Redlands Community Comes Together to Celebrate Ramadan With Iftar Dinner.
By Brian Spears
Redlands News Collective
The Islamic Community Center of Redlands opened its doors on Sunday, Feb. 22, for an interfaith dinner to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan.
Each year, the Islamic Community Center invites the community to a traditional dinner to educate the public and foster understanding among people of other faith traditions.
Iftar is a meal that breaks the fast, traditionally around sunset, and serves as a time for communal prayer and reflection in the Muslim faith during Ramadan.
Numerous faith leaders, along with community members, were invited, and dignitaries offered remarks to those gathered, including University of Redlands President Krista Newkirk, who spoke about how, within 24 hours, the world stopped and came together in celebrations from the Chinese New Year, Ash Wednesday, and Ramadan, and how it is so wonderful to come together and be together in that spirit.
Rabbi Hillel Cohn of Congregation Emanu El spoke about how the words Shalom and Salam are both rooted in the meaning of peace and how this is what this event is about, peace and community.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and the start date varies from year to year. This year, Ramadan began February 18 and ends Friday, March 20, with the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
The mosque will hold weekly Ramadan community iftars on Friday and Saturday evenings after prayer.
Join us for Community Iftars on every Friday and Saturday during the month of Ramadan. Community iftars will take place after Maghrib. Isha will be at 8:00 PM and Taraweeh will follow. Please remember that food and drinks (with the exception of water) are not permitted in the prayer area.