Faith & Friendship: Mayor to Host Annual Ramadan Dinner September 9, 2008

Mayor Bill White and Councilman M.J. Khan

Mayor to Host Annual Ramadan Dinner

 HOUSTON (September 9, 2008) – Mayor Bill White will host a Ramadan Dinner, marking the eighth year that the City of Houston will host area Muslims during the month of Ramadan.

WHAT: MAYOR’S ANNUAL RAMADAN DINNER

WHEN: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 – 6:30 P.M.

WHERE: City Hall Reflecting Pool – 901 Bagby St. @ Walker

Recognizing that Ramadan is a time for Muslims to come together as a community to attain the best that human kind can offer, Council Member M. J. Khan will once again join Mayor White and local Muslim leaders on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 for a brief program, beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by Iftar (breaking of the fast) with hundreds of area Muslims promptly at 7:37 p.m. Past Ramadan dinners have been hugely successful in gathering together the most influential Muslim leaders in the city with community members from all walks of life.

Ramadan is an important month for practicing Muslims because it is a chance to reconnect with Allah.  It is a month that allows individuals to purify their mind and soul and to learn from the experiences that come with self-sacrifice. Ramadan requires fasting from dawn to dusk, the hours when the human interaction is the greatest, to mold the lives of its practitioners.  Ramadan fasting offers an opportunity for Tazkiyah, – the cleansing of the self – through its disciplinary regimen. On another level, Ramadan offers a unique opportunity for individuals to connect with and provide for those less fortunate. Council Member Khan stated, “The Mayor’s Annual Ramadan dinner is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for both Muslims and non-Muslims to join together to share in the rich culture and religion of Muslim Americans.”

 

 

 

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