In order to promote communal harmony, NGO Jama’at-e-Islami Hind organizes Ifthar Party across the nation every year during the holy month of Ramadan. The Coimbatore chapter of the NGO recently organized an Ifthar Party at the Masjidh-ul-Ihshaan in Karumbukkadai. About 700 people from different religions attended the event.

The evening began with non-Muslims interacting with Dr. K.V.S. Habeeb Muhammad, who serves as Joint Secretary of Islamic Foundation Trust, Chennai. He patiently answered the questions put forth by the audience. This was followed by the Muslims breaking their fast at the mosque. At the mosque, Muslims offered their evening prayers. The audience (non-Muslims) watched in silence. Women too were permitted to visit the mosque.

The evening concluded with dinner that included a lavish spread of vegetarian and non- vegetarian dishes. Dinner was served at Islamiyah Matriculation School, Karumbukkadai. “This year, on the last two days of Ramadan, on July 4 and 5, we have plans of distributing about 100 bags of good quality rice to the needy. Each bag will contain about 50 kilos of rice. Last year we gave away 80 such bags. With the help of our volunteers, we are positive that we can achieve this number this year,” M. Abdul Hakkim, Public Relations Secretary, Jama’at-e-Islami Hind, Coimbatore chapter, says.

He also shares with us that the Coimbatore chapter of Jama’at-e-Islami Hind is also distributing kits containing groceries and cooking essentials to Muslim families who cannot afford to buy them. These kits, we are told, are being distribute by the NGO throughout the month of Ramadan. The NGO intends to give away 1,000 such kits this year. So far 350 kits have been distributed. The volunteers identify the deserving Muslim families and the kits are handed over to the head of the respective family at their homes.