Iftar (Arabic: ?????), refers to the evening meal for breaking the daily fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Iftar during Ramadan is often done as a community, with Muslims gathering to break their fast together. Iftar is done right after Maghrib (sunset) time. Traditionally, a date is the first thing to be consumed during Iftar when the fast is broken.

Iran

In Iran, a small selection of foods is prepared to break the fast at Maghrib time (just after the sunset) and is summarily followed by a proper Persian meal. Most common iftar items are: Chai (tea, usually darjeeling), Noon (bread usually lavash or barbari), Panir (feta cheese), fresh herbs, sweets, dates and halva. Most all family members will gather at one home for Iftar.

Bangladesh

A common iftar dish.

India

Hyderabadi Haleem

Indonesia

Jackfruit kolak, one of various Iftar desserts in Indonesia

In Indonesia Iftar is called "buka" which means "to open". Markets sell various foods for Iftar, including the date palm which is popular as well as Indonesian unique food and drink such as kolak, cendol or dawet, etc. Most of them are only found easily in Ramadan. Maghrib time is marked by beduk, a traditional Indonesian drum. After "ashar" time, many traditional market being crowded by food stalls selling many kind of menu for "iftar". Traffic jams often occur leading up to Maghrib time. Sometimes people invite groups of orphans to eat with them. After Iftar people go to the mosque for Isha and Tarawih prayer which, in Indonesia, is often accompanied by a sermon.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, almost everything stops for rejoicing for a few minutes following the Iftar sirens and Azan(call to prayer), from the mosques and community centres. Preparations for Iftar commence about 3 hours before, in homes and at roadside stalls. The fast can be broken by eating dates or drinking water, if the former is not available. Treats such as jalebi, samosa, pakora and namak paray, are eaten with the traditional dates and water. Rooh Afza is a drink that has always been part of the Iftar, in some places replacing water. Other items such as chicken rolls, spring rolls, shami kababs, and fruit salads are very common.

Sri Lanka

Even though Sri Lanka is mainly populated by Buddhists, there are also many Muslims. For Iftar they make special snacks/ appetizers at Muslim homes like samosas, cutlets, rolls, and many more. They perform Iftar with the family if possible. Muslims believe that giving to the poor is a very rewarding. They eat a date ( a type of fruit ) and drink some water to break the fast or to perform Iftar. Then they have the prepared meal. Some people like to prepare foods and give to the people performing Iftar in the mosques.

United States

Iftar meals are often held at US colleges and universities, to which both Muslim and non-Muslim students are frequently invited. The US State Department holds an Annual Iftar Dinner for community leaders from US society and faith groups as well as foreign policy officials.^[1]

As charity

Ramadan Dinner known as Iftar

References

External links

• Virtues of Iftar

See also

• Suhoor
• Tarawih

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