April 24, 2020
Blog post by Let’s Detroit Campus Ambassador Nour Jamalaldin
For 30 days every year, Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan, our holiest month, by fasting from food and drink (and yes, water, too!) from sunrise to sundown. This is when Muslims step back and focus on forgiveness and spiritual beliefs. This is a perfect time for families to reconnect and what’s a better way than to break bread together? Or in this case–break fast!
Interestingly, many Muslims call the Metro Detroit area home, as Dearborn boasts the largest Muslim population in the United States.
There are two main mealtimes during Ramadan: Iftar and Suhoor. Iftar means ‘to break a fast’ in Arabic. This is my favorite part, it is when we get to eat. It occurs at sundown when the evening prayer is called. Traditionally, we break our fast by first eating a date and drinking water, but this is completely optional. Suhoor is the second meal Muslims have prior to the morning prayer which begins the next day of fasting. Suhoor means ‘pre-dawn meal’ in Arabic. This is the time to eat food that will help sustain us for the next day of fasting.
Because Dearborn is full of diverse culture and hundreds of different types of cuisines, restaurants are packed with families and friends ready to feast during Iftar. Businesses throughout the area participate in the month too by staying open past midnight and even host a number of specials including buffets. Food stands and food trucks become a huge hit all throughout the night. It truly becomes the city that doesn’t sleep, but only until sunrise!
Only a few minutes away, The Suhoor Festival in Dearborn Heights has taken on a momentum of its own. The festival began a few years ago and since then has become a highly anticipated event. The festival only occurs on Friday and Saturday nights during the month. Last year, it boasted more than 8,500 people in attendance with 25 food vendors providing snacks, meals, desserts, and drinks along with the festival’s music, dancing, and giveaways.
This year, Ramadan will begin on April 24th and will end on May 23rd followed by Eid al-Fitr, a holiday that celebrates the efforts Muslims put into the month of Ramadan. It is 3 days of spending time with family and friends. The adults give gifts (usually, a monetary amount) to kids to show appreciation for their efforts. Many families choose to go to the mosque to gather with friends and pray together.
In such unprecedented times, the health and safety of ourselves and our loved ones take priority. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 the Suhoor Festival has been cancelled this year and with the stay-at-home orders, it is important that our communities take precaution and practice safe social distancing. The great thing about the world we live in today is the infinite ways we can unite with one another and wish each other a Ramadan Mubarak.
