SALAM Interfaith Iftar Focuses on Fasting, Faiths, and the Future

By Ras H. Siddiqui

The Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM) held its 25 th Interfaith Iftar at its Community Center on Wednesday March 19, 2025. There have been many Interfaith Iftars in the Sacramento, California region recently, but this writer chose to cover only this one because it was SALAM with Dr Metwalli Amer taking the lead who started this type of community outreach in the region. The SALAM team at that time had the foresight and wisdom to reach out to the mainstream in the Sacramento community because Muslims are now a significant part of it and need not be considered outsiders.

For those not familiar with this event, the attendance of non-Muslims is the focus here and local and federal law enforcement personnel are extended an invitation to attend. This year it was no different, but we did have a deep concern that federal government employees, who have been the SALAM community’s friends for years, may be losing or may have lost their jobs as the headlines these days tend to indicate. They are keeping America safe from the bad guys, and we hope that their employment continues.

The hall was full by the time emcee SALAM’s Outreach & Learning Director Asif Haq (nice to see him back) started the formalities with words of welcome and shared the program schedule. Br Asif also elaborated on the theme for the evening which was the “Significance & Essence of Fasting.” He first invited Shaykh Saad ElHelaly for the customary invocation, a beautiful recitation from the Holy Qur’an which was followed by the English translation of the verses recited by Hanaa Abdalla.

SALAM Board Chairperson Omar MoheyEldin next presented his formal words of welcome on behalf of the organization. “Tonight, we gather not only to break our fast but to celebrate the spirit of unity, friendship, and community that brings us together,” he said. “We are grateful for your presence and for taking the time from your busy lives to share this special evening with us. You are more than just guests – you are our family, friends, partners, neighbors, mentors, supporters, allies, advocates, and teachers,” he added. Though we may come from different beliefs and backgrounds, we are united as one human family, bound by love, respect, and a shared desire for peace,” said MoheyEldin. May this evening inspire us all to deepen our commitment to justice, compassion, and service withing our communities.

The Board chair also thanked the event sponsors who made this evening possible, namely Dr Ayad Al-Qazzaz, Javed Siddiqui and the JTS Engineering family, Dr Metwalli Amer and Rosalie Amer, Kais and Amira Menoufy, Tariq Munir, Waseem and Joumana Bawa, Sharif Jewelers, Dr Mutaz Hussien and Dr Reem Olaby. Our thanks to all of them. Also mentioned was the meal to be served this evening (Iraqi food) that had been prepared by Chef Khalid at SALAM.

Before highlighting the next segment of the program in this report, it would be remiss not to mention that the Christian observance of Lent (March 5 to April 17) shared several days with the Islamic month of Ramadan this year. And Lent involves fasting too, reflecting on Jesus’ fasting for 40 days in the desert according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Next were the youth presentations which have become an integral part of the SALAM Interfaith Iftar and provide hope for the future of our Sacramento community. The speakers this time were Marianne Bestenheider representing the Catholic Christian faith and Akram Khiar from the Muslim community. Marianne shared her experience as she came to know about Ramadan when her Muslim friend Rania told her that she was thirsty but could not drink water because she was fasting. She said that she admired Rania’s commitment to her faith and that her dedication inspired her to fast on Ash Wednesday. Akram shared his own experiences while attending the SALAM Sunday School earlier in his life and shared his experience with Ramadan fasting and explaining it to his friends while attending high school. He said that fasting is never easy, but it has prepared him for college life and has helped him to stay focused.

Keynote speaker Shaykh Muhammed Elmarouk delivered his speech next. His relative youth was striking because the past keynote speakers at this event had many more years behind them. He is a scholar who was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and one who has memorized the Qur’an at an early age in Mauritania. He currently lives in Toronto, Canada and is associated with Basira Education. He came well prepared here. Sharing that fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, he said that it is something that every Muslim reaching puberty must do. It includes abstinence from food and water and intimacy from dawn till sunset.

Fasting is something multicultural, said Shaykh Elmarouk. It is also present in other religions with Jesus encouraging to fast in the Old Testament. And Muslims also understand the fast as something much deeper than the visible reality of it. Something extra personal and extremely intimate with the Divine, he added. Ramadan is a month of purifying oneself. Ramadan is a month when Satan or Shaitan is locked up and the doors of mercy are opened. He called on everyone to focus on those aspects of Ramadan that unify us and particularly on the sanctity of life (he did refer to international events). He also called on us to become a unified voice against oppression.

Next was the presentation of the SALAM Distinguished Awards, a segment announced by Omar Altamimi, the newest Board Member of the organization (and an excellent choice). This year’s recipients were Patricia Daugherty, David Mandel, and Yassar Dahbour. As Omar said, SALAM as he could remember has always been a leader in faith conversations. A Christian, Jew, and a Muslim each getting an award at this event is also a sign that SALAM seeks to actively promote Muslim inclusion into the greater Sacramento community. All three of the awardees have been community activists for years and what often brings them all to the same page is their collective concern for humanity. Not to take anything away from Patricia Daugherty (California-Nevada Palestine Task Force) and local Palestinian leader Yassar, but the presence of David Mandel and other members of the local Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) here (and at other recent Gaza protests) remains an encouraging sign for the future.

A moving Interfaith Dua (prayer) was performed by Shaykh Elmarouk and a call to prayer or Adhan by Shaykh Achour El-Qaddoury (English translation by Asif Haq) closed the formalities with the breaking of the fast. Muslims went to the adjacent SALAM Mosque for prayers while people of other faiths either accompanied them as observers or were able to partake in the delicious dinner served before the others returned. Sacramento’s Mayor Kevin McCarty accompanied us to the Mosque as an observer and was available to chat with everyone who was in line for dinner later.

To conclude one needs to understand that the tragedy that has hit the Palestinian people has moved not just the Muslim Ummah worldwide but the world itself. What is wrong is wrong. One can hope and pray for wisdom and peace to prevail and continue to make our collective voices heard for an end to this suffering. And we in the interfaith community also need to ponder over our relationships post-Gaza. We will still be neighbors, co-workers, fellow students, family members (across faiths) and will hopefully remain friends in the years to come.

Eid Mubarak to our readers.