MANILA, PHILIPPINES — As a preacher entrusted by Dompet Dhuafa, Salman Al Farisi witnessed firsthand how Islam in the Philippines grew in simplicity, yet with determination. For him, amid limited facilities and social challenges, the spirit of learning and preaching never faded.
Children ran around the mosque courtyard with cheerful faces. Mothers sit in a circle at the majelis taklim. Fathers discuss the future of their children’s education. All of this serves as a reminder that preaching is not just about delivering sermons from the pulpit, but about nurturing hope.
As a preacher in a minority country, Salman sees the Golden Mosque as a symbol that Islam remains alive, even as a minority. He teaches that numbers are not a measure of strength. Steadfast faith and brotherhood are the foundation.
Read also: Dai Ambassadors Story: Traces of Islamic Light from the Golden Mosque of the Philippines (Part 1)
Strengthening Southeast Asian Brotherhood
The history of Islam in the Philippines cannot be separated from its connection with Indonesia and Malaysia. Networks of scholars and traders in the past connected Mindanao with Sulawesi and Kalimantan. These connections have now found a new form through cooperation in da’wah, education, and humanitarian efforts.
“My visit to the Golden Mosque serves as a reminder that cross-border da’wah is not merely an organizational mission. But upon deeper reflection, it is a historical calling. We are bound by the same creed, by the same declaration of faith,” explained Salman Al Farisi to the Dompet Dhuafa team on Sunday evening (February 22, 2026).
He added that in the courtyard of the mosque, Salman offered a prayer: may Allah protect the Muslim community in the Philippines. Strengthen their preachers and teachers, and make every small step of da’wah that he carries out part of the grand mosaic of the revival of Islam in Southeast Asia.
“The Golden Mosque is not just a golden-colored building. The mosque is a light. And, inshaAllah, that light will continue to shine,” he concluded.
Text and Photos: Salman Al Farisi (Dai Ambassador of Dompet Dhuafa 2026)
Editor: Taufan YN