Winnipeg Muslims open doors to all for iftar

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This article was published 21/03/2023 (1275 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Non-Muslims who want to learn more about Islam — and who want to enjoy Middle Eastern food — are invited to Winnipeg’s Grand Mosque for a community iftar Friday.

Iftar is the Arabic word for the meal eaten to break each day-long fast during Ramadan. It begins with eating dates and drinking water, and is followed by a meal eaten together with family and friends.

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for between 29 to 30 days. This year, Ramadan runs from March 22 to April 20.

The goal of fasting for Muslims during Ramadan is to grow spiritually and grow closer to God through prayer, reading the Quran and practicing acts of charity.

“We want to invite our non-Muslim neighbours to join us as we break the fast,” said Alia Harb, who is on the outreach committee of the Manitoba Islamic Association. “We want to welcome them into our space to enjoy a good meal together.”

Food for the breaking of the fast will be prepared by the Moroccan, Palestinian and Syrian communities.

Visitors can observe the prayer time before the meal; the event will also include a speaker talking about Islam and the meaning of Ramadan for Muslims, along with learning about the Muslim community in Manitoba.

“It’s a chance to mingle and get to know each other,” Harb said, adding eating together is a way to “humanize people” and build relationships.

Harb encourages those who attend the iftar to also fast that day “to feel what it is like.” The first sip of water and the first bite of a date “feels like a sense of accomplishment, like a small reward” after a day of no food, she said.

The iftar, which is free, begins at 6:30 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. at the Grand Mosque (2445 Waverly St). To register, go to http://wfp.to/0qL, e-mail office@miaonline.org or call 204-256-1347.

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