During the month of Ramadan, which begins today and continues through August 30th, from dawn to dusk observant Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex in order to purify themselves, learn humility, pray and concentrate on Allah's teachings.
Throughout this ninth month of the Islamic calendar, at sunset, the family will gather to end the fast with iftar - a communal meal that often starts with the consumption of a date, as the Prophet Muhammad was believed to have done. Dishes vary according to regional and familial traditions and tastes.
Above, iReporter AMERICANSOLE captured sumptuous snapshots of their family's feast to break the fast during the month of Ramadan. The meal included maftool, fried kiba, goat meat, baked chicken and much, much more.
Share your own story on iReport and we may feature it on Eatocracy during the month of Ramadan.
Read - An Egyptian family's Eid al-Fitr feast
I read a few of the comments, and im displeased with some of the Muslims arguing back. Instead of fighting back with ignorant remarks from the hate blood. We should just acknowledge and IA God will help them find their way. Ignorance is the biggest issue with uneducated folks.
KILL all muslims... thats just straight ignorant.
not worth even speaking of it.
with that said.
I hope Everyone in this universe has a happy and safe fulfilling Ramadan!
Honestly, you sure are putting Islam followers on a high pedestal. There is no perfect religion, just as there is no perfect Jew, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, etc etc. Show me scientific proof that any religion is based on fact, and then I'll admit I'm wrong. Until then, I hope that your baseless fasting for the next month doesn't affect those around you negatively.
From a devout Christian to my Muslim brothers and sisters: Enjoy your feasting and prayers and please know that the hate and mocking in these comments is NOT the opinion of the majority or Americans.
Agreed .... and nicely put.
Much Appreciated :)
Hear, hear!
Unfortunately most of the comments on this piece are off track. I grew up in a society where Christians, Jews and Muslims got on fine (with Christian and Muslim doctors covering for their Jewish colleagues and vice versa over religious holidays). Anyhow, is Boeber something that is known in the global Muslim community? It is a wonderful dessert/drink that the Cape Malay (South Africa) community prepares during Ramadan.
food?
Some of the comments on this article are exactly why so many people of so many different cultures can't stand Americans...
That said, my best friend is Muslim and we've spent many a Ramadan together since we're in college away from family. Iftar wasn't a huge deal for her when she's here, but I've gone home with her for Eid (at the end of Ramadan) and I loved it! The food was good, the people were accepting of me as a non-muslim and everyone was so joyous. It was awesome!
One last note, My friend wears a scarf, by choice, but not the full gear. Her father is fine with this. Her mother wears the whole shebang, also by choice. Not all muslim women are mistreated or treated like slaves or property.
what nonsense has this turned into to....have some respect for one another.....you dont agree with the religion,culture and traditions then just leave it...but at least respect others and their views.....what about the oklahoma school bombings, what about your everydayy serial killers and child abusers and priest molesters......they are christians right? There is good and bad everywhere......can we all get along?
Hey Mary, publish a cartoon of Jesus. Then see what happens.
Publish a cartoon of a Hindu god. Then see what happens.
Publish a cartoon of Mohammed, Prophet of Islam. Then run for your freakin' life.
Still think everyone can be tolerant?
@marynara: That has nothing to do with Tolerance. Its about offending people. You wouldn't call an African American person the "N" word would you? Why? Because they find it offensive (and you probably would get your a** beat depending on who you were saying it to). Its the same with these stupid cartoons of the prophet. Muslims find it offensive. So if something is offensive to someone then why do it?
My assistant observes Ramadan. What this means is that 1 out of 12 months of the year she is unproductive. This is because she is starving and dehydrated so her brain does not function properly. I have to check all her work because of multiple mistakes, unlike the other 11 months of the year when she is an awesome worker. According to human resources there is nothing that can be done because it is related to religion.
And this makes sense???????
You don't fire her because of her unproductive religious ritual...you fire her because she is unproductive and makes mistakes. Period. Don't let religion intimidate you. Too many do that. Fight it. Call the ACLU...sound as if YOUR civil liberties (making a living) are being jeopardized.
I guess your assistant might not get what Ramadan is all about then. The food/water fast is really secondary and should not even be felt, its about using the hunger to control all other impulses and urges. I try to work just as hard during Ramadan as I do at any other time despite the circumstances (Although in my case its the sleep deprivation that affects me, not food/water).
I'm not sure what is in the food, but it looks good.
I wouldn't know where to start to prepare such delicious looking food. But I sure would know where to put it. I love Middle Eastern and Indian style foods. Give me a shwarma, some falafel, and a coke and watch me smile. Sorry if I mis-spelled anything, but you don't have to know how to spell it to know it's GOOD.
From a former American soldier to all the people posting ignorant comments about Islam, I would just like to point out that, in Afghanistan, I came into contact with many more Muslims who risked their lives to defend mine, than who tried to take it.
Glad your safe Nathan. May our world find peace one day. Your attitude towards Muslims is the beginning to it...
My attitude is the result of their actions. This would be an appropriate time for everyone to take a moment to think about the many Muslims who have died, and are dying, alongside Americans and other coalition soldiers. They far outnumber the terrorists who receive so much more attention.
Let's all fast forever from "Hatred"
Jesus Christ on a Bicycle... such hatred! Take a chill pill people!
This board is Exhibit A of why internet anonymity will be gone one day soon. Too many Keyboard Warriors who spread hate against others for no other reason than because they can. I'd love to be able to put a name and picture next to those who posted some hate-filled comments so we can expose the Islamophobes to the world at large and castigate them from mainstream society. They belong in the same dungeon as Breivik.
COME ON GUYS...LET'S ALL GIVE EACH OTHER A HUG AND A KISS (MUSLIM/CHRISTIAN AND JEWS) AND STAND FOR OUR DEAR BARAK OBAMA AND AMERICA....AND HELP OUR STRUGGLING PRESIDENT... MAY GOD BE AS ONE AND US ALL AS ONE !! LONG LIVE AMERICA.....by the way..that food is delicious
Kissing and hugging? I thought gays were stoned to death in Islam?
islamophoba and homophobia in the same mix. Wow. Say something about black people for extra points.
With Americans being so ignorant, I have no job. No one is willing to hire me. So Ramadan is blessing for me from not thinking about and being hungry. I have no money. So some rice and a can of soup will be my iftar. Still I would gladly give my food to those beautiful hungry Somali children if I could. So thank you God for the can soup and rice.
Thats tough man.. may your conditions change I hope things get better for you and your family.
Dude, it might not be halal but go to a freakin' soup kitchen and get some food if you need it.
CNN IDIOT JEWS....WE SEE YOUR WHOLE POINT, WITH ALL THE MONEY YHOU HAVE YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MISERALBE WITHOUT LAND ;)
I would like CNN to remove all those hateful comments. What a disgrace for Americans to represent themselves that way.
Sadly, most of these comments about Muslims are from people who have never come within 50 feet of a Muslim American citizen, yet they "know everything about them".
Well said.
No, must of us know followers of Islam. Out of the 7 families I know only one, who is not that adherent, who is a tolerant, productive family. They stayed with us after 9/11 when threats were being made to Middle easterners. But, the other ones I know, including the women on the PTA at my children's school are arrogant, bossy, demanding muslimahs who do not tolerate anything out side of their agenda. Grow up...some of us have and know the difference.
To Former wife of a Muslim: Sorry to hear that you were married to someone who obviously missed all the points of Ramadan. Having said, don't you think that judging an entire 1.6 billion of people based on your one/few muslim interaction is a bit unorthodox!
Peace! It isn't just him, it's his whole entourage! Them combined with the behavior of so many muslims worldwide leaves a bad taste in not only my mouth but many others. I was tolerant, I did marry him, I do have half muslim children....but I pray each and every day that my kids learn and love my faith as well and one day will choose NOT to follow their father's. If he were tolerant and worldly things could be different but he was not. So if I judge them it is because I have been in their world. And it is not something that is kind to a non-muslim.....not even one's wife.
Former wife of a Muslim: While I understand that Islam and Muslims took a sacre' coup ( a sacred beating) lately due to few individuals using their own agenda in the name of Islam, it is impossible to judge so many nations. There is good and bad in people in all religions. My uncle is married to a British women, she adores every member of our family and she is Christian. We feel blessed to have her in our lives...I do not mean to tell you how to run your life but before women marry outside of their religion and culture, they should really take their time and get to know the people they are going to be involved with. Marriage in Islam is like marrying the entire family, so when the family is no good, the marriage is doomed!
His family in Tunisia was wonderful when I visited them. I did my research...I asked questions about how women were treated in his world...."we are european in our thinking, we don't hit our women, we are open-minded we are NOT Middle-Eastern" ......and he was not until that first Ramadan. I still love his mother and siblings but they are not like he is either. Maybe it was his over-compensation for his sins in Islam while here in the states that made him a monster! And Yes, had I known and practiced my own faith THEN, I never would have been unequally yoked. I learned that God's word is wise.
If you are American and you live in the US and you are estranged or divorced from your husband you need to get your children on the Passpost Alert program with the US Dept. of State IMMEDIATELY. It's easy to do and will prevent him from taking your kids out of the country without your permission.
I was married to a muslim for 8 years and it was the most AWFUL time of the year for our marriage. He became a grade A jerk, hateful and demanding. Always angry because I would not participate in fasting though I never did eat in front of him. What ever closeness they feel to God during this time is not a love of God, it is a love of self because they try to obtain favor by deeds. So even their charity to the poor is not so much to be a good steward to others (whom in most cases must be muslims also for the zakat as I never saw him do anything for anyone who was not muslim) is done for the purposes of edifying themselves. Bunch of hypocrites.
So all muslims act the same way because your husband was a loser? get a life.
WHO TOLD YOU TO MARRY HIM YOU IDIOT ! JESUS WILL COME AFTER YOU!!!
I was married to a woman who I treated well – she left me for an abusive ex boyfriend. Should I conclude that all women are faithless and self destructive? Of course not. She was but not all women are. Thinking that all women are bad because one woman treated me poorly would be insane, don't you think?
I am not saying all Muslims are bad.....just that I don't see where Ramadan makes them any better either. I also stand firm in that they fast not to show love for God but what "rewards" they want to earn from Him. So it is self-serving.
@former wife: We all want the same things and we all ask/pray for the same things: Peace, safety and security for our families, protection for our children. If thats what you call self-serving then I guess muslims, jews, hindus and the rest of them are all self serving.
mmmmmm.......All those plates look so delicious and It's making me hungry. Whoever fasted today will be feasting tonight ! I'm one of them and I can't wait !! Bon Apetit mon amis,
like they respect other religions, who cares
Name one religion who respects another religion.
Peter, in the abrogated verses, Islam makes no provision for tolerance of other beliefs. This is Post Medina I'm talking about, dahling! Know your Islamic history.
Wow, there is so much hatered out there! Anyway, Happy Ramadan everyone. Ramadan is indeed a very special month and while I am grateful for the sense of community that I have found here, I still associate Ramadan with my childhhood in Morocco. What made it very special for me is that it was the month where all family members made efforts to visit each other and share the iftar meal together. My grandmother ( May she rest in peace) Started preparing for the iftar meal at 1 pm, she did graciously every day of the month. Our table looked so festive and colorful... The dishes varied from dates and a fruit juices to special moroccoan cakes especially prepared for Ramadan, soup etc. In Morocco and Algeria, the first meal does not consist of a big entree. It is more lots of goodies and snacks, after prayer, the family would have dinner usually late at night. Aside from the food, the beauty of Ramadan for me was the charity spirit that you witnessed all around. It was the month where you feel what the poor feel all year around, a month to give charity, feed the hungry and set a precedant for the months to come. It was simply beautiful and peaceful...
That is a really wonderful story. I was traveling in Morocco for a couple of weeks and was impressed by the warmth and happiness of many of their people. I really miss the mint tea :)
Thank you Chris R. The mint tea is indeed delicous :)
set a precedent for the months to come. What you talking about, ask to your brothers in line for 72 not so young virgins. I dont care about religion but what you guyz doing is hypocrisy, fasting and eating 3 times of single diet because you care/thinking about poor, same poor you’ll kill in couple of months anyhow. In real you kill because you cant co-exist with any other religions...............
Dude, seriously? Go down to your local mosque and talk to the Muslims there.
I am actually going to say something positive and say wow, that all looks delicious and that is quite a way to break a fast!!!
Is it all that disgusting food that makes Muslims smell so bad?
Ramadan Mubarak! A blessed Ramadan to you!
Wonderful Islamic Munajat,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5Kj0kdXFpU