The setup is that many of the local municipalities host these “mass iftaars” in the cami (musjid) courtyards, free of charge for the public. It is especially arranged for those who will not make it home in time for iftaar or are travelling, but anyone is welcome. I was really keen to attend one such event to understand a bit more of Turkish culture, and to join other Muslims in opening our fast together, a special time for everyone who is fasting.
Our local cami in Etiler has the tables set up daily and so one evening we bundled up the baby and hopped on a bus, just two stops away about half hour before Maghrib prayers. There was plenty of space available when we got there, so we seated ourselves, and then joined the long queues of people who were getting ready to collect their iftaar platters, and to settle down before the adhan (call to prayer) goes off, signalling the end of the fast – and giving us all permission to tuck in!
Part of the reason for wanting to attend one of these mass iftaars was that I knew due to language especially, I would stand out as being different – and perhaps feel a bit uncomfortable and isolated. It made me realise that this is how it could be back home for others at public events where I am in my comfort zone – with familiar people that look like me, and speak the same language as me. I started questioning myself :
How inviting am I to people that look or sound different? Or do I stick with my own friends and ignore others around me? Do I welcome new people to join me, and ask them questions to learn more about them?
I was ashamed to realise that indeed I was not always aware or open to talking to new people or inviting them to join me. I possibly tended to keep with my own company, disregarding people who might be new to the event – and indeed new to Islam. How incredibly selfish of me! So for this reason, I wanted to be the “outsider” for once, to experience what it may feel like to be perhaps a bit isolated and not spoken to, in the hopes that this would inspire me to be more conscious of others at the next open event.
Attending the iftaar that day were lots of families, children happily meeting their friends and queuing up to collect their iftaar platters by themselves – I can see this being an exciting outing for all, and only in Ramadan which probably made it extra special to wait for once a year.
The iftaar platter we received was a neatly served up plate with mercimek (lentil soup), chicken, rice , fresh salad and also a sweet to finish. A really cute little presentation. On the table were dates and also bread and water to complete the meal. We took some homemade traditional South African Indian “sweetcorn bhajias” (deep fried fritter type savoury snacks) and left two servings on nearby ables to share with people seated there. I hope they liked it – I deliberately made it less spicy to cater for the unaccustomed Turkish tongue!
It was a lovely evening, cool after a hot day and our little toddler enjoyed walking around the courtyard while we listened to some Quraanic recitation being played from the musjid, and then when it was time, we heard the adhan and began eating. The food was decent- not the most incredible but that wasn’t what I was there for. Prior to iftaar my husband (who had attended these before), warned me that the portions weren’t huge, and he may need to supplement his iftaar with more afterwards at home, so I was prepared. However after having my portion of soup in addition to his platter, he was well satiated Alhamdulillah and so was I. There is always barakah in sharing iftaar, I just love this about Ramadan.
Our only social interactions that evening consisted of a) friendly gentlemen who was talking to my little girl and offered her some bread to occupy her when she was getting restless after being seated in her stroller for too long and b) a lady nearby who offered us hot pide to go with our soup (I was delighted to be noticed let alone anything else!) I was amazed how after living for one and half years in Etiler, I didn’t– recognise a single face- where were all these people coming from?!
The jamaah (congregation) for Maghrib prayers is weird – thats the only way I can describe it! because there isn’t really one large jamaah as you have at other salaahs. Instead, people complete their entire iftaar/supper and then go to pray Maghrib salaah inside the musjid. This means that you could join a small jamaah for Maghrib if you are lucky – or like us, just pray by yourself. This has consistently been the case in several musjids either my husband or I have been to. See, weird right?!
I really enjoyed my first mass iftaar in Istanbul. It reminded me of simple days growing up when we went to mass “meelads”- gatherings to remember the Messenger Muhammad (may peace be upon him). At age 6 or 7, I remember though being bored listening to the speakers give talks or recite songs, as we eagerly awaited lunch – delicious dhall (lentils) and rice which was served to us in huge plastic bowls that we had to dish out by ourselves. These plated iftaars in Istanbul, some twenty years later were really neat and sophisticated- it made me smile to think about the comparison! 🙂
I was really grateful for the opportunity to partake in the local community get together, and although not explicitly welcomed- welcomed none the less 🙂
Injecting the Ramadan spirit, one instance at a time.
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Truly Taskeen 