EAST ORANGE, NJ — East Orange Mayor Ted Green is inviting the entire city community to City Hall on Thursday, June 7, at 7 p.m., as he and other observant Muslims break their Ramadan fast. This evening meal is called the “iftar.”
“Muslims have been fasting from sunup to sundown for the last month and we’re just inviting the city and members of the community to come out and share a meal with us,” said Green on Tuesday, May 29. It’s free and open to the public, and there will be plenty of food and drinks for everybody that comes out to City Hall Plaza on June 7.”
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Koran to the Prophet Muhammad, according to Islamic belief. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year, totaling 354 or 355 days. It is often used to date events in many Muslim countries and is also determines Islamic holidays and rituals, such as Ramadan.
The month lasts 29 to 30, days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon, according to accounts compiled in records of the Prophet Muhammad’s words, actions and approval.
The daily fast during Ramadan begins immediately after a pre-dawn meal and continues during the daylight hours. Muslims break their fast with the iftar at the time of the call to evening prayer. This is their second meal of the day during Ramadan.
While fasting from dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking and engaging in sexual relations. Muslims are also instructed to refrain from sinful behavior that may negate the reward of fasting, such as false speech — including insulting, backbiting, cursing and lying — as well as fighting, except in self-defense.
According to the Koran, the spiritual rewards for fasting are also believed to be multiplied within the month of Ramadan. Fasting for Muslims during Ramadan typically includes the increased offering of prayers, recitation of the Koran and an increase of doing good deeds.
“This is part of our religion,” said Imam Abdul Aziz of Masjid As-Haabul Yaamen, located on 4th Avenue in the 5th Ward, last year, during the Eid ad Adha celebration in Elmwood Park. “When the Prophet Muhammad was asked who was the best among the believers, he said: ‘The one that serves others. You can’t claim that you are a true believer if you don’t want to serve others.’”
For more information about the mayor’s iftar, call 973-266-5115.
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