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330 East Roosevelt Road, Suite G5, Lombard, IL
60148 -
Ph.: 630.629.7490 – Fax: 630.629.7492
Contact: Farhan
Younus, Esq. [Chair, CIOGC Media Relations Committee -
fyounus@ciogc.org, 630-926-5566]
PRESS
RELEASE
Chicago - Monday, November 17, 2003
CHICAGO MUSLIM-AMERICANS HOST ANNUAL
RAMADAN INTER-FAITH IFTAR
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 Iftar
(breaking of fast) on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 at 4:00
PM at the Islamic Cultural Center in Northbrook, Illinois.
Attendees will include leaders
and representatives of Chicago's diverse religions
including the Muslim, Catholic, Protestant and Jewish
communities. The Iftar and associated Muslim Maghrib
(sunset) prayer will be followed by dinner and the main
program, including featured speeches.
A featured event will be the
presentation of the CIO's Excellence in Citizenry award to
Mohammed Hussain. Mr. Hussain is a Chicago Muslim who
received great acclaim in the national media for returning
over $230,000.00 in designer jewelry accidentally left in
his taxicab to its rightful owner. "Mr. Hussain is
being recognized for his inspiring display of the
excellence in morals, ethics and sincere caring for fellow
beings that is the hallmark of a Muslim. As America
unfortunately faces a distressing vilification of Islam by
extremists, the Council is proud to highlight his laudable
actions as representative of the exemplary contributions
routinely made to American society by its Muslim
constituents", said Kareem Irfan, CIO Chariman.
Kareem Irfan, CIO Chairman, also
stated: "This Ramadan Iftar 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. Our
driving objective is to forge strong ties with our fellow
Americans of faith by countering the ignorance,
misperceptions and bigotry that threaten improved
understanding amongst us."
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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
November 25, 2003 by communal prayers across Chicago's
numerous Islamic centers and mosques.
The Quran, 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 Quran, 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).
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Event Details:
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
- 4:00 p.m.: Reception
- 4:30 p.m.: Iftar (breaking
of fast) & Maghrib (sunset) prayer.
- Dinner and program to
follow.
Islamic Cultural Center
1810 Pfingsten Road
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
(Directions from Chicago:
Tri-State, 294 North, exit at Willow Rd. East; 1 mile
down Willow Rd., Left of Pfingsten, go 1 mile to Islamic
Cultural Center on left)
NOTE:
ATTENDANCE IS BY INVITATION ONLY
PLEASE CONTACT:
Farhan Younus, fyounus@ciogc.org, Ph. 630-926-5566
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