By Khalida Sarwari
During the holy month of Ramadan, several Muslim community groups are coming together to participate in charitable acts and share meals at mosques throughout the Bay Area.
Ramadan is a month-long holiday during which observant Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and focus on spiritual purification and strengthening their relationship with God through prayers and charity.
To fulfill the obligation of charity, several community groups have organized events to help the poor and homeless.
On Aug. 20, the Rahima Foundation will distribute hot meals, hygiene packs, and T-shirts to more than 400 people in San Jose. The event, titled “Human Dignity Day,” will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the South Bay Islamic Association, located at 325 N. 3rd St.
Seven mosques throughout the Bay Area have planned a Ramadan iftar, a breaking of the fast dinner, from Saturday through Aug. 28.
“The most powerful way to combat Islamophobia and hate is by getting to know each other,” Bhawana Kamil, president of the Muslim American Society, said at a news conference in Santa Clara this morning to announce the events.
The Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara will host a dinner on Saturday beginning at 7 p.m. The venue is located at 3003 Scott Blvd.
Similar events will be held on Saturday at mosques in Oakland and Fremont. The Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, located at 1433 Madison St., Oakland, will host a program at 8:25 p.m. The Islamic Society of East Bay will host a program beginning at 6 p.m. The venue is located at 33330 Peace Terrace, Fremont.
The following day, on Aug. 21, the South Bay Islamic Association will host a program and dinner beginning at 8 p.m.
Also on the 21st, the Islamic Society of San Francisco, located at 20 Jones St., will host a program and dinner starting at 7 p.m.
Two South Bay cities will host a similar program on the last weekend in August. Saratoga’s West Valley Muslim Association will host iftar on Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. The address is 19848 Prospect Ave.
On Aug. 28, the Shia Muslim Association of Bay Area will hold an iftar event at 7 p.m. at 4415 Fortran Court, San Jose.
The dinners are complementary but reservations are required. For questions about reservations, call (408) 986-9874.
Several members of the American Muslim Voice Foundation are opening up their own homes to anyone who wants to experience iftar or celebrate Eid, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.
On Sunday, the organization’s founding executive director Samina Sundas will host a 6 p.m. iftar event at her home, located at 120 Park Ave., Palo Alto.
Reshma Inamdar, a member of the Safety, Education, Mutual Respect, Awareness and Hope group, or SEMAH, as well as the Northern California Islamic Council, will host an iftar event at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 19 at her home in Fremont. SEMAH is a referral organization for victims of domestic violence with a special focus on the Muslim and interfaith communities.
Kamil will host an Eid brunch at her home in Santa Clara. The event will begin at 11 a.m. at 2431 Monroe Road.
Reservations to the dinner at Inamdar’s house and brunch at Kamil’s home can be made via e-mail: asghazali786@yahoo.com.