Sponsored by

“QAI Ramadan Iftar Series”

Program Summary

The Series
Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, the Qatar-America Institute “The word Iftar comes from
(QAI), with the support of Gulf Bridge International, hosted a series of
the word open. To open
iftar events in downtown Washington, DC.
our hearts & minds. Iftar
A staple tradition of Ramadan, iftar, which means “the breaking of everyday reminds me that
the fast” in Arabic, is the meal at sundown to break the fast shared
the sky’s the limit. To dream
amongst family and friends. After the Maghrib prayer, the fast is
traditionally broken by eating a date before feasting upon a variety of and think big. That Jews,
foods and drinks. In recognition of this tradition, QAI hosted four iftars, Christians, and Muslims
each highlighting an individual theme: the history of Islam in America,
can come together!”
interfaith commonalities, family heritage, and the shared traditions of
Ramadan and Islam.
- Imam Yahya Hendi

Islam, Ramadan & America

On the evening of May 17, QAI celebrated the first day of the holy
month of Ramadan with friends and members of the local community
by hosting the first in a series of iftars to take place during the month.
This inaugural iftar not only commemorated the beginning of Ramadan,
but also focused on the history and traditions of Islam in the United
States since the nation’s founding.

QAI’s first iftar celebration, “Ramadan, Islam, & America,” was led by
Amir Mohammad, CEO and curator of the American Islamic Heritage
Museum, an institution “dedicated to preserving and fostering
educational community engagement programs and opportunities Guests of all backgrounds chatting amongst themselves
at the first iftar of the QAI Ramadan Iftar Series.
that provide access to, and understanding of, the history of Muslim
Americans.” Mr. Mohammad provided a brief but fascinating overview
of the history of Islam in America, from Thomas Jefferson’s personal
copy of the Qu’ran to famous Muslim Americans to the number of towns
named “Mahomet” in the United States.

After his remarks, Mr. Mohammad gave the adan, or call to prayer,
before guests left to pray. Dates were then passed out, a traditional
method of breaking the fast in emulation of the Prophet Mohammad
(PBUH), followed by a full spread of Middle Eastern dishes. Some of
the dishes served were traditional to Ramadan, like harira soup or
luqaimat for dessert. For an added touch, machboos, a popular Qatari Guests viewing the “Islam in America” exhibit which
dish, was also served. depicts the rich history of Islam in the United States.

Guests enjoying their meal together. A guest reading about the history of Muslim women in Following iftar, guests were offered a variety of
America as part of the “Islam in America” exhibit traditional Middle Eastern cuisines and beverages.

@QatarAmerica qataramerica.org
 Sponsored by
“QAI Ramadan Iftar Series”
Program Summary

Islam & the World Religions

QAI’s second iftar celebrating he holy month of Ramadan had the theme
of “Islam & the World Religions,” which focused primarily on an interfaith
dialogue between Islam, Christianity and Judaism, and where the three major
religions share common ground and likeness among their respective faithful
followers.
Guests chatting before the start of iftar
QAI’s interfaith iftar welcomed three esteemed guests who conducted the
interfaith dialogue for all in attendance to listen and participate in. The first
guest was Imam Talib Shareef, President and Imam of the historic Nation’s
Mosque in Washington, DC. Imam Talib is a retired Chief Master Sergeant
of the United States Air Force after 30 years, and has served as an Imam
in five U.S. cities and seven military locations around the world. He was the
first Imam with military service to offer prayer at an opening session of the
U.S Congress, and also led the historic Islamic congregational prayer at the
Washington National Cathedral. He led, co-organized and spoke at various Imam Talib Shareef with the other speakers
peace initiatives and interfaith Ramadan Iftars nationally and globally, for
example at the White House, the Pentagon, and for the first and subsequent
Iftars hosted by an Israeli Ambassador to U.S.

The second special guest was Reverend Steven Martin, Director of

Communications and Development at the National Council of Churches of
Christ in the USA (NCC) where he represents a wide spectrum of Protestant,
Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace
churches from more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across A guest taking in the “Islam in America” exhibit
the nation. He’s also a filmmaker whose first major film found a lot of media
and public interest after 9/11. His new interfaith initiative called “Know Your
Neighbor,” an initiative born at a White House convention on religious pluralism
and focuses on the deeply personal effect on his understanding of humanity.

The third guest was Rabbi James Hyman, CEO of the Institute for American
Judaism and is an ordained rabbi and a member of the InterFaith Conference
of Metropolitan Washington (IFC). Rabbi Hyman believes in the value of
education, and being open, respectful, and welcoming when dealing with The panel of three interfaith speakers
interfaith matters, especially interfaith families and couples. He also believes
that the Jewish community has to be very sensitive to the different ways
that people do celebrate their identities and nurture them in an interfaith
environment.

Before celebrating the iftar, the three honored guests shared in a discussion
about faith, fasting, and the commonalities between the three religions they
each represented respectively. Imam Talib shared some stories about how
the early followers of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) where received by the Dates being passed out to break the fast
Christian king of Ethiopia since they too were “people of the Book.” The three
speakers shared some remarks on the importance of fasting for means of
achieving higher levels of spirituality, a practice that is referenced in all three
religions.

Following the dialogue, Imam Talib gave the adan, or call to prayer, to signal
to those who had been fasting that it is now permissible to break the fast with
dates and water. At this time guests were welcomed to a spread of traditional
Middle Eastern and Qatari foods, sweets, and juices, which was shared Following the iftar guests were treated to a
traditional meal featuring some Qatari dishes
together with everyone partaking in the experience.
Photography by James Bullock

@QatarAmerica qataramerica.org
 Sponsored by
“QAI Ramadan Iftar Series”
Program Summary

Islam & the Family Traditions

As part of its Ramadan program for this holy month, QAI hosted different
families and individuals for its third Iftar on June 4th, 2018 focusing on the
message of “Islam & Family Traditions.” This Iftar was an exciting opportunity
for community-building and cultural exchange around the diverse Ramadan
traditions practiced in Muslim families, especially in Qatar and the United
States. The role of Islam in the family, particularly the family dynamics with
women and children, was also highlighted during this Iftar’s speeches and Representatives of the ADAMS Center speak about
the Center’s work
exhibited gallery.

The evening started with QAI’s Fatima Al-Dosari narrating the story of
“Garangao,” a Qatari children’s tradition celebrated on the 15th night of
Ramadan. In Garangao, children wear colorful traditional clothing and jewelry
after Maghrib (Sunset) Prayer, and walk around their neighborhoods singing
the Garangao song and trick-or-treating. The Garangao tradition has been
celebrated for decades, and children from all backgrounds and nationalities
get to enjoy this annual celebration in Qatar. Nabila Chohan (right) of the ADAMS Center

Representatives from the All Dulles American Muslim

The ADAMS Beat Muslim youth choir performing for the
guests at QAI’s third iftar
Society (ADAMS) Center shared some American Muslim
traditions too. Hurunnessa Fariad, the Outreach/Interfaith/
Media Coordinator for ADAMS Center, and Nabila Chohan,
the Principal of ADAMS Sully Branch Sunday School
talked ADAMS Center’s activities and its surrounding
Muslim community during Ramadan. During the year
ADAMS Center trains its young American Muslim choir
called “ADAMS Beat,” a prominent Muslim Choir in the US.
The Iftar guests enjoyed hearing “America the Beautiful”
and “Ramadan Ya Habib,” (or “Ramadan O, Beloved” in
English) by the nine young boys and girls from the choir.

Before concluding the night’s program and beginning the Iftar, Marwan, a young boy from ADAMS Beat,
performed Adhan Al Maghrib, the sunset call to prayer which calls fasting Muslims to break their fast
and begin their Iftar. QAI distributed Garangao bags full of traditional candy and nuts to ADAMS Beat
members and the children among the audience.

The children of the ADAMS Beat choir being given “Garangao” treat bags after Guests were encouraged to take home books and materials
their performance about Qatar and Ramadan

@QatarAmerica qataramerica.org
 Sponsored by
“QAI Ramadan Iftar Series”
Program Summary

Islam, Culture & the Arts

For the final iftar of the Ramadan Program, QAI hosted
friends and families to focus on the message of “Islam,
Culture & the Arts.” This Iftar sparked conversations
about popular traditions seen in Qatar and throughout the
Middle East while allowing our guests to experience them
firsthand. Arab culture is a set of shared traditions and
beliefs that unites most of the twenty-two countries in the
Middle East.

While guests waited to break their fast, they enjoyed

Ebrahim El Subaie’s calligraphy work and had the
opportunity to have their name scripted by the artist Imam Yahya Hendi delivering his remarks on the spirit of
himself. Anisa Mohammad showcased her henna designs Ramadan and how to be “open” to one another
while sitting in QAI’s Qatari majlis. Guests also enjoyed a
live Oud performance by Muaz Edriss.

A young guest receives a henna design in
preparation for the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations
The evening kick started with a warm welcome from Douglas Smith, former
Assistant Secretary of DHS under President Obama and member of QAI’s
Board of Directors, who spoke about Gulf Bridge International, the largest
Qatari-owned private network in the Middle East. Imam Yahya Hendi, the
Muslim Chaplain at Georgetown University and Founder and President of
Clergy Beyond Borders, who was awarded the James Gettemy Significant
Ministry Award in 2002 for his work in progressing the relationship between
the followers of the three Abrahamic religions, shared some comments, and
gave the evening prayer.

Imam Hendi shared his story of becoming the first full-time Muslim Chaplain
at an American university. This story included the purpose of his hiring which
was mainly to educate non-Muslim students, faculty, and staff about the
Muslim faith, while also serving as a resource to Muslim students. In addition,
Imam Hendi educated the audience about Ramadan’s goal and the true
meaning of Iftar. “The word Iftar comes from the word open. To open our
Guests serve themselves after the iftar
hearts & minds. Iftar everyday reminds me that the sky’s the limit. To dream
and think big. That Jews, Christians, and Muslims can come together!”

Muaz Edriss (center) and his group performing traditional oud music at the iftar Caliigrapher Ebrahim El Subaie demonstrating Arabic calligraphy

@QatarAmerica qataramerica.org
 Sponsored by
“QAI Ramadan Iftar Series”
Program Summary

The Reach
The QAI Ramadan Iftar Series welcomed over 500 guests culmatively across four events within the month
of Ramadan. The guests who attended were comprised of different backgrounds: staffers from Capitol
Hill, members of local Muslim community groups, friends of QAI, members of different faiths, and people
of all ages.

The QAI Ramadan Iftar Series was housed on the QAI website under: www.qataramerica.org/iftar/. All four
iftars were covered and promoted via QAI’s social media channels (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.),
and the entire program will be compiled into a video showing the highlights of each event.

Additionally, a press release was sent out marking the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid-ul-Fitr. It
received 116 pickups from news outlets all across the country, with the average daily potential audience
reach of roughly 13.3 million readers/visitors from cities like Minneapolis, Tampa, St. Louis, San Francisco,
and many others.

Some of the outlets that shared out the press release include:

• Business Insider: Markets Insider • Business Journal of Greater Milwaukee

• Witchita Business Journal
• Washignton Business Journal
• Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal
• Triangle Business Journal
• Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area
• St. Louis Business Journal
• South Florida Business Journal
• Puget Sound Business Journal
• San Jose Business Journal
• San Francisco Business Journal
• San Antonio Business Journal
• Sacramento Business Journal
• Portland Business Journal
• Pittsburgh Business Journal
• Business Journal of Phoenix
• Philadelphia Business Journal
• Pacific Business Journal
• Orlando Business Journal
• Nashville Business Journal
• New Mexico Business Weekly
• Memphis Business Journal
• Business First of Louisville
• Los Angeles Business
• Kansas City Business Journal
• Jacksonville Businees Journal
• Houston Business Journal
• Denver Business Journal
• Dallas Business Journal
• Dayton Business Journal
• Business First of Columbus
• Cincinnati Business Courier
• Charlotte Business Journal
• Business First of Buffalo
• Boston Business Journal
• Baltimore Business Journal
• Austin Business Journal
• Atlanta Business Chronicle
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• Boston Herald
• Birmingham Business Journal

The QAI Ramadan Iftar Series was made possible thanks to

the support of Gulf Bridge International, a leading network
communications firm. For more information about GBI,
please visit: www.gbiinc.com

@QatarAmerica qataramerica.org