"We haven’t had anyone come out to fast, but we are still inviting people. If they wish to keep a fast with Muslims for a day, they are most welcome, they can come to us, and we can give them basic guidelines."
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| Photo: James Wood/Lloydminster Meridian Booster/Postmedia Network |
Source/Credit: Meridian Booster
By James Wood | July 7, 2015
Lloydminster residents have a chance to try something new.
Throughout the time of Ramadan, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Canada has been running a program in cities and towns across the country, inviting non-Muslims to participate in the time of fasting during Ramadan.
According to Tariq Azeem, imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Lloydminster, there has yet to be a person from Lloydminster to come out and fast with members of his congregation. However, there has been interest in the program.
“We haven’t had anyone come out to fast, but we are still inviting people,” said Azeem. “If they wish to keep a fast with Muslims for a day, they are most welcome, they can come to us, and we can give them basic guidelines. If they wish to keep the entire day fast, it won’t be that hard. Over a billion people around the world can do it.”
Azeem said the program launched shortly after the start of Ramadan, back on June 18. He said he encouraged members of his congregation to tell co-workers and friends about the initiative. However, the success of that particular outreach was hard to gauge.
“It is possible, because once the scheme was launched, different people were approached on different levels,” said Azeem.
“I haven’t collected the data regarding if any of those people were actually asked, or got to the point where they fasted. I will remind our members to approach their friends.”
In the meantime, the program continues to be available for any residents of Lloydminster who want to try their hand at fasting for the day. Azeem said that he hopes the experience can help break down cultural barriers in the Border City.
“We will continue this, because we want to remove any gaps in the community,” said Azeem.
“In Muslim communities and non-Muslim communities we want everyone to experience what Muslims experience in their lives. It is a way of bringing people closer. I’m sure that this is not just a this-year thing; we will be doing it in the future as well, God willing. The purpose is that gaps are removed, misconceptions are removed, and people also get to experience what Muslims are experiencing.”
Read original post here: Canada: Border City residents invited to fast
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