Communal Iftars are a tradition that is now considered a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. While an increasing number of communities in the MENA region fear for the future of communal iftars as donations have decreased due to a series of economic and political crises in the region, their popularity rises in the West.
Just before the muezzin’s call for the maghrib prayer, organizers of communal iftars across the Muslim world scurry to wrap up last-minute preparations, which include setting up dining tables, arranging dishes, and ensuring dates are distributed on the hundreds, sometimes thousands, of attendees eagerly anticipating the moment to break their fast.The sound of the adhan heralds the time for iftar, where fasting Muslims are once again allowed to partake in food and drink, marking the end of yet another day in Ramadan for event coordinators, who remain behind for a few hours tidying up the area and picking up leftovers in preparation for the following day – their only pay is the satisfaction felt from bringing community together, helping the less fortunate, and engaging in this “spiritually enriching experience,” as per one organizer.
“It’s why we do it. Or used to, at least,” Hannan Buraei, a once avid organizer of communal iftars from Egypt says. “The harsh economic circumstances have left us barely able to feed ourselves, let alone others.”
Egypt’s worst currency crisis in decades left most Egyptians struggling to afford their basic necessities, in a country where one-third of the population is below the poverty line. Similarly, economic and political crises in various countries across the Muslim world have left organizers of communal iftar gatherings reporting a sharp drop in the donations that fuel this tradition, which is now considered a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
The high cost of living, depreciating income, and overall economic stagnation have led to the dwindling numbers of communal iftars across the region, according to Hatem Basarda, a professor of economy at Aden University.
But, despite their uncertain future in their traditional homes, communal iftars are finding new life in the West.
A tradition that is dying at home
The tradition of communal Ramadan iftars finds its roots in the time of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, who would send iftar and suhoor meals to the newly converted adherents of the faith settling in Taif.Over time, the practice evolved and gained popularity, particularly during the Islamic Golden Age, when affluent donors, driven by a desire to give back to the community, would compete to host lavish, extravagant iftars. By the 20th century, communal iftars have become cultural staples in the Muslim world.
But the splendid communal iftars of the Ummayads and the Abassids are a far cry from their contemporary counterparts in the Arab World, where poverty is expected to rise in 2024 to 36 percent of the total population.
“Before the war, our gatherings used to attract anywhere between 300 and 400 participants per day, but now, we’re lucky if we even get half of this number,” says Abdulilah Umairan, a communal iftar organizer from Yemen. “These events strengthened solidarity, compassion, and fraternity within Yemeni society.”
Political differences also added to the downturn, according to Yassin Matar, as many patrons have ceased their support altogether after the chanting of political slogans became an increasing part of these events, reflecting the broader societal impact of Yemen's eight-year civil war, which left in its wake 21.6 million people reliant on some sort of humanitarian assistant.
In Syria, where the exchange rate soared in October to 11,557 per US dollar, the situation remains bleak for the prospect of communal iftars. Syrian journalist Shivan Ibrahim notes how in his native Qamishli in the northeast there is a sharp decline in charitable civil organizations and iftar events, while the few that remain operational are barely covering a fraction of the local community’s needs.
Abdelfattah Nada explains how his social enterprise, Button Up, used to distribute up to 1,000 meals in the underprivileged Ezzbet Khairallah in Cairo during Ramadan, but this year, the rising inflation, which has reached a historic high of 38 percent in September, caused donations to dwindle. Nada was able to collect funds for only 300 meals this year.
“The cost of one meal has increased from EGP 65 to 95 (€1.29 to €1.89), which has discouraged many donors from giving out funds this year at the same capacity,” Nada says. “We’re also seeing more donations being rightfully allocated to Gaza and Sudan since the outbreak of the crises there.”
Finding a way in the West
“Economic and political woes in the Middle East have pushed many of us to leave our homes and head to the West in search of a better life.” Ali Kleib, a Yemeni immigrant in Canada, says. “We carry out these communal events here to preserve societal ties and religious sentiments that we experience back home. It is also a means of helping newly-arriving immigrants to integrate into Western society.”In Vancouver, the Yemeni diaspora hosts daily communal iftar gatherings, drawing in approximately 200 attendees, primarily consisting of Arab immigrants.
Mohammed Essam from the Netherlands agrees that financial stability significantly contributes to the increase in communal iftar gatherings in Holland, adding that “each community often organizes iftar gatherings, attended by other members of the same diaspora, as well as Muslim and non-Muslim friends from other communities.”
“I think these events are gaining grounds in Europe because more and more people are converting to Islam, and new Muslims, like myself, find solace in embracing these cultural traditions, which bridges ethnic and national differences,” says Abdulrahman Aghar Diemore, a Ukrainian national who embraced Islam 11 years ago and now organizes iftar gatherings in the war-torn nation.
In the United States, the prevalence of interfaith iftars was due in large part to the rising political rhetoric and violence targeting Muslims, Jews, immigrants, and other marginalized groups, according to Cassandra Lawrence, director of strategic communications at the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign, a multifaith coalition that aims to combat Islamophobia.
“Communities around the country wanted to show that [The US] is for all people regardless of race, religion, or national origin,” she states. “But the communities we support engage in these iftars as a way to promote a better way of living together and to counter anti-Muslim discrimination.”
Abdulhakim Baqis, a Yemeni author and intellectual, notes the stark contrast between the decline of communal iftar gatherings in the Middle East and their flourishing in the West, where Arab immigrants or newly-converted Muslims “do not experience the levels of poverty seen here in the region.”
“I believe that their success in the West stems from the profound expression of solidarity they represent to the diverse Muslim communities there,” he says.
This article is published in collaboration with Egab.
April 2024