Mormons Serve Muslims to Break the Ramadan Fast

Washington, D.C., metro area members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worked side by side with Muslims to prepare a meal, called Iftar, to break the Muslims’ fast on two separate evenings during Ramadan. Latter-day Saint women from the Potomac Ward (a congregation) in Maryland helped with food preparation June 17 at the Islamic Education Center in Potomac, Maryland.

On June 24, James R. Baird president, of the Washington D.C. Stake (similar in size to a diocese), and several other Latter-day Saints worked in the kitchen preparing food that was served to more than 2,000 Muslims. “What an honor to serve our Muslim brothers and sisters on Ramadan,” said President Baird. “There were a lot of cooks in the kitchen as Mormons and Muslims together assembled meals for the local participants. We were also able to help serve the meal which ended the day's fasting at sundown.” He said the Latter-day Saints were acting upon the gospel principle that “by serving our fellow men we were only in the service of our God.”

The mosque’s leader, Imam Bahraini, graciously accepted the Church’s offer to help with Ramadan. President Baird was a guest speaker at the mosque May 13. In addition to President Baird’s remarks, Mormon women prepared and served food to the Muslim women in the mosque. One Muslim woman responded, “This was the best thing that ever happened in our mosque!”

Both Mormons and Muslims fast as part of their religious beliefs to express devotion to God. Mormons fast once a month, usually on the first Sunday, for two consecutive meals and donate the money they would have spent on the meals to help those in need. Muslims fast from sunup to sundown during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, this year from May 27 to June 24. Ramadan is observed worldwide in remembrance of the first revelation of the Quran to the prophet Muhammad. Ramadan is a time for prayer, reading the Quran and performing good deeds.