NEW YORK – Showing their city as welcoming to all faiths, Muslim grassroots movement MPower Change and the New York State Immigrant Action Fund have decided to host an Iftar at Trump Tower.
“On June 1st, MPower Change and the New York State Immigrant Action Fund will bring New York communities together for an iftar at Trump Tower,” a page on Facebook says.
“Let’s remind this President during Ramadan that this is Our New York.”
The event has attracted people’s attention with hundreds sharing it and expressing their interest in attending.
New Yorkers will come together in community on Jun 1st @ 7:30pm at Trump Tower for an Iftar during Ramadan. Join us! https://t.co/mrSU6u9ziG
— Anu Joshi (@anu22) May 24, 2017
-It was Ramadan & I had the most beautiful piece of boorek u can imagine! That big! And I thought “Islam is good!”. pic.twitter.com/E4c3TfYVoq
— ToOpHyK (@Toophyk) May 16, 2017
Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims, started on Saturday, May 27.
During the holy month, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.
Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.
It is customary for Muslims to spend part of the days during Ramadan studying the Noble Qur’an.
Many men perform i`tikaf (spiritual retreat), spending the last 10 days of the month exclusively in the mosque.
The Trump Tower iftar plans were announced as it remains unclear whether the US President will host the official annual White House Iftar event this year.
The White House iftar is a tradition that began annually under President Clinton and was continued by President George W. Bush.
And according to the Washington Post, the tradition can be traced to over two centuries ago.
“The first documented White House Iftar occurred more than 200 years ago, when President Thomas Jefferson hosted the Tunisian envoy Sidi Slimane Mhlmyla on Dec. 9, 1805, to discuss the issue of piracy in the Mediterranean Sea.”