South Florida mosques open doors to everyone during Ramadan for bridge-building, charity and free food

Ramadan, the Muslim holy holiday of fasting, prayer and charity, begins the evening of Sunday, May 5 and now six Muslim associations and houses of worship are hosting open-house dinners to build bridges with other faiths and educate the public about the Islamic religion.

The events — coordinated by the Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organizations or COSMOS — will all take place in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties throughout May and have a free meal after sunset to break the fast each night.

The meals, called iftars, will comprise different cuisines, from Indian to Pakistani to Mediterranean. There may be others as well, according to organizers. Those interested in attending are asked to inquire about the food at each event and RSVP so they have enough food. Attendees are also asked to dress in modest attire.

“The idea is basically for our non-Muslim friends and neighbors to come visit the mosques, see what the mosques look like from the inside and to meet with the community,” said Shabbir Motorwala, a COSMOS founding member.