In the inter-religious meeting promoted for iftar – the dinner that interrupts the day of fasting for Muslims – Bishop Rehmat read a passage from the Gospel of Matthew on the meaning of penitential gestures: “On Easter and Eid, let us not forget the poor”.
Faisalabad () – This year, Lent coincides with Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, making this time a special occasion for Christians and Muslims in Pakistan. As every year, the Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad and the Diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue shared the iftar, the dinner that Muslim believers eat at the end of the day of fasting.
The dinner began after the recitation of the evening passage from the Koran, which was read by the Muslim Shahid Anwar. Next, Father Pascal Paulus introduced the event, describing it as an opportunity to share a moment of fraternity, despite the differences.
The Muslim cleric Allama Khurram Saifi also participated in the meeting and commented that it is not often that the two penitential periods coincide, so the Iftar becomes even more significant. “The month of fasting invites us to prayer, charity and tolerance,” said Saifi. “It is a true blessing that Lent and Ramadan have come together this year, and the invitation for Christians to celebrate iftar conveys a message of mutual acceptance and respect.”
A few days before the dinner, the Bishop of Faisalabad, Monsignor Inderias Rehmat, together with Father Khalid Rashid Asi and other religious, visited a shelter for women victims of violence (Dar-ul-Aman), and distributed more than 50 food packages in an act of almsgiving to mark the two strong periods for both religions.
During the Iftar, Mons. Rehmat expressed his gratitude to the Muslim religious leaders for their support in the most critical situations. Next, he read a passage from the Gospel of Matthew, explaining the meaning of the Christian fast. “Let’s not forget the poor,” said Mons. Rehmat-, but let’s do everything possible so that they can spend Passover and Eid with dignity. My prayer is addressed to our country, ”he said, so that it enjoys“ political and social stability.
After dinner, the Muslims celebrated the Namāz prayer near the cathedral, as a sign of mutual acceptance and reciprocal closeness.
