A senior Church official said today it would be a positive thing if Catholics followed the example of Muslims in the way they practice their faith.

Speaking as the Muslim world starts Eid Al-Fitr - the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan – Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin M. Bagaforo of Cotabato said he has long admired the faith and discipline of Muslims when it comes to prayer and worship.

“I appreciate their dedication and commitment to consecrate certain periods of the day through prayers,” Bishop Bagaforo told Radio Veritas. “So five prayers in a day … that’s something we should learn from them.”

The bishop said Catholics must open their minds and think positively of the good spiritual practices of Islam.

“Our faith is no different from other religions and we must understand that Christianity and Islam share common ground in the love of God,” Bishop Bagaforo said.

In fact, Bishop Bagaforo said, Muslims recognize the importance of respecting Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary because the Qur’an requires belief in Christ in Islam.

“It is written in the Qur’an that Muslims should respect and honor Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary,” he said.

He added that the month of fasting during Ramadan is another virtue Christians should try to emulate.

“We only practise fasting one to two days during the Lenten season and sometimes we complain or make excuses why we cannot do it,” Bishop Bagaforo said.

Muslim Filipinos celebrated Eid Al-Fitr today with their families in mosques and parks.

In Manila, families gathered at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo district and at the Quirino Grandstand for morning prayers to end Ramadan.

In Quezon City, around 1,000 Muslims converged at the Quezon Memorial Circle. Many of them brought food which they ate after the morning prayers were over.