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Large crowd gathers for annual Iftar Dinner at Woodland mosque - P 2
Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada said that earlier when she came Iftar Dinner she was always fasting but this year she could not fast because of long hot days.Meer Shams Nazir gave a thought provoking speech titled: "Islamic Ramadan and Fasting in Other Cultures." He pointed out that the Holy Quran says: Believers! Fasting has been made obligatory upon you as it was made upon those before you so that you become fearful of God.
Nazir referred to the ancient civilizations of Nineveh and Babylon which were once inhabited by the Assyrians. Bible says that "The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth." (Jonah, 3:5-8)
According to The Exodus, Moses was there (on Mount Sinai) with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant – the Ten Commandments. (34:27-28) Read full article of Meer Nazir
After Nazir's well researched speech Pastor Wendy Watson of Saint Luke's Church offered prayer before the meal.
Khalid Saeed, Public Relations Director of the Woodland Mosque, thanked all the guests for making the annual Iftar Dinner a successful event. Khalid Saeed is also the National Chair of the American Muslim Voice.
President of Mosque association Ahad Pervaz , who himself worked very hard to make this program a success, congratulated the Muslim Community of Woodland for actively participating in the program by attending the dinner.
He also thanked all the guests, and speakers for joining the Muslim Community in celebrating the month of fasting, and also he recognized American Muslim Voice and appreciated the organization for setting the example and hosting these community dinners nationwide.
Ahad Pervaz specially thanked Bashir Ahmad, Ali Khadim, Zahoor Ahmad , Khalid Saeed, Usman Sadiq, Shafi Silavi , Naseer Ahmad for their hard work in organizing the event and then a executing a picture perfect program.
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