Ramadan is a month of abstaining from food and drink, but it’s also a month dedicated to giving back to the less fortunate. The U.S. Programs team at Zakat Foundation of America organized Fasting for Humanity in partnership with Franciscan Outreach to shed light on homelessness in Chicago. The event consisted of music performances, spoken word poetry, raffle games, and speeches from individuals who previously spent time living on the streets. At Iftar time, or when Muslims break their fast at sunset, hundreds from the community were served a warm fresh meal.
“It’s the month of Ramadan and I wanted my kids to experience the act of serving the less fortunate in this blessed month,” says Bilal Aydoner, one of the organizers of the event. Although many of the beneficiaries from the event were non-Muslim, Bilal emphasized it was all about helping your fellow brother or sister in humanity.
“At the end of the day, whatever creed you belong to, it all reconnects,” added Bilal. “They can walk away from this event with the unity and divine love for God. My wife is a convert and she drew closer to Islam through activities such as this. This event shows how very close we all are.”
