Vibes of harmony at Baitul Mukarram

As the time to break the daylong fast drew near, devotees started to fill in the premises of the national mosque Baitul Mukarram for Iftar. In a rare sight of harmony, people of all ages and from all walks of life sit there in groups to take Iftar.

Omar Faruk, a businessman from Bandar area of Narayanganj came for Iftar on Wednesday with his two sons aged 6 and 8 years respectively. Talking to Prothom Alo, he said he had come to a hospital in Shahbagh to visit an ailing relative. On his way back, he stopped at Baitul Mukarram so his sons could take part in the long-standing Iftar tradition at the mosque.

“Taking Iftar with hundreds of others is a new experience for them. I wanted them to know about the practice of harmony and equality in Islam where you will sit alongside people from different classes,” Faruk said.

Islamic Foundation organises the mass Iftar every day during the holy month of Ramadan. The authorities said that they host Iftar for around 4000 including women every day in the mosque.

Traditional Iftar items like muri (puffed rice), chhola (chickpeas), piyaju, beguni and jelapi along with fruits and sherbet was served on big platters. Some 5-6 persons formed circles around the platters to partake of the meal.

Habibur Rahman, an electronics shop owner from a nearby market, was having Iftar too.

He said he attends the Iftar in Baitul Mukarram with the staff of his shop. He thinks it fastens the bonding among them. 

As the city’s roads usually experience huge traffic gridlock at Iftar time, the Iftar organised by mosques give the city dwellers a sense of respite as they can attend the Iftar in the nearby mosque. They won’t miss breaking their fast because of the traffic.

Nahid Ahsan, a student of Uttara University told Prothom Alo he stopped for Iftar in the mosque as he realised he probably would not reach home in Uttara in time.

While volunteers of the mosque authorities were serving the food to the guests, an Islamic cleric was giving sermon from a makeshift stage on religious matters. Recitation from Holy Qur'an and prayer for wellbeing of the nation followed.

Abdul Hakim, a sexagenarian from Fakirapool, said he attends the Iftar to listen to the religious lectures and to attend the prayer in the huge congregation.

Attending the munajat or prayer with so many people has religious value, he said.

Deputy director of Islamic Foundation Rafiqul Islam said, people from all walks join Iftar at the mosque.

This year a budget of 2.6 million taka has been disbursed for Iftar in Baitul Mukarram mosque, he added.