Ginninderry Project Operations Director Imran Khan says Ramadan is a very special time of year for the Muslim community to reconnect and reset for the next 12 months. Photo: Ginninderry.
Ramadan is here, and every day until the last weekend of March, Muslims the world over will awake ahead of the sun for a meal before dawn, then forego all food and drink until “iftar”, the breaking of the fast after sunset.
Ginninderry Project Operations Director Imran Khan started observing the sacred Islamic month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community during school years, but even with the ravenous appetite of a growing teen, Ramadan was one of the best times of the year.
“It’s the most social yet spiritual time of year in our culture. Iftar is something to share with your family every evening. In my culture, it’s tradition to break the fast with a date and some rose water, and it’s a beautiful time at the end of each day,” he says.
“But on top of these nightly family gatherings, on weekends it becomes an event. Dinner invitations with extended families and neighbours, friends organising boys’ and girls’ nights out to break the fast together, different Muslim groups – at universities, mosques and in the community – hold iftar events.
“It is actually a very busy month. Each night after breaking fast, prayers and having dinner, some people will go to their mosque or community centre for additional prayers. You’ll often see about 300 to 400 people there each day.”
Imran says efforts to spread this community spirit outside the Muslim culture seem to grow stronger each year.
When Ginninderry supported its fifth annual Community Iftar with HelpingACT and UnitingCare Kippax at The Link this year, over 240 people of all ages, nationalities, faiths and cultural backgrounds turned up to break bread and discover what the tradition was all about.
Imran says only about 60 per cent of attendees at the family-friendly event were Muslim.
“It was beautiful – we all gathered on the lawns and watched the sun set over the Brindabellas together as Brother Hamza from United Muslims Canberra undertook the call to prayer – the ‘Adhan’ – which signified time to break fast,” he says.
“The breaking of the fast was undertaken in the traditional manner with dates and rose water accompanied by delicious zucchini balls and fresh fruits.
“After the Magrib prayers, dinner was served, guests enjoyed a diverse and flavourful feast featuring aromatic curries, a variety of fresh pides, colourful salads, and succulent kebabs. To cap off the food experience, dessert was served with homemade Palestinian knafeh and baklava. The atmosphere was warm and lively, with children playing together while adults exchanged stories and new friendships.
“The Ginninderry Iftar is unique in a lot of ways. It’s not organised by a mosque, community group or government; it’s a non-Mulsim community organisation providing an avenue for everyone and anyone to come and see what it’s like. Events like this lift the veil on the warmth and spirit of Ramadan and promote harmony and mutual understanding. It brings communities closer together and has a lovely community feel.”
Ramadan recalls the month the Qur’an was first revealed. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars (fundamental religious duties) of Islam. It is a time of self-examination and increased religious devotion.
Only those who are well and able fast during Ramadan, including those who are not travelling. Generally, those who are sick, pregnant, menstruating or managing a condition that makes fasting detrimental to health generally don’t participate.
Based on the lunar cycles, every year Ramadan occurs about 10 days earlier than the last.
This year, it falls in its entirety over daylight savings (the first time in about 20 years), meaning Muslims are not only fasting longer but going without water in summer.
Eventually, the time comes in the lunar cycle when Ramadan falls over the longest and hottest days of the year.
“I think a lot of people at first see us fasting during Ramadan and think, ‘Wow, that’s a tough religion’,” Imran says.
“I actually find that during the day, I am more focused because I am not distracted by food or drink, and at the end of the day, it feels like I have achieved something, and that energises me. I feel renewed.
“Recently, after work and a long day of fasting, I went and played tennis with a friend before iftar. We felt great. The dopamine really kicked in. The human body is a powerful thing.
“During work, I insist people do not adjust their habits around me. And I love it when people ask questions. I am happy to share the reality that for Muslims, Ramadan is like a spiritual reset, a chance to connect more deeply with our faith and to reflect on how we can be better people.”
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