São Paulo – The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce has donated 500 food kits to Mesquita Brasil in the neighborhood of Cambuci in São Paulo. The entity usually celebrates the end of Ramadan – Islam’s holy month – by hosting an breaking-of-fast event for Islamic and Arab guests in its headquarters in São Paulo, but this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, decided to donate food kits for the mosque’s social work.
During Ramadan, which started on April 23 and is slanted to end next Saturday, May 23, the Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, and usually break their fast in evening collective meals called Iftar. The Arab Chamber regularly hosts an Iftar event. At the end of religious period, the largest of these celebrations, the Eid Al-Fitr, takes place.
“It was our way of celebrating Iftar, the holy month of Ramadan, which is a tradition at the Arab Chamber. And it is a very healthy way of going about it, by helping out families that need it as they go through this pandemic,” Chamber president Rubens Hannun told ANBA.
This year, the Muslims experienced a different Ramadan in Brazil and elsewhere, with families breaking their fast among themselves, as the mosques were closed to keep at bay the spread of coronavirus. But in Brazil, the mosques have intensified their social work, donating food kits and helping families affected by the pandemic.
Pictured above, the kits being received at Mesquita Brasil.
‘Translated by Guilherme Miranda
