Iftar

[박대선]

Iftar

55 languages

• Article
• Talk

• Read
• Edit
• View history

Tools

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

•  
•  

•  
•  

Appearance

 hide

Text

• Small

  Standard

  Large

Width

• Standard

  Wide

Color (beta)

• Automatic

  Light

  Dark

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chowk Bazar iftar market

A 2005 iftar in Cairo

Iftar serving for fasting people in the Imam Reza shrine

A 2016 iftar buffet in a hotel in Riyadh

MealsMealsComponents and coursesRelated concepts

Part of a series on

• Suhur
• Breakfast
• Second breakfast
• Elevenses
• Brunch
• Lunch
• Tea
• Merienda
• Tiffin
• Dinner
• Supper
• Iftar
• Siu yeh
• Snack
• Combination meal
• Kids' meal

• Full-course dinner
• Tasting menu
• Amuse-bouche
• Hors d'oeuvre
• Soup
• Entrée
• Roast
• Main course
• Salad
• Side dish
• Entremets
• Dessert
• Savoury
• Meal preparation

• À la carte
• Banquet
• Buffet
• Cuisine 
  • list
• Drink
• Eating
• Food
• Grazing
• History of breakfast
• Kamayan
• Table d'hôte
• Table manners
• Table setting

• v
• t
• e

Iftar (Arabic: إفطار, romanized: ifṭār) is the fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims in Ramadan at the time of adhan (call to prayer) of the Maghrib prayer.

This is their second meal of the day; the daily fast during Ramadan begins immediately after the pre-dawn meal of suhur and continues during the daylight hours, ending with sunset with the evening meal of iftar.

In 2023 UNESCO added iftar to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.[1]

History[edit]

The history of iftar is confirmedly deep-rooted in Islamic tradition. It traces its roots to the life of Islamic Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century, when he broke his fast with food and water, establishing a tradition widely emulated by Muslims around the world.[2] The communal aspect of iftar where meals are shared among people help ensure solidarity and community ties.[3]

Iftar has evolved into a rich socio-cultural tradition, this was especially evident during the Islamic Golden Age when affluent individuals would host lavish meals to encourage charity and unity among Muslims.[3] Over time, this practice spread across Muslim-majority countries. Example of such, is the tradition of hosting iftar at the Imam Reza shrine in Iran which has been ongoing for 332 years, highlighting iftar's deep cultural roots.[4] In recognition of its importance, UNESCO designated iftar as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2023, celebrating its role in fostering family ties, promoting charity, and preserving cultural heritage.[5][6]

Up till today, iftar practices differ across regions and countries but it continue to hold deep spiritual and communal significance. Breaking the fast traditionally begins with dates and water, but the dishes served are influenced by local cultures. In South Asia, fried snacks are popular; in the Middle East, large communal tables represent generosity; and in colder climates like Turkey, hearty soups are preferred. Despite obstacles like poverty or conflict in some places, iftar remains a powerful symbol of gratitude, reflection, and connection for Muslims worldwide.

Description[edit]

Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan,[7][8][9] and is often done as a community, with Muslim people gathering to break their fast together. The meal is taken just after the call to the Maghrib prayer, which is around sunset.[8] Traditionally three dates are eaten to break the fast, in emulation of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, who broke his fast in this manner, but this is not mandatory. Muslims believe that feeding someone iftar as a form of Sadaqah/Zakat/charity is very rewarding and that such was practised by Muhammad.[8][9]

Some Hadith also state that Muhammad used to read the following dua at iftar:[10]

Dhahaba al-zama’ wa abtalat al-‘urooq wa thabat al-ajr Insha’Allah – "Thirst has gone, the veins are moist, and the reward is assured, if Allah wills."

Around the world[edit]

Afghanistan[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

In Afghanistan, iftar usually includes the traditional dates, shorwa (soup), kebabs, du piyaza (meat stewed in an onion-based sauce), manto (seasoned, minced meat wrapped in pasta), kabuli palaw (rice with lentils, raisins, carrots, and lamb), shorm beray, bolani (fried or baked flat bread with a vegetable filling), and rice, as well as other dishes. Afghans also have an extensive range of sweet dishes and desserts.

Bangladesh[edit]

Common iftar items of Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, a wide variety of foods is prepared to break the fast at Maghrib time. Some of the common iftar items from Bangladeshi cuisine include piyaju (made of lentil paste, chopped onions and green chillies, like falafel), beguni (made of thin slices of eggplant dipped in a thin batter of gram flour), jilapi, muri, haleem, dates, samosas, dal puri (a type of lentil-based savoury pastry), chola (cooked Bengal gram ), kebab, mughlai porota (stuffed porota with minced meat, eggs and spices), variety of pitha, aloo chop, singara, ghugni, amerti, bundia, nimki, Pakora, khaja, batasa, khabar tula, Bengali sweets, Roasted chickpeas and different types of fruits such as watermelon, apple, banana, papaya, pear, mango and pineapple. Bengalis break their fast with all their friends and family and eat together in a banquet with their array of food; however, savoury items are eaten before the sweet.[11] In the Sylhet region, Furir Bari Iftari is a common cultural tradition among Bengali families.

Drinks such as lemon shorbot and yoghurt shorbot (made of yoghurt, water, sugar and rooh afza) as well as borhani and gurer shorbot (jaggery shorbot) are common on iftar tables across the country. People like to have iftar at home with all family members, and iftar parties are also arranged by mosques.[12] People often distribute iftar in mosques for the people praying to eat, believing it is a good deed. After Iftar people pray maghrib and later Isha then many head straight for Taraweeh prayers where 20 rakats are performed to finish one Juz' of the Quran.

Brunei[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

In Brunei Darussalam, iftar is locally referred to as sungkai. Traditionally this is held at a regional or village mosque for those who have or will be performing the evening prayers. At the mosque, a mosque buffet is prepared by the local residents at which all are welcomed to break their fast together. Before the iftar, the beduk (a type of drum) must be heard as a signal to begin the sungkai. In the capital Bandar Seri Begawan, the firing of several cannons at the central business district also marks the sungkai. The sungkai is generally a welcomed time of the day, so Bruneians occasionally break their fast at restaurants along with their extended family. Additionally, only during the month of Ramadan, each district, with the exception of the Brunei and Muara district, hosts an expansive network of tamu or Ramadan stalls where freshly cooked local delicacies are sold more than other times of the year.

India[edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

In India, Muslims break their fasts with family and friends, and many Mosques arrange free 'iftar.' Preparations for iftar commence hours before, in homes and at roadside stalls. Iftar begins by eating dates or drinking water, but this is only the opening of a rich meal. The spread of 'iftar' can be grand, with both vegetarian to non-vegetarian dishes and a variety of juices and sherbets. Iftar usually is a heavy meal and is followed by a second, lighter dinner eaten before the night (isha) prayers and the taraweeh prayers.

In Hyderabad and nearby areas, people often break their fast with Haleem because it has a rich taste and is quite filling. In other southern states (Tamil Nadu and Kerala), Muslims break their fast with nonbu kanji,[13] a rich, filling rice dish of porridge consistency, cooked for hours with meat and vegetables. This is often served with bonda, bajji, and vadai. Muslims in the area of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh serve the aforementioned rice porridge, here called Ganji, with boondhi in it during Iftar.

Vegetarians break their fast with a dish called surkumba, which is prepared from milk, and this is particularly popular in certain parts of Karnataka. In northern states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, the fast is typically ended with fresh dates, cut fresh fruits (sometimes served as chaat) and fruit juice along with fried dishes like samosas, pakodas etc.

Indonesia[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Jackfruit kolak, one of various iftar desserts in Indonesia

In Indonesia iftar is called "buka puasa" or takjil, which means "to open the fast". Markets sell various foods for iftar, including the date, which is popular, as well as unique Indonesian sweet food and drink such as kolak, es kelapa muda, es buah, es campur, cendol or dawet, etc. Most of them are only found easily in Ramadan. Iftar is usually begun by eating these sweets, as inspired by the Prophet's Sunnah of eating dates.

Maghrib time is traditionally marked by the bedug, a traditional big Indonesian drum. After Asr prayers, traditional markets will begin to open. The food stalls generally sell many kinds of items that are specifically for "iftar". Traffic jams often occur leading up to Maghrib time. Sometimes people invite groups of orphans to eat with them. After Iftar and maghrib prayer which is usually done at the homes, people go to the mosque for Isha'a and Tarawih prayers, which in Indonesia, is often accompanied by a short sermon known as "ceramah" before the Tarawih prayer commence.

Iran[edit]

An example of Iranian Iftar table. Dinner will be served later.

An example of Iranian public Iftar

In Iran, neighbourhood iftar feasts are not customary; the (larger and more festive) meal is usually shared among family.[14] A small selection of foods is prepared to break the fast and is summarily followed by a proper Persian meal.[15] Most common iftar items are: Chai (tea) with zulbia and bamiyeh and other sweets, dates, halva, Fereni, Ash Reshteh, Halim, Shami Lapeh, Noon (bread usually lavash or barbari) and paneer with greens and fresh herbs.[15] One of the biggest iftar meals in the world takes place in Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad city every year, with some 12 thousand people attending every night.[citation needed]

Malaysia[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Bandung, the most common drink during Iftar in Malaysia

In Malaysia, iftar is known as "berbuka puasa", which literally means "to open the fast". As usual, the Muslims break the fast with either dried or fresh dates. Various foodstuffs from the Malaysian cuisine tend to be readily available from Bazaar Ramadhans, which are street food markets that are open during Ramadan; local favourites include bandung drink, sugarcane juice, soybean milk mixed with grass jelly, nasi lemak, laksa, ayam percik, chicken rice, satay and popiah among others. Many high-end restaurants and hotels also provide special iftar and dinner packages for those who want to break the fast outside with families and friends. Furthermore, most mosques also provide free bubur lambok (a special type of rice congee) after Asar prayers.

Most Muslims will usually have a special supper after performing their tarawih prayers called moreh (pronounced Malay pronunciation: [moˈreh]). The light meal, taking place in mosque and prayer hall grounds, consists of local traditional snacks and hot tea.

In shopping malls and public venues in Malaysia, the time of iftar is indicated by radios announcing the call to Maghrib prayers.

Maldives[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

In the Maldives, iftar is known as roadha villun, which means "break fast". As usual, most Muslims break the fast with either dried or fresh dates. There are many exclusive restaurants and hotels providing special iftar and dinner packages for those who want to break the fast outside with the families and friends. All the mosques in the Maldives provide free dates and juice to break fast. At local homes, one will find various cold fruit juices (water melon, mango, passion fruit, pineapple) sweet (boakiba, pudding) and salty shorteats called hedhika (boakiba, bajiya, gulha, masroshi, cutlets), the latter made with mainly fish, curries, roshi and salads made with local greens, chilli, onion and lemon.

Nigeria[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Nigeria hosts what is by some way the largest Muslim community in West Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.[16] Iftar (known in the Hausa Language as buda-baki and in the Yoruba language as isinu) holds the same importance in Nigeria's Sunni population as the rest of the Islamic world.[17] Foods include Jollof rice, suya, ọbẹ̀ ẹgúsí, ewurẹ, àkàrà, dabinu/dabino, ọ̀pọ̀tọ́, etc.[18]

Pakistan[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Samosas are a common Iftari snack in Pakistan.

In Pakistan, almost everybody stops to rejoice for a few minutes following the iftar sirens and adhan (call to prayer). Preparations for iftar commence about three hours beforehand, in homes and at roadside stalls. The fast can be ended by eating dates, or simply by drinking water, if dates are not available. Many restaurants offer iftar deals, especially in the big cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.[19] Iftar as a meal in Pakistan[20] is usually heavy, consisting mainly of sweet and savoury treats such as jalebi (pretzel-shaped, deep-fried batter, soaked in sugar syrup), samosas[21](minced meat and/or vegetables, wrapped in dough and deep-fried or baked), pakora[22][23] (sliced vegetables, dipped in batter and deep-fried) with ketchup or chatni, and namak para (seasoned cracker), besides the staple dates and water.

Other items such as chicken rolls, spring rolls, Shami Kebabs, fruit salads, papad (sheets of batter that are then sun-dried, deep-fried or roasted until they have the texture of potato chips or crisps), chana chaat (chickpea salad), and dahi balay (or "dahi baray"—fried lentil dumplings served with yoghurt) are also very common. Amongst the Punjabi, Sindhi and Mohajir households, iftar is often followed up by a regular dinner later during the night. Those in the north and west, including Pashtuns, Balochis, and Tajiks, on the other hand combine dinner and iftar. Laghman soup (noodle soup), locally called Kalli, is an iftar staple in Chitral and parts of Gilgit.

After iftar, Muslims rush to the mosques to offer Tarawih (an 8 or 20 rakat Muslim prayer during the month of Ramadan). Various television channels also stop their normal telecast and broadcast special Ramadan transmissions, especially at the time of Sehar and Iftar. The whole month of Ramadan is marked in Pakistan as a festive season when people make donations to the poor and give charity. Some organizations and companies also offer free iftar meals to the common people.