Iftar
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| Iftar | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Iftar |
| Native name | إفطار |
| Observed by | Muslim world, Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Sufism, Ahmadiyya |
| Type | Religious observance |
| Significance | Daily fast-breaking meal during Ramadan |
| Begins | Sunset (Maghrib) |
| Frequency | Daily during Ramadan |
| Related | Suhoor, Eid al-Fitr, Taraweeh, Laylat al-Qadr |
Iftar is the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily fast during the month of Ramadan. It functions as both a religious practice and a social ritual across diverse communities from Istanbul to Jakarta, linking liturgical timetables such as the Islamic calendar to communal life around mosques, markets, and family tables. The observance has theological, legal, and cultural dimensions reflected in regional cuisines, charity networks, and public policy.
Etymology and Meaning
The term derives from classical Arabic roots related to breaking a fast, appearing in lexica associated with early Islamic jurisprudence and devotional literature produced in centers such as Baghdad, Cairo, and Cordoba. Etymological discussion features in works by medieval scholars affiliated with institutions like the House of Wisdom and legal schools such as the Hanafi school, Maliki school, Shafi'i school, and Hanbali school. Modern dictionaries edited by publishers in Beirut and Cairo treat the word alongside entries for Sawm and Ramadan.
Religious Significance and Practices
Breaking the fast at sunset is prescribed by texts connected to Quranic injunctions and the Hadith corpus, with practice guided by jurists from traditions including Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam al-Shafi'i, and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Rituals often begin with recitation from the Quran and may include supplications attributed to the Prophet associated with collections like Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. In many communities linked to shrines such as Al-Aqsa Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, iftar is combined with congregational Maghrib prayer and sometimes followed by Taraweeh sessions led by notable imams like Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais or Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi.
Typical Foods and Regional Variations
Culinary patterns at sunset reflect regional staples: date consumption resonates with prophetic traditions exemplified by narratives around Prophet Muhammad; in Morocco harira soup and in Turkey pide and in Iran haleem or ash variants appear. South Asian tables in Pakistan and India feature samosas, pakoras, and sweet dishes like seviyan, while Southeast Asian iftars in Malaysia and Indonesia include bubur and ketupat. Urban centers such as Cairo, Karachi, Istanbul, Tehran, and Kuala Lumpur demonstrate fusion menus influenced by trade routes connected historically to ports like Alexandria and Aden. High-profile culinary events sometimes involve chefs from establishments such as Nobu and Le Cordon Bleu collaborating with local caterers.
Social and Cultural Customs
Iftar functions as a focal point for family gatherings, mosque charity, and diplomatic hospitality in capitals like Riyadh, Ankara, Abu Dhabi, and London. Governments and NGOs such as UNICEF and Red Crescent coordinate public iftar programs; corporations and universities organize corporate and campus meals referencing institutions like Harvard University and Oxford University for multicultural engagement. Celebrities and political figures occasionally host iftars in venues associated with United Nations missions and foreign embassies, while literary and artistic figures from traditions in Istanbul Modern to festivals in Fez may incorporate iftar banquets into cultural programming.
Timing and Rules in Islam
The moment to break the fast is tied to astronomical and liturgical determinations of sunset and the disappearance of the sun’s disk, involving regional muwaqqits and institutions like national observatories in Cairo, Istanbul Observatory and Royal Observatory, Greenwich for standardization. Legal opinions from bodies such as the Islamic Fiqh Council and fatwas issued by authorities in Al-Azhar University and the Council of Senior Scholars (Saudi Arabia) address acceptable practices, exemptions for travelers, sick persons, and those with chronic conditions, as debated in conferences hosted by universities like Aligarh Muslim University and Zaytuna College.
Historical Development
Historical sources trace communal fast-breaking from early Muslim communities in Medina and urban centers of the Umayyad Caliphate and Abbasid Caliphate through medieval caravanserai networks and imperial courts such as the Ottoman Empire and Mughal Empire. Accounts by travelers like Ibn Battuta and chroniclers in Al-Andalus document evolving menus and public rituals; colonial-era reports from administrations in British India and French Algeria record interactions between Islamic practices and colonial policies. Modern transformations include urbanization, mass catering, and media coverage in outlets like Al Jazeera and BBC Arabic.
Public and Community Iftars
Municipal and charitable iftars occur in public squares, community centers, and institutions such as hospitals and prisons, coordinated by organizations including Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid, Red Crescent societies, and local zakat committees. Interfaith and diplomatic iftars hosted by entities like the European Union, United States Department of State, and city councils in New York City and Paris aim to promote dialogue; academic centers and think tanks such as Brookings Institution and Chatham House have organized forums tied to Ramadan programming. Contemporary issues involve logistics, food safety standards set by agencies like the World Health Organization, and humanitarian responses during crises in regions like Gaza Strip, Syria, and Yemen.
Category:Islamic culture