HAMILTON NON-MUSLIMS TASTE RAMADAN EXPERIENCE

image: Onislam — **Meals of chicken, rice and salads were served at the multi-faith Iftar that was held at the Mountain Mosque.** (Photo: Onislam)

Hamilton, 20 Ramadan 1435/18 July 2014 (MINA) – Dozens of Hamilton’s non-Muslims who got the chance to experience fasting and share iftar with the Muslim community said that it was “challenging” to fast for a day.

“What we wanted to do was give them an idea of what Ramadan is like because an important part of Ramadan is breaking the fast with the community and family,” Sally Elsadek, a spokesperson for the For the Sake of Allah (FSA) group told The Hamilton Spectator on Wednesday, July 16.

“We wanted them to kind of get a taste of what Ramadan is like for us. We wanted to be creative about it,” Onislam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Organized by the For the Sake of Allah (FSA) group, Hamilton’s iftar and fasting experience that was held last Tuesday, July 15, has attracted more than 50 non-Muslim Hamiltonians.

Meals of chicken, rice and salads were served at the multi-faith Iftar that was held at the Mountain Mosque.

Journalists, city staff and a school board trustee were invited to the FSA iftar that was attended by mayoral candidates Brian McMattie and Brad Clark, Hamilton Mountain MPP Monique Taylor and Deputy Police Chief Eric Girt.

Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, started in Canada on Saturday, June 28.

In Ramadan, adult Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

The sick and those traveling are exempt from fasting especially if it poses health risks.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to be closer to Allah through prayers, self-restraint and good deeds

‘Good experience’

Getting a taste of what Ramadan is like for Muslims, non-Muslim Hamiltonians said that a good experience.

Starting the day-long fast by the dawn, YMCA CEO Jim Commerford said that he joked that he was not going to get up before sunrise to eat breakfast, saying “I preferred my sleep.”

By the afternoon, the mission started to get tougher for Commerford who has defied several offers by colleagues to get some coffee.

“I am looking forward to dinner,” he said.

Another iftar guest, Ward 11/12 school board trustee Alex Johnstone, has praised the experience, saying that he had a “power smoothie” before sunrise.

It was challenging for Johnstone to keep her stomach empty throughout the day.

Although she was advised by Muslim co-workers to break her fast, Johnstone insisted to endure fasting.

Muslims are the fastest growing religious community in Canada, according to the country’s statistical agency, Statistics Canada.

Canada’s Muslim population increased by 82 percent over the past decade – from about 579,000 in 2001 to more than 1 million in 2011.

Muslims, who represent 3.2 %of Canada, make about 6% of Hamilton’s population with 30,000 Muslim citizens who have been hosting several community activities over the past five decades.

A survey has showed the overwhelming majority of Muslims are proud to be Canadian. (T/Nidiya/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)