – comprises mostly civil servants serving under state and federal government departments and agencies here.
“We don’t experience any problem in carrying out our religious obligations such as fasting despite living and working in an area where the majority of the residents are non-Muslims – the Christians and the Buddhists. Actually, they understand the concept of fasting and respect the Ramadan month.
The Long Lama non-Muslims know and understand that it is part of a Muslim’s religious obligations to fast during daytime throughout Ramadan. — Sgt Wahid Abdullah, police personnel
“The Long Lama non-Muslims know and understand that it is part of a Muslim’s religious obligations to fast during daytime throughout Ramadan,” police personnel Sgt Wahid Abdullah told thesundaypost.
However, as there is only one Muslim eating outlet in Long Lama, he said the Muslims here only have a limited choice of dishes for ‘buka puasa’ (break-of-fast).
“It is understandable because we (Muslims) are small in number in Long Lama – it is not profitable for local traders to set up many stalls selling food and drinks for ‘buka puasa’, like those at the Ramadan bazaars across Miri,” said Wahid.
Nevertheless, he said the Muslims are grateful to have a mosque – Masjid Darussalam – for them to gather for mass prayers, including the ‘Terawih’ night prayers during the fasting month.
“Following the increase in the number of civil servants – the majority of them being Muslims –posted in Long Lama, we rented a shoplot, turned it into a surau and use it as a place for us to conduct mass prayers from 2008 to 2009. Then, Masjid Darussalam was realised of which the construction reached completion in 2011. Since then, it has provided us with a proper place to conduct the weekly Friday mass prayer and other prayers such as the ‘terawih’ during Ramadan,” added Wahid.
According to him, the mosque is able to accommodate a congregation of 300 at one time.
“Although we are small in number, at least we have a proper mosque now. For this, we are very thankful,” he said.