SALAM Interfaith Iftar Focuses on Faith, Knowledge, and Service
By Ras H. Siddiqui
The Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM) held its 25th Annual Interfaith Iftar (Ramadan breaking of the fast) at its community center on Wednesday March 4, 2026. Once again despite formidable worldwide challenges for the interfaith community, this effort continued and remains commendable. This tradition that SALAM started in California’s capital city a quarter of a century ago brings together people of different faiths under one roof. It is community outreach at its best during the month of Ramadan, and it has now generated many more such events in the region. The focus of this Iftar was quite worldly this time as the theme for the evening was “Faith, Knowledge and Service.”
The evening began with registration and seating as event emcee for the evening and SALAM Vice Chairperson Omar Altamimi called everyone to attention and provided details of the evening program schedule beginning with Qur’an Recitation with translation to the breaking of the fast and Maghrib (Sunset) Prayers and ending with dinner. He also invited non-Muslims in attendance to observe Muslims at prayer later in the adjacent SALAM Mosque. Br Omar informed that this SALAM Interfaith Iftar event had reached its 25-year mark. He then invited Shaykh Achour El-Qaddoury to begin the formalities with a Qur’an recitation. Shaykh Achour presented a beautiful presentation of the verses which was followed by their English translation by Sister Hanaa Abdallah.
Next the outgoing Chairperson, SALAM Board of Trustees Br Omar MoheyEldin, came up to the stage to deliver his official words of welcome on behalf of the organization. Br Omar said in moments like these, getting together becomes even more important. He added that more than 1,400 years ago when the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SWW) as God prepared him for the mission ahead the first word revealed to him was not “fight,” not “divide,” not “oppress,” not even “worship” or “submit;” it was a single, powerful word: “Iqra” meaning “Read.” This is exactly the foundation upon which SALAM was built, and that the building we were in was built both as a school and a community center.
The Chairperson gave a brief overview of SALAM’s journey since then and pointed to the future as SALAM has acquired another large building off Howe Avenue named the SALAM Arden Center close to Sacramento State University about two months ago to continue SALAM Services and educational pursuits with a Center for Higher Islamic Learning there. MoheyEldin also thanked the sponsors who made this Interfaith Iftar that night possible namely Dr Metwalli Amer, Professor Ayad Al Qazzaz (file photo), Javed Siddiqui, Kais Menoufy, Farrukh Saeed, Waseem Bawa, Tariq Munir and Mahmoud Sharif.
Also recognized were several dignitaries present including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, US Eastern District Judges, American River College President Lisa Cardoza, and representatives of the FBI and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, just to name a few. In closing the chairperson also thanked the dedicated team of volunteers who made the arrangements led by SALAM Executive Director Sister Arwa Houry, and of course of dinner preparer Chef Khalid. May God bless our collective efforts and guide us as we continue to serve this community that we love so deeply, he said
California Attorney General Rob Bonta was a welcome surprise at the event. Bonta has defended California families and businesses and has recently vigorously protected our constitutional rights. He is himself an immigrant born in the Philippines, so he understands the struggles of other immigrant communities quite well. He also has a very local connection as well, having lived in Fair Oaks during his youth. He graduated at the top of his class at Bella Vista High School (Go Broncos) and later attended Yale University.
Bonta started his speech with “As-salamu alaykum” (Peace be upon you) and “Ramadan Mubarak” and said that it was an honor for him to join this twenty-fifth Interfaith Iftar at SALAM. He then took a moment to recognize SALAM’s Founder Dr Metwalli Amer (amidst wide applause), whose tireless efforts have helped to build this pillar of faith and community in Sacramento. During Ramadan breaking fast together reminds us of our shared humanity and our shared purpose. Bonta stressed that like other communities, the Muslim community too is an integral part of California and America, and that his office stands with it. ‘You belong here and we will use every tool available to protect your rights,’ he said. He also presented a Certificate of Recognition to SALAM in appreciation of holding its 25 th Interfaith Iftar.
“Youth Presentations” have become a permanent feature of the SALAM Interfaith Iftar. These are coordinated by Dr Anne Kjemtrup and this year highlighted the friendship between Nabaa Al Ahmaidi (Muslim) and Yaneli Salvatierra (Christian). Both attend Mira Loma High School and have been friends since the sixth grade. It was wonderful to hear them share their cultural experience at this event. Dr Anne added that they have built their friendship across faiths because they value their differences - in fact, it is their differences that make them learn something new about each other all the time. They serve as a model of coexistence where each practices their own faith, but they support and respect the other’s traditions.
Next was the SALAM Distinguished Award which was presented to Dr Lisa Cordoza the President of American River College (ARC), located across the street for SALAM. Cordoza received this award for community building and her exceptional vision for diversity, dignity and social justice and equity for all. She also gave an emotional speech as she accepted this recognition.
Imam Tahir Anwar is no stranger to us in the Sacramento area even though he is from the San Francisco Bay Area (South Bay Islamic Association & Zaytuna College amongst others). He also leads a group for Hajj each year. The Imam delivered the keynote speech focused on “Faith, Knowledge and Service.” He added some humor to wisdom when he shared that SALAM had given him 20 minutes to speak but God had given him twelve. And he would have to follow God’s will and hurry things up also because he had been fasting all day and was really looking forward to the upcoming meal!
He said it was a pleasure for him to address this event at the mid-point of the month of Ramadan. Fasting is not just about hunger, but it is about disciplining the soul, he said. It is about empathy, caring for the vulnerable, and about patience. It teaches us humility and gratitude. And this is the month when we increase our giving, whether it is about giving our time, our love, or our hard-earned dollars.
He referred to the first word revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SWW) which was Iqra (Read). Right from the very beginning, knowledge is considered something very sacred in our faith, he said. Acquiring knowledge is considered an obligation on every Muslim believer. And when you are educated, you are supposed to serve humanity. That is the foundation of our faith. Knowledge strengthens our faith and benefits our society, he added. That is another reason interfaith gatherings like this one are so powerful. He also commended SALAM for promoting knowledge and understanding between faiths locally by holding such events.
A call to prayer announced the breaking of the fast which was done with the consumption of water and dates. Muslims then went over to the SALAM Mosque for Maghrib Prayers and their guests from other faiths were invited to get the great Mediterranean dinner first. David Mandel from the Jewish Voice for Peace Organization was delayed and spoke late because Jews had been celebrating a religious occasion the same day. But he brought (hamantaschen) cookies for dessert!
To conclude it is always wonderful to see a gathering of faiths, and especially of their representatives who want to make this world a better place. This writer arrived here pondering over the title of a book “Love in the Time of Cholera” written by Nobel prize winning Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez, even though its content is not applicable here. But the title can be flagged for its irony. There are wars going on in the world that somehow assume that religion should divide. This gathering is testimony to the fact that our common humanity can and should trump all.
