The tents of our fathers: what mosques will accept free at the breaking of fasting of Ramadan
The scale of the preparations for the fasting month is staggering — we are talking about tens of thousands of people who are willing to accept Allah at their homes and about donations at millions of rubles
With the Sunday sunset for more than a billion of Muslims there comes the month of fasting — Ramadan. This year the sawm will be during one of the longest summer days. On the threshold of the fasting month Realnoe Vremya learnt from the believers how they are preparing and how much of them the Kazan mosques are ready to accept at iftar. The scale of the preparations is astonishing — we are talking about tens of thousands of people and millions of rubles of sponsor donations.
Few believed …
The imam-mukhtasib, the imam of the the Märcani Mosque Mansur Jalaleddin recalls in an interview with Realnoe Vremya that in the 1990-s, when only near the Märcani Mosque there was a tent, he prayed and hoped that in different parts of Kazan there would be tents and there would be collective first meals after fast — iftars.
'Then it was hard to believe, although it has been relatively recently. God must have heard our prayers. Now we have in Kazan 80 parishes. 60 out of them mosques — working. More than 50% of them conduct iftars: someone inside the mosque, someone in separate tents under a canopy or under the open sky. The exact statistics I can only say in the first ten days of Ramadan. Many people worry. Iftar organization needs a lot of money: at least 150-200 rubles per person. Therefore, not all the mosques will be able to feed so many people. If we have sponsors, those who wishing to donate to Ramadan, the mosques will hold iftars, says the hazrat. 'Those who sponsor, they ask not to announce names, fearing that the donation will go to waste. They don't do that in order others tell about them good things. Also, I do not want to name the heads of large companies, who observe the sawm, otherwise, it will be boasting. Although many famous people, they want to keep secret.'
The Deputy Chairman of MRB RT, the imam-khatib of the Yardem Mosque Ildar Bayazitov adds that now it is the longest light days, it is more difficult for people to observe the fasting. 'Although I know (22 years in a row I observe fasting in Ramadan), it is not so hard, if you sincerely come to it. We have been holding collective iftars for already 15 years,' concluded the priest.
The money are given by many entrepreneurs and officials
According to Bayazitov, collective iftars will be held in all mosques of the city. At the same time, at some of them there will be 'Ramadan Tents' — temporary indoor constructions with tables and chairs where the fasting people will be able to have meal after fast.
'The biggest tent will be at our Yardem Mosque, where it is planned to feed a thousand people a day. In the tent we will have a tamada (a master of ceremonies – editor's note). Each day will be themed. Short presentations of people. We have blind people, with disabilities. Who is the tamada? The famous presenter — Gamill Nur. He will entertain the guests. Tents will also be at the mosques Märcani, Kazan Nury, and Zakabannaya. In general, in every mosque there will be held iftars. There will be 50-100 people and more. As for the Yardem Mosque, we have someone every year who holds iftar — the leaders of the Republic, businessmen. It is people who want to make a blessed thing, to contribute. As for the President, the exact date is still unknown. We are planning the iftar at the rate of 200 rubles per person,' says the rector of the Yardem Mosque.
According to Mansur hazrat, every year the President of Tatarstan selectively gives money for iftar at some mosque, but it is not advertised. 'This year we do not know which mosque he will choose. Ilsur Metshin tries to hold iftar in all mosques. Many heads give money to hold iftar in all mosques — this also does take place,' says the imam-khatib of the Märcani.
Generally in Kazan, according to Mansur hazrat, it will be possible only in the middle of Ramadan to bring the statistics of how many mosques will accept fasting ones. 'But in order to prepare and conduct an iftar for 200-250 people, it takes almost the whole day. Three hours for preliminary preparation, and two hours to cook meal on the stove. In short, at least 5-6 hours. Then you need to set the table, then clean, wash,' summed up the hazrat.
Everybody is welcome at the stadium
As it is known, the most mass iftar will be held at the Kazan Arena stadium on 22 June. There will be 10 thousand people. It is conducted by the Muslim religious Board of Tatarstan, the Muslim Entrepreneurship Association (APM) of Russia and the management of the Kazan Arena stadium. 'How much will be spent — I can't really say. The funds — from members of the APM. The menu will be as last year: pilaf, fruits, greens, pastries. Among the guests there will likely be the Republican leadership, including the Ministers, the elite. Perhaps, the mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin will be there. A collective namaz will be held right on the pitch,' says Bayazitov.
The interviewed imams say that in the framework of the iftars there also will be the educational programme. Somewhere there will be preachings, somewhere — lecturers. 'Before the Tarawih prayer in every mosque the Quran is read or the sermon. In our mosque the chatma of Quran (the complete recitation of the Quran) will also be every day — one juz (1 / 30th part of Quran). In Tarawih (special namaz in Ramadan — editor's note), surahs will be shorter, as the nights are short. People need to come home quick, at 1.m. ends a morning meal,' promised in the Yardem Mosque.
On the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr) in addition to the special for Ramadan Tarawih prayer there will be read an additional namaz. 'It is known that this night is better than a thousand nights,' says Bayazitov.
The schedule of the Ramadan month
How the business has organized itself
Murat Akhmerov, Director General of the A-development company, said that Muslim entrepreneurs this year has also organized and will implement the project 'Ramadan Tent', where will be a cultural programme, the speeches of eminent political figures, famous people. It will be held under the tent on the site of the Tugan Avylym restaurant complex. There will be a daily iftar for 200 people.
'The mufti has confirmed his participation in the opening, as last year, there have been invited the metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Feofan, the chief rabbi of Tatarstan Yitzhak Gorelik, i.e. the representatives of other faiths. 'This year we have also invited them and hope that they will come,' says Akhmerov.
As for the menu of iftars in the 'Native village' (the translation of Tugan avylym), they will feed every day, there will be fruits, salads, and first course. 'They will feed so to eat but not overeat, so that it would be healthy. The concept assumes that people do not just eat, but each day is devoted to a certain topic. For example, some of them — to the Koran, some – to zakat, the other — to the preachers,' says Murat Akhmerov.
How much does it cost?
The site was provided by the co-owner of Tugan Avylym entrepreneur Radik Abdrakhmanov. It is for his project that people relate to the organization of iftar for 10 thousand people at the Kazan Arena stadium.
The Muslims, including businessmen and ordinary people, help to organize by their participation. The project budget is about 2 million rubles. One day of the iftar — 45 thousand rubles, it is designed for 200 people. 'Our company has taken the responsibility to conduct one day of the iftar, we also invite all colleagues and partners to take part in this good work,' says the head of A-development and adds that helps in breaking fast in the Yardem Mosque. 'There was a meeting of the Board of Trustees, on which it was said that a part of days is closed (referring to funding — editor's note), and a part of them is not yet. Therefore, it is possible to help. It is quite difficult to start the first days — people's hearts are revealed incrementally. In Yardem Mosque the cost of the one day — 200 thousand rubles'.
The largest collective iftars in Kazan
The places of collective iftars | The number of those who is breaking the fast |
Kazan Arena stadium* | 10000 |
Yardem Mosque | 1000 |
Märcani Mosque | 250 |
Tugan Avylym restaurant and entertainment complex | 200 |