Ramadan begins. Here’s where you can go for a traditional ‘Iftar’ dinner in South Florida
Friday marks the beginning of a month-long season of fasting, spiritual growth and reflection for billions of Muslims across the world and in South Florida.
Ramadan, the most sacred month in Islam, kicks off at sundown and concludes on Sunday, March 30 with a grand celebration, Eid al-Fitr.
During the holy month, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Fasting, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, is a vital part of Ramadan, the period when Muslims believe the angel Gabriel first revealed the Quran, Islam’s central religious text, to the Prophet Muhammad.
The month-long fasting period allows for “spiritual purification, rejuvenation, and detox,” according to Imam Azhar Subedar of the South Florida Muslim Federation, and the rituals unite the faithful. “We fast together, we break fast together. We visit each other’s houses and we feed one another. We pray together in the mosque and celebrate Eid together.”
The holy month is meant to help believers reflect on their actions while deepening their commitment to their faith. But, it’s also about helping those in need.
“For us in South Florida, many Muslim organizations and individuals will be carrying on the tradition of giving back to the community,” said Tehsin Siddiqui, president of the Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organizations (COSMOS), told The Miami Herald. “Ramadan starts a time of reflection, charity and healing from so much that has been going on in Muslim communities here in the United States and around the world.”
During the month, many Muslims will take part in food drives, charitable giving, and events that distribute meals to students, seniors and homeless people. The idea is to also continue charitable actions throughout the rest of the year.
Meanwhile, South Florida Islamic centers and mosques are gearing up for the holiday by preparing for prayer services and making catering arrangements for ‘Iftar’ dinners — or the celebratory meal where Muslims break their daily fast. But, the tradition is not just for believers.
This year, as in the past, many mosques will hold community Iftar dinners and Ramadan open houses to welcome non-Muslims to join them for the special nightly feast.
The Jaffer Center for Muslim World Studies, for example, is hosting its annual interfaith Iftar dinner at Florida International University on Wednesday, March 5th.
Last year, the dinner was accompanied by a panel of speakers from Judaic, Christian and Muslim faiths including Rabbi Robyn Fisher and Norman Hemming III, an administrative law judge, pastor and chaplain for the FBI who was recently a keynote speaker at COSMOS annual community dinner.
The public-facing Iftar dinners are meant to be communal events, where non-Muslims can break bread with Muslims and share in a small part of their tradition.
“Its a month of generosity, a month of goodness. So it’s in that same spirit that we have these open houses in mosques around the country,” said Imam Subedar.
Subedar said that at these events, people get to visit a mosque, often for the first time in their lives, and witness why Ramadan is such an important and joyful time for Muslims.
“It’s kind of like being in Costco and getting a taster but not the product itself.” Subedar said it also “helps build bridges and break down the barriers of ignorance and fears and phobias.”
Miami-Dade College will also host Iftar dinners — six dinners across six campuses this year for faculty and students and one for the general public.
The wider community is welcome to attend an Iftar dinner at Wolfson Campus on Monday, March 10th, hosted by the Jaffer Institute for Interfaith Dialogue and Education. The event will include an interfaith panel to discuss fasting with Rabbi Jaime Aklepi from Temple Beth Am, Rev. Juan Del Hierro from Unity on the Bay and Professor Iqbal Akhtar from FIU.
Here’s a list of other Iftar dinners at Miami-Dade College:
Monday, March 10th | 6:30-8:30 PM | MDC Wolfson Campus, Miami Culinary Institute
Tuesday, March 11th | 6:30-8:30 PM | MDC West Campus, Room 1102
Wednesday, March 12th | 6:30-8:30 PM | MDC Hialeah Campus, Room 5101
Thursday, March 13th | 6:30-8:30 PM | MDC Kendall Campus, Room 2108
Monday, March 17th | 6:30-8:30 PM | MDC Padrón Campus, Room 201
Thursday, March 20th | 6:30-8:30 PM | MDC North Campus, Room 3249
For a complete list of other Ramadan events that are open to the public, visit this page created by the South Florida Muslim Federation: https://soflomuslims.com/open-house-2025/
This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
This story was originally published February 28, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
