Grand Annual Interfaith Iftar Dinner at Muslim Community Center in Morton Grove
On Tuesday, May 30, 2017 the Muslim Educational Center, in Morton Grove, organized a citywide effort to bring other faiths into mosques during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. More than three Hundred of visitors gathered for the Iftar dinner.
The program was organized by the MCC / MEC Interfaith & Outreach committee. The purpose of the event is to build bridges with non-Muslims and other faiths. During an interview with a member of an outreach committee "We, like other faiths to become closer to our faith and understand our faith spend some good time with us".
Dr. Rasha Ali was the moderator of the event who thanked the community members who have attended this event and he also thanks to the participants, special guests and faiths speakers.
The program began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Hafiza Halima Khan and Hafiz Haroon Ghiasuddin. It was followed by an informative Speech by the Dr. Rasha Ali by the month of Ramadan "Today we'll get to know our neighbors and friends each other better, and if we know each other better we will understand each other better. Ramadan is a holy month in the religion of Islam and is marked by a time of required fasting. Observance of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. By fasting during this month, Muslims believe they earn spiritual rewards and draw closer to Allah. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is lunar-based".
The program features a diverse Storyteller of religious leaders from various faiths, who discuss different religious perspectives on food and fasting. The storyteller includes Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Baha'i, and Hindu. Each storyteller describes in own stories how fasting from their faith and their perspective. The Storyteller were Rabbi Mikvah, Mr. Van Gilmir, Reverend Jeffery Braun and Mr. Subal Das,
Table Discussion was conducted by D.J. Kosiba and Mr. Mohsin Ishaq. Ms. Nausheen Rahman, from MCC / MEC Interfaith & Outreach committee highlighted MCC program features and its efforts.
During Table Discussion guests had a chance to introduce them self and discusses several interfaith dialogue and conversation around shared values. They also made commitments they will connect people of different religious and non-religious backgrounds.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Morton Grove Mayor Dan DiMaria and several other Board members from Morton Grove also attended this dinner.
The program was very well organized, prestigious and enjoyed by the attendees and will be remembered. A sumptuous dinner was served for all after Maghreb Prayer.
The event has become over after Closing Prayer, which was performed by Father Cory Brost.