Bishop Robert McElroy speaks to Imam Taha Hassane during the Islamic Center of San Diego 2018 Interfaith Iftar at the Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine restaurant in San Diego on Thursday. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)
An iftar is the meal eaten after the sun sets during Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims that represents when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. The Islamic Center of San Diego has hosted an interfaith iftar for over a decade,
The interfaith iftar strengthens friendships and promotes unity, Hassane said, emphasizing this year’s theme of “moving forward together.”
He said interfaith iftars are becoming more common across the U.S.
Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during Ramadan. On Thursday, the 16th day of Ramadan, that meant not eating or drinking anything between 4:21 a.m. and 7:51 p.m.
“Fasting is about more than just depriving ourselves from food and water. Fasting is showing restraint and that we have control of our bodies,” Hassane explained to the crowd. “Fasting is all about showing the goodness that we have.”