330 East Roosevelt Road, Suite G5, Lombard, IL 60148 - Ph.: 630.629.7490 – Fax: 630.629.7492
Contact: Farhan Younus [Chair, Media Relations Committee - Ph.: (630) 926-5566
Email: fyounus@ciogc.org]

PRESS RELEASE
Chicago - Friday, November 13, 2002

CHICAGO MUSLIM-AMERICANS HOST ANNUAL RAMADAN INTER-FAITH IFTAAR

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIO), an umbrella organization representing over 400,000 Muslims throughout Chicagoland, will host its annual inter-faith Iftaar (breaking of fast) on November 26, 2002 at 4:00 PM at the Islamic Foundation of Villa Park.

The theme for this major interfaith event is "Countering Religious Bigotry and its Devastating Impact in Current Times" and promises stimulating presentations by featured speakers, including His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, Rev. Paul Rutgers, Executive Director, Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, CIO Chairman, Kareem Irfan and columnist Salim Muwakkil. Attendees will include leaders and representatives of Chicago's diverse religions including the Muslim, Catholic, Protestant and Jewish communities. The Iftaar and associated Muslim Maghrib (sunset) prayer will be followed by dinner and the main program, including featured speeches and a brief preview screening of the upcoming PBS documentary "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet", which will be aired in December across America.

Kareem Irfan, CIO Chairman, stated: "This Ramadan Iftaar has become the flagship Inter-Faith event of the Council. It is fitting that during Ramadan, the holiest of months for Muslims, we welcome our brothers and sisters of faith into our house of worship and hopefully into each other's hearts as part of long-term relationships. Our driving objective is to forge strong ties with our fellow Americans of faith by countering the ignorance, misperceptions and bigotry that can threaten improved understanding amongst us."

**************************

Background on Ramadan:

Ramadan is the holiest month on the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures and distractions, from break of dawn to sunset. The fast is performed to obey God's commandments, while learning discipline, self-restraint and generosity. Fasting, along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca are the five basic "pillars" of Islam. The beginning and ending of the Islamic lunar months depend on the actual sighting of the new moon. The start and end dates for Ramadan may vary as a result, and the month begins about eleven days earlier each year. The end of Ramadan is marked by the "Eid ul-Fitr," or Feast of the Fast-Breaking, and will be celebrated on December 6, 2002 by communal prayers across Chicago's numerous Islamic centers and mosques.

The Qur'an, Islam's revealed text, states:

"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you, as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) Piety, Fear and Remembrance of God...Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting..." (Chapter 2, verses 183 and 185).

********************************

Event Details:

Tuesday, November 26, 2002

4:00 p.m.: Reception
4:30 p.m.: Iftaar (breaking of fast) & Maghrib (sunset) prayer Dinner & Program to follow.

Islamic Foundation of Villa Park 300 West Highridge Drive Villa Park, Illinois 60181

(Directions from Chicago: Eisenhower, 290 West, to I-88 West Ramp; exit Roosevelt Road West; 2 miles down, Right to Ardmore Ave.; Left on Highridge Road)

NOTE: ATTENDANCE IS BY INVITATION ONLY

PLEASE CONTACT: Farhan Younus, fyounus@ciogc.org, Ph. 630-926-5566

*********************************************************