Break the Fast: Join us for a Virtual Iftar Dinner May 5

The video of this event is now available. See below:

Virtual Ramadan with The Dialogue Institute of Kansas City, Precious Blood Renewal Center & Rockhurst University

For the third consecutive year, Precious Blood Renewal Center and Dialogue Institute of Kansas join together to host an interfaith fast breaking celebration during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar runs from April 24 to May 23. During this time, Muslims around the world observe a dawn to dusk fast from food and water, “so that,” the Quran (the Muslim holy book) says, “so that you may be mindful of God.” (Quran 2:183)

The breaking of the fast, known as iftar, is normally a communal event for the extended family and the local community. Traditionally the fast is broken first with dates and then a celebratory dinner.

In past years, the Renewal Center hosted an iftar dinner for families associated with the Dialogue Institute of Kansas City. We’d share food and prayer and short talk about Islam and Ramadan. This year we will try to do this with a virtual iftar dinner:

May 5, Tuesday, at 7:30 p.m.
Join us via Zoom: bit.ly/34vI1sl
Of on YouTube: bit.ly/2VpuTRp and click “ Live”

We will join by video link Muslims families who are breaking their fasts. You may want to have a dinner or snacks to eat will joining us online. Details of the evening are below.

Scott C. Alexander, associate professor of Islamic Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, will give a presentation on the practice of fasting.

Ramadan encourages a focus on worship and spiritual discipline with the aim of improving behavior. Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying: “If a person does not avoid false talk and false conduct during the fast, then God does not care if he abstains from food and drink.”

Prophet Muhammad also instructed Muslims to feed the poor this month, thus alms giving, or charitable contributions have become an important tradition during Ramadan.

Additional resources:

• Learn more about Ramadan here: A brief history of Ramadan.
• Down load a pdf here: Ramadan Information Sheet.
• This might interest you: The 12 Favorite Foods of Prophet Mohammad
• If you haven’t read this before, check it out: The Final Sermon of Prophet Mohammad.

Here is the outline of the evening: Community Virtual Iftars:

• 7 30 p.m. — Welcome by Dialogue Institute of Kansas City
• Welcome by Precious Blood Renewal Center
• Presentation: What is the Dialogue Institute of Kansas City?
• Presentation: Fasting as a Spiritual Discipline by Dr. Scott C. Alexander.
• Questions and Answers
• Prayer for World Peace. Prophet Muhammad said: “Whatever is prayed for at the time of the breaking the fast is granted and never refused.
• 8:10 p.m. — We will virtually connect to two Muslim families and dine with them. They will introduce themselves, talk about what they are eating that night, how they spend their day during Ramadan and answer questions from the audience.
  • The families will be with us for about 15 minutes.
  • The questions can asked through Zoom or YouTube chatterboxes
  • The questions will be posed by the Emcee
• No need to RSVP

You can help promote this event by downloading this flyer and sharing it with family and friends.

Other organizations that are partnering with the Dialogue Institute to host Virtual Iftar Dinners are:

Registration is not required, but you can let us know if you’re interested by completing the form below.

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