From sunrise to sunset, Muslims across the world are celebrating Ramadan and breaking their fast each day with a meal called Iftar. It is a time to replenish energy levels, which means consuming fruits, vegetables, rice, meat, sweets and other delicious foods. This year Ramadan lasts until May 2, and those celebrating Iftar in the Tampa Bay area have a variety of excellent places to eat and celebrate.
Iftar in Tampa Bay
Here in the Tampa Bay area, many restaurants are offering special Iftar meals, which are colorful, spicy and filling. There will also be an inter-faith Iftar at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg on April 14, offering the entire community a free meal and a chance to break down barriers and find common ground with their Muslim neighbors.
Abdul Karim Ali, chair of the Tampa Bay Area Muslim Association, said the interfaith dinner first took place in 2017, drawing over 600 participants. That number grew to over 850 participants before COVID-19 shut the event down for two years.
“The meal is free of charge. We have a caterer and make sure the food meets the qualifications. People really commend the food and the spirit of the fast,” Ali said. “We come together to break bread with love, peace, and compassion.”
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the holy month for Muslims. It’s a time when they say Allah covers them with blessings, sends down Mercy, decreases sins and answers prayers. Muslims typically donate to charities and perform other honorable deeds during this holy month.
Fasting is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam, according to IMANA, a nonprofit whose mission is to foster good health and disease prevention and to positively affect humanity.
During Ramadan, Muslims do not drink or eat from sunrise to sunset. They work to avoid unkind, impure thoughts and refrain from consuming alcohol or smoking. It is considered a time to practice self-restraint and self-reflection. Fasting is a form of soul cleansing and a time to have empathy for those in the world who are hungry.
While most Muslims still go to work or school during Ramadan, they also take time to read the Quran, say special prayers, and attend mosques more frequently.
During Iftar they pray:
“Oh, Allah, I fasted for You and believe in You (and I put my trust in you) and I break my fast with Your sustenance.”
That sustenance is beautiful and plentiful.
“To me, Ramadan means worship and family,” said Muna Abdullah-Nori of Tampa, who is spending Ramadan with family in Turkey this year. “It is getting closer to God and gathering with family to break our fast in this holy month.”
During Ramadan, Abdullah-Nori’s family prays regularly, she said. “We try to be kinder than usual and purify our soul.”
The food Muslims eat during Ramadan is special, she adds. “Each country has it is own tradition, of course. But what they all have in common is that we break our fast with dates and some kind of cold or hot drink and then we eat some nice meals. There is more than one dish, of course, since we are celebrating the months. Soup is common and we end the meal with nice sweets.”
A typical Iftar might include chicken baked with sauteed vegetables and served with chickpeas. Or baked fish with roasted vegetables and brown rice. Baked falafel served with Fattoush salad, hummus and pita is also common.
Food in the Tampa Bay area
In Tampa, Grapeleaf Express Mediterranean Cuisine is offering a special Iftar meal. The meal is made with 100% Halal HMC meat, which means animals are slaughtered by hand. Halal is considered to be more tender and stays fresh longer than machine-butchered meat. It is intricately linked to Islam.
Zauq Tampa is offering two combos for Iftar. One includes dates, Pakoray, Samosay, Pappri Chaat, chicken Bihari Rolls, chutney and Gulab Jamuns with a main dish.
Dates are eaten because they contain concentrated sources of energy and are easily digested.
Jannah Market in Tampa offers whole lamb and rice, Freekeh and chicken, Ouzi with lamb and Tahini kefta with potatoes, among its available items.
Fasting, besides its spiritual benefits, is beneficial to lowering cholesterol. It is also a means of cleansing the body, along with the spirit. It also gives the body a rest from the task of digesting food.
When it is time to eat again, Muslims enjoy their traditional meals.
For Abdullah-Nori, one of the sweetest treats during Iftar is stuffed triangles filled with beef, cheese or vegetables. And yes, the sweets from her home country of Yemen. Even as a U.S. citizen now, she continues to love the kinds of soups that originated in Yemen, she said. “And Ramadan sweets, of course, are yummy.”
Once Ramadan ends, Muslims celebrate a major holiday called Eid ul-Fitr, or Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. Special prayers and sermons are held, children receive new clothes, money or other gifts from friends and family and the entire community celebrates. Friends and family spend the day socializing, enjoying traditional meals and reuniting with old friends.
The greeting they use, “Eid Mubarak,” means “blessed holiday.”
