Iftar, the meal after sunset in the month of Ramzan, when fasting Muslims break their fast, is a special occasion in diverse societies such as India. It's not so rare in India to see Muslims inviting their non-Muslim friends and neighbours to share in the Iftar. Many a non-Muslim Indian has experienced the shared occasion of partaking of Iftar after sunset with the Muslim host.
In India, this is not thought of as a special event, just a normal get together when people from diverse communities gather together to share in Iftar. So much so that it is not even talked about in India.
In the city of New York, however, it is celebrated as a special occasion if people from different communities gather to share the Iftar. Perhaps because it is only recently that the people of New York have begun to understand the community bonding that is fostered if people from different communities celebrate their festivals together.
Thus, it became international news that the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) hosted an Interfaith Iftar in New York, bringing together leaders and community members from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds to break fast during the holy month of Ramzan and reaffirm a shared commitment to dialogue, understanding and peace.
Natalie Sanandaji, an Iranian-American Jewish representative of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, attended the event and expressed appreciation for AMMWEC’s interfaith leadership.
“I am honoured to be here with a room full of Muslim men and women who are choosing dialogue over division and courage over fear,” Sanandaji said. “It’s not something to take lightly.”
A highlight of the evening was a moving Persian song performed by Iranian-American Jewish singer Ghazal Mizrahi, whose powerful performance captivated the audience and symbolised the spirit of interfaith harmony and cultural connection that defined the gathering.
The American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) was represented by Hamza Vaseer, who delivered remarks on behalf of Anila Ali, President of AMMWEC.
The evening began with a soulful Naat recitation (in praise of Prophet Muhammad) by Hamza Ali Shah, setting a spiritual tone for the gathering as attendees reflected on the meaning of Ramzan - faith, humility, compassion and unity.
Guests from different faith traditions, including Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, as well as diplomats and civic leaders, joined together to break the fast, demonstrating the power of interfaith engagement and the importance of building bridges in an increasingly polarised world.
The people of India must cherish the invaluable inter-community bridges they have built through centuries and they must not destroy them when people in other parts of the world are trying to create similar bridges. In recent times, much has happened to destroy these inter-community traditions in India, which should not happen. India must retain its composite culture to go forward.
Read more on Society, Arts, Development, Sustainability and Travel