Chicago Groups Set to Mark Ramadan with Interfaith Initiatives
Alia Bilal, the chief executive director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, expressed a deliberate intention to bridge gaps between communities that are often at odds. "We've very intentionally tried to forge those connections where communities are otherwise often pitted against each other," Bilal stated, Chicago Sun Times reported on Friday.
As Ramadan commences Sunday evening in the United States, it coincides with the preparations for Easter, Passover, and Holi by Christian, Jewish, and Hindu communities, respectively. The period is traditionally observed by Muslims with fasting from dawn until dusk and increased devotion to prayer. However, this year, Chicago-based organizations are placing a particular emphasis on interfaith engagement and providing spaces for communal support and healing, especially during a time of heightened tension for Muslims worldwide.
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, which encompasses a coalition of 73 groups, plans to host two iftar dinners in collaboration with Christian parishes.
Mahnoor Syed, the council's communications lead, underscored the importance of these interfaith initiatives, "Islam preaches not only helping your brothers and sisters within the religion but also everyone that's in need. With our interfaith initiatives, a lot of the topics that we want to discuss are upholding the sanctity of human life throughout the world."
The network is set to hold a community iftar on April 3, the last Wednesday of Ramadan, with Bilal anticipating a diverse turnout of at least 500 individuals, including members from local churches and synagogues.
"It's not just the Muslim community that's gathering, it's everyone from the neighborhood," she said.
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The event aims to create an inclusive atmosphere where the broader community can partake in the observance of Ramadan.
Student groups like DePaul University’s United Muslims Moving Ahead (UMMA) are also inviting individuals of all faiths to join in the Ramadan celebrations. On March 11, UMMA will organize a "fast-a-thon," encouraging non-Muslim students to experience the day's fast and iftar.
Raneem Qassem, UMMA's co-president, hopes that such events will offer a haven for Muslim students and others impacted by the Israeli war on Gaza to find solace and healing.
Qassem reflected on the broader implications of the conflict, "A lot of our actions, a lot of our thoughts, are with the people of Gaza, with the people of Palestine right now. As a community, it affects us all a lot more than we even think it does. It's just something that is always in the back of our minds, even if it's supposed to be a time where it's more festive."
The ongoing war in Gaza, where over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the onset of the war, and the rise in religiously motivated hate crimes in the United States since the conflict began, cast a shadow over this year's Ramadan.
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Bilal likened the current atmosphere to that of 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions altered the nature of the holy month. She believes that the spiritual resilience cultivated during that period could now serve as a foundation for coping with the current crisis.
"We have so many individuals and families in our network, in our base, that are directly impacted by this... so the pain is very, very close to home," Bilal remarked.
She views this Ramadan as an opportunity to rally around shared values and overcome divisions, emphasizing the collective strength derived from unity. "We certainly recognize it is a huge part of how we get through a moment like this together.”
Source: Agencies
