The gift of Iftar

—the breaking of the Ramadan fast

Last week, during the final days of Ramadan, a Muslim student I am working with invited me to Iftar at the medical school. Ramadan is an annual time of fasting and prayer scheduled according to the Islamic lunar calendar and the sighting of the first crescent moon. Muslims abstain from water and food during the day, eating before dawn and breaking their fast after the sun sets.

Sponsored by Brown’s Muslim Medical Student Association, we gathered in an open space on the third floor of the medical school. A midnight-blue and gold poster announcing the event surrounded with gold lanterns welcomed us. Blue and golden balloons spelled out Ramadan Mubarak—Blessed Ramadan. The Imam from campus ministry officiated and two medical students explained the steps of the celebration to a gathering of fifty medical and graduate students, residents, fellows, faculty and visiting faculty. I knew many of the students: undergrads who were now in medical school, medical students I’d taught in Doctoring, students in Gateways, the Master of Science program, to prepare students and improve their medical school applications.

 For the most part, men and women segregated at separate tables. Reed and I joined a faculty table which included a Turkish couple, doing a year’s fellowship in geriatrics and pediatric specialties, and their teenage son. We each broke the fast by drinking from a small bottle of water and eating two dates that were at our individual place setting. The Imam called for prayers and a line of men and women formed in front of prayer rugs. The women were garbed in colorful floor-length dresses and head coverings. One wore a traditional Palestinian black gown with embroidery on the sleeves and along the front. The ritual purification prayer (wudu) includes physical postures—standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting, along with the recitation of prayers: Allahu Akbar (God is great).... Reed and I stood against the wall and folded our hands out of respect with downcast eyes.

We then filled our plates with food from a table spread with skewers of spicy meat, thick flavored noodles, roasted vegetables, and other dishes, made by a local restaurant. Mango lassi, mango smoothy, or tea to drink, along with an offering of sweets.

It was heartwarming to be invited, particularly at this divisive time, where both antisemitism and antimuslim sentiments abound, when war is causing such suffering in the Middle East, and the Ukraine and Sudan.  

I thought of the cyclic celebration of renewal with spring and my heart was warmed by the universal worship traditions: gathering in community to pray and share food. Christians will do the same this week for Holy Week, the end of Lent and celebration of Easter. Jews will celebrate the Passover.

Wishing hope and renewal to all of us.