Islamic Center of Wheaton break fast with interfaith dinner

Visitors to the Islamic Center of Wheaton were greeted with a warm communal embrace. Hundreds of neighbors and several elected officials showed up on the Annual interfaith dinner at the Islamic Center of Wheaton on Thursday, April 7th, 2022. The event welcomed many members of the non-Muslim community and neighbors with their family to the mosque.

The event was curated for the purposes of cultivating strong relations with the neighbors and the interfaith community of the Chicago area.

Over 200 people, including state and city officials and people of diverse faiths and backgrounds attended the Annual Ramadan Dinner, which also featured Speeches. The event was held at the Social Hall. Which was nicely decorated.

The Program was emceed by Haaris Uddin. He welcomes all guests to the ICW to breaks fast with Muslim. He also highlighted about Holy Ramadan is the most important Month on the Muslim calendar. During the Month of Ramadan all adult Muslims are required to abstain from food, water, and intimacy from sunrise to sunset for 29 to 30 days

The ceremony started with a recreation of the holy Quran by Imam Ibrahim Dardasawi, Imam ICW followed by a Translation by Ms. Hafsa Uddin. The welcome address is performed by the President of the ICW Abraham Antar.

" Today, we invite our neighbors and interfaith leaders to come share about different faiths and cultures," said President of Islamic Center of Wheaton Abraham Antar.

The theme of the event was "With Hardship Comes Ease" based on a verse from the Holy Quran. Organizers of the event said the event exceeded all expectations and was an incredible success.

Chief guests of the event were Phil Suess, Mayor of Wheaton and Pastor Amy Aimonette, Holy Cross Lutheran Church. The event also featured Shaikh Omer Haqqani, Vice President and Chairman of Outreach Committee who was the lead organizer of the event on behalf of the Board of Directors of ICW. “We Islamic Center of Wheaton resumed its tradition of Annual Community Dinner in the month of Ramadan after a two year break due to the pandemic,” said Haqqani.

Several other notable community members and politicians such as the former Lt. Governor of the state of Illinois, Evelyn Sanguinetti among others were also present for the event. The Islamic Center of Wheaton promised to hold more events such as an Open Mosque Day in the summer and throughout the year.

At the end prayer was performed before the breaking of fast concluded the ceremony.