Mormons and Muslims in Southern California recently broke the fast together at several events scheduled during Ramadan.
Ramadan is a 30-day religious period during which Muslims fast from before sunrise to about sunset. It is a common Muslim practice to invite people of other faiths to join them in an interfaith iftar, or fast-breaking dinner, one evening during Ramadan. Southern California Latter-day Saints participated in at least 10 different interfaith iftars throughout the area.
Sabiha Quidwai, Islamic Society of Orange County (ISOC) executive assistant, explained that Ramadan is "a month of increased blessings and spiritual upliftment," and it is "the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and it is the month when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk each day." She said, "The iftar, or fast breaking, takes place at sunset."
Besides these events, the Garden Grove, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach and Temecula stakes offered to host special break the fast events with their Muslim neighbors who in turn invited the LDS members to hold the event at the local mosques.
