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Winnipeg Non-Muslim Educators Invited to Fast for a Day in Ramadan

A Manitoba Islamic group has invited non-Muslims involved in education in Winnipeg to join Muslim students by fasting for a day and joining a virtual iftar.

The Manitoba Islamic Association (MIA) made the invitation to teachers, teacherโ€™s aides, administrators, bus drivers, and trustees to join the fast and the virtual iftar on May 7, Winnipeg Free Press reported.

The idea came to Aadila Adam-Omer, a Grade 7 teacher at John Pritchard School in North Kildonan, after four teachers at her school fasted for a day at the first days of Ramadan. The four wanted to learn more about Islam and develop deeper connections with their Muslim students.

๐Ÿ“š Read Also: Heartwarming Stories of Non-Muslims Supporting Fasting Muslims

The fast was very successful as the heartfelt gesture touched many Muslim students and inspired Adam-Omer to host a larger event.

โ€œWhen the Muslim students heard what their teachers were doing, they were thrilled,โ€ said Adam-Omer of the 25 or so Muslim students at the school. โ€œThey were impressed the teachers wanted to connect with them at that level.โ€

โ€œI thought, why not make it bigger and involve other schools,โ€ she said.

Winnipeg Non-Muslim Educators Invited to Fast for a Day in Ramadan - About Islam

Understanding Islam

Those participating in the city-wide iftar will get a meal from the MIA and join a zoom conversation with members of the Muslim community to learn more about Islam, Muslims, and Ramadan.

โ€œRamadan is more than fasting,โ€ Adam-Omer said. โ€œItโ€™s also about coming together as a community, working past differences, and serving others.โ€

By going without food for a day, it also helps people become more aware of hunger, and what it means to not have enough to eat, she said.

The participants will go without food for a day, allowing them to better understand what Ramadan fasting is like for their students.

By participating in the fast, teachers can โ€œhelp them feel more comfortable,โ€ she said, noting teachers and others will then have โ€œfirst-hand experience about what itโ€™s like.โ€

Fasting Non-Muslims

There are other incidents where many non-Muslims have shown a strong passion for the month of Ramadan, and many of them chose to join Muslims in observing the month of fasting.

This year, a non-Muslim police officer from South Manchester is fasting for the entire month of Ramadan to support his Muslim colleague.

In 2019, a non-Muslim teacher in Lancashire fasted for the entire month of Ramadan to show support to her Muslim students who were taking their GCSEโ€™s.

In Dubai, Indian non-Muslim woman Sarbani Ghoshal was reported in 2018 to be observing every Ramadan, saying she is blessed with miracles during the holy month.

There is also a case of Nick Watson, a long-term British expatriate in the Emirates, having lived there for 20 years, and did not miss a single Ramadan.