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Muslims across the world will soon begin observing Ramadan, a month of prayer, fasting, and charity. Muslim communities in Minnesota will host events the next several weeks to commemorate the holy month. 

Ramadan will begin on the evening of Wednesday, March 22, with the first fast starting Thursday, March 23. It will end with a worldwide celebration of Eid al-Fitr tentatively on Friday, April 21. The holiday commemorates the month when the Qur’an, the Islamic holy book, was first revealed more than a thousand years ago. 

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic 12-month calendar. The calendar is a lunar cycle, so Ramadan falls at different times each year.

Observing Muslims who are physically capable abstain from food and drink daily from dawn until sunset during Ramadan. Along with fasting, Muslims spend the month bettering themselves and treating others with kindness. They also pray throughout the day and night and read the Qur’an.

At sunset, Muslims break their fast with family, friends, or on their own. Muslim-led organizations and mosques typically host free iftars, or breaking of the fast, for Muslims to come together for food, prayer, and community.

Mosques and Muslim organizations also host fundraisers, volunteer events, and halaqas, or classes about Islam. In the evenings after breaking their fast, Muslims often attend their local mosque for taraweeh, the night prayer.

Sahan Journal compiled a calendar of events at mosques and local organizations. We’ve confirmed these events with the host, but your local mosque may be holding more events.

Do you have a Ramadan community event to add to this calendar? Please reach out to  hansari@sahanjournal.com (use the subject line “Ramadan 2023”), and we’ll plan to add it to our directory.  

Here’s how you can celebrate Ramadan in Minnesota this year:

Sisters Need a Place (SNAP) Pamper Yourself Ramadan Night

Location/time: 5 p.m. at ZaRah, 1200 West Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411

Rabata’s weekly iftar for women and girls, ongoing event

Rabata’s weekly iftar for women and girls

Location/time: 3533 Lexington Ave. N, Arden Hills, MN 55126

Contact: Michelle Sekusky at bookshop@rabata.org

NorthWest Islamic Community Center annual Ramadan fundraiser

Location/time: 5:30 p.m. at 3300 Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth, MN 55447

Contact: Hebba Aburia at (612) 298-0567 or 

Location/time: 5 p.m. at Mounds View Community Center, 5394 Edgewood Dr, Mounds View, MN 55112

Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar across Minnesota, ongoing event

Location/time: Find a full list of dates, locations and times 

 for several events occurring across the state.

Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event

Location/time: 7 p.m. at the Islamic Center of Twin Ports, 145 West Winona Street Duluth, MN 55803

Rabata’s halaqa Sundays for women and girls, ongoing event

Rabata’s halaqa Sundays for women and girls

Location/time: 1:30 p.m. at 3533 Lexington Ave. N, Arden Hills, MN 55126

Contact: Michelle Sekusky at bookshop@rabata.org. Classes led by Tamara Gray.

Location/time: 6 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, 3131 Campus Dr, Plymouth, MN 55441

Contact: Abdullah Fadhli at (708) 247-4581 or Muhammad Hafeez (312) 728-0114

Location/time: 7 p.m. at Masjid At-Taqwa, 1608 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108

ARAHA: The American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa (ARAHA) drought fundraiser iftar

Location/time: 5:30 p.m. at John P. Murzyn Hall, 530 Mill St. NE Columbia Heights, MN 55421

Location/time: 6 p.m. at Mounds View Community Center, 5394 Edgewood Dr, Mounds View, MN 55112 

Location/time: 7:15 p.m. at Wisdom House, 222 East Walnut Street, Mankato, MN 56001

Council on American-Islamic Relations Minnesota Annual Iftar

Location/time: 5:30 p.m. at the University of Minnesota Coffman Union, 300 Washington Avenue Southeast Minneapolis, MN 55455

Muslim American Society Food Shelf, ongoing event

Location/time: 11 a.m. at 15400 S Robert Trail, Rosemount, MN 55068, every second Sunday of the month

Cost: Free food distribution on a first-come, first-served basis

Location/time: 6 p.m. at the Muslim American Society in Maple Grove, 10186 Lancaster Ln. N, Maple Grove, MN 55369

Hibah Ansari

Author

Mosques and community groups across Minnesota are hosting several events to celebrate Ramadan, including interfaith dinners and special events for women and girls.

Want to find ways to give back, celebrate and build community during Ramadan? Here’s a list of free and ticketed events across Minnesota

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