Mosques in East Lancashire will be opening their doors next Saturday, May 18, for Muslims and Non-Muslims to come together and share Ramadan iftar meal, Lancashire Telegraph reported.

“We want to open up to the community to join us for the fast opening. We want to introduce our Mosque and the work we do here. Not everyone knows much about Ramadan, except that we don’t eat,” Mohammed Qureshi at the Dar-Es-Salaam Education Centre in Blackburn said.

“People don’t know how Muslims spend the month, but this is a time of reflection and not just abstaining from eating. It’s like recharging and coming back to faith and good actions.”

The Dar-Es-Salaam Education Centre in Blackburn is among those hosting open iftar.

Other places involved include Masjid-al-Momineen on Ash Street, Nelson’s Jamia Masjid Minhaj-ul-Quran, and Positive Start Dawah Centre in Rawtenstall.

Non-Muslim guests can attend and listen to a short speech about what Ramadan really is beyond fasting.

They will be given tours of the mosques, information on what they do and offer, and finally, everyone will be invited to sit down and eat for the opening of the fast.

“Typically, many mosques will not allow women and children, but we want to do this to encourage them to come more often and hold any events,” Qureshi said.

Muslims are currently observing the holy month of Ramadan which started on May 6.

During fasting from dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to be closer to Allah through prayers, self-restraint, and good deeds.

Joined iftar meals have become a basic part of the holy month, during which people come together.

On Sunday, British Muslims, Christians, Jews and others of faith, along with those of none gathered for the 2019 City Circle Interfaith Iftar at St James’s Church in Piccadilly.

Earlier this month, the Naz Legacy Foundation delivered the first ever iftar at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on May 7, bringing together British Muslim and non-Muslim leaders.