SALAM Interfaith Iftar 2020: Keeping a Tradition Alive
By Ras H. Siddiqui
The Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM) kept its more than decade long tradition of Interfaith Iftar (breaking of the fast) going, by once again bridging faiths and communities in the Capital City of California during the holy month of Ramadan. This time the event was held “virtually” on Thursday, May 14, 2020 in a world impacted by COVID-19 where “Social Distancing” has become the norm.
It has been difficult to implement Ramadan traditions with emphasis on community this year, but that does not mean that we have been unable to adapt. Every Mosque or Islamic Center in America has either reached out to its congregation online or is keeping its doors closed till this pandemic passes. SALAM has chosen to stay connected, on the web, not only with area Muslims but with the local interfaith community as well.
The event started off with words of welcome from SALAM’s Dr Anne Kjemtrup who wished that this could have been an in-person gathering with a delicious Iftar dinner waiting. She also reminded us that the date of this Interfaith Iftar was deemed a Day of Prayer for Humanity by the Pope, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar University and the UN Secretary General. She also thanked a few folks who made this event possible. And keeping with tradition she next invited Imam Amr Dabour for the invocation. Imam Dabour presented a beautiful Qirat or Qur’anic recitation which was followed by its English translation by Sr Mariam Hussein (great job Masha Allah).
SALAM Board Chairperson Br Waseem Bawa spoke next. He said that he had to admit that he would much rather see everyone in person but having said that, he hoped that all out there and their loved ones are healthy and in good spirits and that his family is doing okay well Alhamdulillah (God be praised). He added that this has been a very trying time for our communities and the whole world. For Muslims, Ramadan is not only a time for prayer and reflection it is also an important time to up our game in helping the less fortunate. Beyond the dire health effects of the pandemic so many people have lost their means of earning and income and that is causing widespread food insecurity. So the pangs of hunger that we feel when we are fasting take on greater meaning and significance. Muslims believe that God is always testing us and this test is a big one, he said. It is not the crisis itself but it is how we respond to it that truly defines us, he said. Bawa also gave a shout out to local friends and interfaith groups who have recently reached out to SALAM community and thanked them for their generosity and kindness and hoped to get together with them for a normal (in person) iftar (God willing) like in the years past.
The Mayor of the City of Sacramento, Darrell Steinberg, once again joined this event. It would be an understatement to mention that he has many friends in the Sacramento Muslim community, and at SALAM, in particular. The Mayor started off with “Ramadan Mubarak” and said that he did not hesitate on accepting the invitation to join this event. The Mayor (who belongs to the Jewish faith) shared his thoughts on the beauty of the local interfaith experience and its now established tradition in Sacramento to support one another and to celebrate all religious holidays across faiths together. The Mayor also heralded and appreciated the friendships that have been created in the interfaith process over many decades in Sacramento. He added that this year we gather in a very different way, during a very trying time, and that this is an event that we will never forget because of its unique circumstances. He indicated that our bonds or relationships are even more important than they usually are this year. It is what we can do to help the less fortunate and look after those who are being victimized because of their faith or their race or gender. The Mayor looked forward to happily getting together (with the Muslim community) in person next year (if not earlier) when the circumstances and the health issues change. He spoke of having community celebrations like never before in future. He added that he has hope in his heart and that we are going to recover as a community and that we will find ways to get (jobless/impacted) people back on their feet. He ended his speech by saying that he was proud to be our Mayor and proud to call the Sacramento Muslim-American community his friends.
Imam Amr Dabour returned next for a spiritually uplifting delivery in English. He said that we may all be different, the faiths we follow (or don’t), our ethnic and national backgrounds and our lives all may be different, but who says that “different” should be a synonym of bad? He added that virtually we meet but genuinely we connect. We may be physically limited but spiritually we are beyond limits. He spoke about Ramadan and the Muslim experience during the month and how we do things differently anyway. During the day no food, no water, no desires and we pray for a long time. We give to charity and some even practice seclusion to achieve a higher interaction with the divinity. On faiths and Prophets, the Imam indicated that they belong to the same team. On the individual level these days due to the Coronavirus we have the opportunity to reflect and a chance for self-discovery. We can take our places of worship and prayers home with us. Reaching out to the interfaith community and everyone out there virtually the Imam said, “If we cannot shake hands we can shake hearts!”
A video featuring SALAM volunteers and the community on how local Muslims are celebrating Ramadan these days under the shadow of COVID-19 followed with a short sharing of thoughts by SALAM’s office Manager Br Ossama Elsebai who grew up in Egypt. He looked back at the past celebration of Ramadan both while growing up and later at SALAM. This Ramadan, of course, is very different. Still, we have a lot to be thankful for, he said. This was followed by SALAM Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts video presentation expressing their gratitude, a simple “Thanks You” for all frontline workers during the pandemic.
Sacramento City Council Member Eric Guerra also shared a prepared video here, really a Ramadan message of hope and togetherness for all in the area Muslim community in these trying times. He praised the SALAM community for all its work in the region over the years, a pioneer in bringing different faith communities together and for sharing the teachings of Islam.
Along with SALAM’s Br Asif Haq, three other speakers representing the Jewish, Christian and Buddhist faiths closed out the event with prayers of hope. They were Rabbi Nancy Wechsler from the Congregation Beth Shalom, Reverend Alan Jones of Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church and Dr Ryoei Tyler from the Tendai Buddhist School. Unfortunately, space constraints prevent the detailing of their spiritually uplifting presentations here but Insha’Allah (God Willing) there will be a next time and another report that can include their future reflections.
Wishing all the readers of Pakistan Link an early Eid Mubarak.
(All pictures included here are from the 2019 SALAM Interfaith Iftar)
