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Ethical iftar offers Londoners an online challenge for Ramadan amid the coronavirus outbreak
LONDON: A green iftar that is usually celebrated in London goes online to help make post-fasting meals for Muslims more ethical.
The weeklong challenge also aims to keep Muslim Londoners connected during Ramadan amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Muslims will be encouraged to share iftar meals with family and friends in a safe environment as part of the iftar 2020 Ethical Challenge from May 4-10.
Participants can also give away food to neighbors and donate to food banks.
Reducing food waste, minimizing the use of plastic, and eating less meat are also on the iftar ethical menu. The challenge encourages participants to incorporate nature into their iftar meals.
It is recommended to have iftar in the garden and use homegrown herbs.
Iftar’s ethical challenge is a response to the coronavirus blockade in Britain that has left Muslims unable to organize community iftar meals or eat at their local mosques during Ramadan.
The challenge will encourage people to share iftar safely by observing social estrangement, while urging them to make their meals more ethical.
Challenge organizers typically host a green iftar during Ramadan for dozens of people at Rumi’s Cave, a center in the heart of London’s North West Muslim community.
Participants bring their own dinnerware and enjoy a plastic-free, three-course vegetarian meal with herbal teas and drinks.
Singers Sakinah Le Noir and Rabiah Mali, sisters who act as Pearls of Islam, came up with the idea of an ethical challenge.
The couple sings and composes religiously inspired music in Arabic and English, and runs community projects that aim to connect creativity and spirituality.
The two artists developed the idea after asking their Instagram followers how they were approaching Ramadan 2020 with COVID-19 restrictions in full force.
Le Noir said they were saddened by the number of people who were concerned about having iftar alone or lacking motivation during the holy month because their loved ones were not with them.
“I felt guilty because I am at home with my family,” he said.
“Every Ramadan we think of people who are alone, but this year many more people will be in that position. As someone so community oriented, this makes me sad.
“People will share photos and they will be reminded of the prophetic tradition of breaking bread with people, either virtually, or by donating money and helping at food banks,” he said.
