Al Rashid Mosque serves and shares iftar meal with vulnerable Edmontonians

Muslims at the Al Rashid Mosque shared a meal with vulnerable Edmontonians as part of Ramadan.

Members of the Al Rashid Mosque broke their fast with vulnerable Edmontonians on Friday.

Volunteers cooked a “Taste of Ramadan” dinner for iftar at the Boyle Street Plaza in what the mosque called a visible expression of the compassion and service that defines Ramadan.

Mohammed Tarabain, a volunteer on Friday evening, said breaking his fast by serving and sharing a meal with those in need embodies what Ramadan is about.

“Religiously, we have an obligation to help those who need help in various ways … This is a perfect way to get everybody to donate and offer physical labour,” he said.

“Seeing the community gather to help the vulnerable, I have no words. I see people happy. I’m happy that I was able to be part of this.”

The Al Rashid Mosque was built in Edmonton in 1938 and is the oldest mosque in Canada.

The end of Ramadan, also known as Eid al-Fitr, is expected to end on March 19 depending on the lunar calendar.