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Written by: Leena El-Said, Salma Tartoussieh, and Kasey Ottewill
Photos by: Reem Abdelazim
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan — a holy month for Muslims around the world, marked by a sighting of the new crescent moon, is a sacred time centred around reflection and self-improvement.
As one of the five pillars of Islam, Ramadan is a highly valued month when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Participants refrain from not only food and drinks, (yes, even water) but also any ill-mannered behaviours. This is done in order to strengthen their relationship to the religion and build the values of discipline and empathy for the less fortunate. Ramadan is a time of traditions, community gatherings, and charity giving, where social events are important to the sense of community during this cherished time.
On Thursday, April 21st, T.A. Blakelock held its debut Iftar Night.
What is Iftar Night, you ask?… Well, it is a night when the school community, including family and friends, were invited to share a delicious evening meal at sunset, joining Muslim students as they broke their fast during a day of Ramadan.
As Blakelock's first-ever Iftar Night, many influential figures were invited to celebrate this monumental step to increase Muslim awareness and appreciation in the school.
After sending requests for donations and support to numerous significant figures, the following contributors and speakers attended Iftar Night:
Terri Blackwell - Superintendent for Blakelock
Shelita Walker - Indigenous Rights and Education Human Rights
Qaiser Ahmed - Vice Principal for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
Iqra Khalid - Member of the House of Commons of Canada
Chihab Kaab - Founder of Seeds of Leadership
MSA leader Reem Abdelazim with Member of the House of Commons of Canada, Iqra Khalid.
Muslims prayed the sunset prayer shortly before the meals were served, and attendees not participating were able to observe, and learn about this mindful practice.
To plan a successful event such as this one, staff leader Mrs. Akbar and the student members of the MSA spent numerous evenings working hard to invite these influential figures, gathering supplies needed for this event, and promoting it to the TAB Community.
Mrs. Barry, along with her family, enjoyed this wonderful event, exclaiming, “This was my first time experiencing an Iftar meal, and I really appreciated the opportunity to take part in this beautiful event! Observing the traditions around breaking the fast, and praying before the meal gave me a glimpse into how our Muslim students celebrate with their community. I’m so grateful to Ms. Akbar and the MSA for hosting this, and especially to Aya for answering my youngest daughter’s many many (many!) questions!”
Of course, the most highly anticipated aspect of the evening, the meals, did not disappoint. Traditional Middle Eastern cuisine was served and sponsored by Aunty’s Kitchen, Masrawy, and Watan Kabob. Gathering these incredible dishes was no easy task, but was worth the effort.
(Left to right) Ms. Akbar, Mr. Williamson, and Mrs. Barry enjoying Iftar Night
Reem Abdelazim with Jocelyn Anderson, Viona Kouhi, Mariam Al-Aloosi, and Chloe Breithaupt enjoying Knafeh, a traditional Middle Eastern dessert.
Iftar night was a highly enjoyable event not only for the Muslim students but non-Muslims as well, who were able to become familiar with Muslim culture and enjoy the lively festivities of Ramadan.
The community and the MSA's hard work embodied the positive values of Ramadan, which led Iftar Night to become the success it was.
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