We kindly invite you to read this article on Ramadan, first published in 2022 at Dunaj instytut Dialogu
Ramadan is a time of unity and community. Gathering for the evening meal is one of the most common reasons people come together. During Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged more than at any other time to share their food and wealth with others, especially their neighbors. The rights of neighbors are strongly emphasized and respected in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad strongly recommended honoring these rights. Abu Dhar reports that the Messenger said: “When you cook soup, add more water to it, then look toward your neighbor’s house and take them some soup.”
When one of the Prophet’s companions said: “O Messenger of God, we eat, yet it does not fill us,” the Prophet replied: “Perhaps you eat separately?” They answered: “Yes!” He said: “Eat together and mention God’s name. Then there will be blessing in your food.”
In Islam, neighbors are encouraged to show mutual compassion—not only by sharing meals but also by exchanging gifts and greetings, and by sharing joys and sorrows. Because the concept of a “neighbor” is inclusive rather than exclusive, unity extends even to those who do not belong to the Muslim faith. Our neighbors include Christians and Jews alike. In Arabic, the word jaar (neighbor) applies to Muslims and non-Muslims, believers and atheists, friends and enemies, strangers and compatriots, the kind and the unkind, those living near and those living far away.
According to reports by Al-Uza‘i and Ibn Shihab in al-Bukhari’s collection of authentic traditions, a neighborhood comprises “forty houses in every direction (right, left, front, and back).” Ali ibn Talib, the Prophet Muhammad’s son-in-law and the fourth caliph, said: “Whoever hears the same call to prayer is a neighbor.” Some Muslim scholars state that anyone living in the same city or village is a neighbor. This view is based on a verse from the Qur’anic chapter Al-Ahzab(33:60).
The tradition of good neighborly relations between Muslims and Christians or Jews is affirmed by Islamic teachings as well as by history. For centuries, in many parts of the Muslim world, Christians and Jews—called People of the Book in the Qur’an—lived peacefully alongside Muslims, knowing that their lives, honor, and property were safe. They enjoyed religious freedom, good neighborly relations, and fair treatment. Their numerous places of worship, still standing on hilltops surrounded by thousands of Muslim homes, bear witness to this history.
Historical accounts tell us that the Prophet Muhammad encouraged kindness toward Christians and Jews. On his deathbed, the Prophet told Umar: “I entrust to you the People of the Book—Christians and Jews.”
And when Umar himself was dying after being stabbed, he warned: “I entrust to you the minorities living among us. Fear God regarding them and act justly toward them.”
Ramadan is a fruitful month that promotes peace, unity, and understanding of fellow human beings, especially non-Muslims. Ramadan dinners organized at the time of breaking the fast bring families and communities together. This aspect of Ramadan unites people of faith, and the presence of representatives of different religions in such a warm and friendly atmosphere creates an exceptional opportunity for interfaith dialogue.
Interfaith dialogue is the outcome of bringing together people of different backgrounds to transcend the boundaries that otherwise separate them. Conflicts between religious groups arise from a lack of mutual understanding and knowledge of one another. When people meet and have the chance to get to know each other, they discover that far more things connect them than divide them. This realization nurtures love—and love brings peace to our world.
By engaging in dialogue, Christians, Jews, and Muslims uncover many similarities among themselves, including shared holy scriptures. In Islam, the Torah and the Gospel originate from God, and the Qur’an confirms and completes their teachings. As mentioned earlier, the Qur’an refers to Christians and Jews as People of the Book. Abraham, who is mentioned many times in the Qur’an, is presented as an example to follow. His teachings inspire unity among the followers of the Abrahamic faiths.
The Qur’an includes several examples of Abraham’s hospitality and openness, serving as guidance for believers on how to welcome others: “Has the story of Abraham’s honored guests reached you? They entered and said, ‘Peace be upon you.’ He replied, ‘Peace be upon you—unknown people!’ He then quietly went to his family and brought a roasted calf. He placed it before them and said, ‘Will you not eat?’ When he saw that they did not eat, he became afraid. They said, ‘Do not fear!’ And they brought him the glad tidings of a knowledgeable son.” (Qur’an 51:24–28)
In recent years, many institutes and foundations for interfaith dialogue have organized Ramadan dinners attended by representatives of various religions. Positive feedback from participants demonstrates the great potential of this tradition to build unity, harmony, and understanding among people of all faiths. Many emphasized that Ramadan dinners offer an extraordinary opportunity for interfaith dialogue.
Dr. Whitney Bodman of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary said at one such dinner hosted by the Institute of Interfaith Dialogue (IID): “We need to learn more about one another… and that is the essence of our dialogue. But it is also about bringing healing, beauty, and grace into the world. Let it be so.”
Dr. Donald S. Nesti, director of the Center for Faith and Culture at St. Thomas University, highlighted shared roots in “Abraham and Muhammad” and in “Jesus, the son of Mary.” Dr. William Martin, head of the Department of Sociology at Rice University, moved by the sense of unity he experienced, said: “…It meant so much to me to see people in their religious setting, to see the warmth and kindness of people with whom I previously thought I shared nothing—yet our hopes are so similar.”
Ramadan is one; Ramadan is unity
Ramadan is the month of God, a wellspring of blessings and a time of peace.
Ramadan is a fountain on the road through the desert, a staircase to the stars and a gate to heaven.
Ramadan is the beloved month, awaited eleven months each year.
Ramadan is a beautiful hand that turns the entire world into a chapel.
Ramadan meals are a force that unites humanity.
Ramadan is a lighthouse in the darkness of the oceans, the sun that drives away darkness.
Through Ramadan, the sun shines across continents and protects the blessed people of the whole world.
If you reach Ramadan, wash your heart and soul in its garden, renew your promise and draw new strength…
We invite you to explore more posts about our activities in the field of interfaith dialogue HERE. To learn more about our Ramadan and our Association’s activities during this holy month, click HERE.
