As the muezzin’s call for prayer echoes through scores of mosques around the city and the faithful make a beeline to offer evening namaz, the image that comes to mind, particularly during the holy month of Ramzan, is of lavish iftar parties, held just before the evening prayers.
Not everyone, however, has the luxury of breaking their day-long fast at home or in their workplaces. This is where a few good men, who host the iftar for the rest of their brethren, come in.
The month of Ramzan, observed by Muslims across the world, requires followers of Islam to observe roza (fast) through the day, breaking it twice a day: sehri in the morning and iftar in the evening. While sehri is relatively easy, as it can be done at home before the workday begins, iftar is another story.
Every year, hundreds of Muslims from Mumbai, including homeless people, hawkers and office-goers, are welcomed by a select few across the city who host iftar in whatever spaces are available to them, in the true spirit of maah-e-muqaddas (holy month). The tenets of Islam state that hosting iftar during Ramzan is one of the noblest deeds.
One such community iftar is organised at Jamshedji Tata Road in south Mumbai during the evening peak hours, when scores of people come together. From people working in plush offices to hawkers taking time off from selling their wares, all of them savour snacks from a common meal every evening.
Akbar Khan (45), a resident of Worli, who runs a garment business in the subway adjacent to Churchgate railway station, has been hosting the iftar on this road for the past 25 years.
“When I started hosting iftar, I was only 18 years old and earned ₹100 per month. Back then, around 20 people used to come for iftar. I have prospered enough to be able to host over 100 people, by the grace of Allah,” Mr. Khan said.
He added that hosting iftar on a busy street is rewarding as it benefits several office-goers, labourers and passersby, who don’t have access to a place where they can break their roza and offer namaz.
One such beneficiary is Imtiaz Sheikh (22), who works in Churchgate and has been joining Mr. Khan’s iftar gathering for the past two years.
“My office doesn’t have any arrangements to break roza and offer namaz. I’m the only Muslim employee and iftar can’t be eaten alone. Mr. Khan’s gathering makes it possible to break roza with other members of my faith,” Mr. Sheikh said.
The only woman to join the gathering, a non-Muslim who declined to be named, said she is observing roza for the first time this Ramzan.
“I often visit the Haji Ali Dargah in Worli with my family and admire the teachings of Islam. I join Mr. Khan’s iftar gathering to break my fast every day and it’s delightful to have a meal together with so many people from diverse backgrounds,” she said.
A similar gathering is seen in Churchgate railway station’s subway, where the shopkeepers come together to break their fast every evening.
Tanvir Jasan (24), who sells belts in the subway, said he has been a part of the subway’s iftar gathering for the past nine years, and that breaking roza together gives him a sense of brotherhood. “When people pray together, even the good deeds of a single person in the group are enough for Allah to grant barqat (blessings or prosperity) to all of us,” Mr. Jasan said.
Yet another iftar gathering is put together by streetside hawkers near Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk. Ashfaq Khan (48), who has been selling garments in the area for the past 28 years, said that earlier, they used to offer namaz in Cross Maidan, but after it was fenced, they started using the footpath.
“Many hawkers don’t enjoy the privilege of having a shelter. We can’t leave our stalls behind and go to mosques, and hence all the hawkers contribute as much as they can to put together a decent iftar, which is then followed by namaz,” he said.
The iftar and namaz gatherings, however, come with rules that are followed to the letter. The organisers take the utmost care to make sure that no disturbance is caused to passersby, and people from all faiths are welcome to join in.