It's more than a meal...

Iftar is a word you hear so many times during the month of Ramadhan. An auspicious time when everyone who is fasting simultaneously breaks their fast at the time of the prayer call (Maghrib). I have heard my Omani friends call it Fatoor. Iftar offers a beautiful opportunity to blend the sensory experience of the meal with the deeper communal and spiritual values of Ramadhan.

Iftar also reminds us of togetherness. A team has been volunteering to distribute Iftar packets, with different organisations contributing as their CSR initiatives. The best part has been to see people smile and watch their eyes light up as they receive the packet.

This is the emotional weight of the meal. Sometimes people are on duty and may not be able to reach home on time. As for residents, many of them could be on their own. Yet there are students who are studying abroad. The emptiness can be felt if one is going through the first Iftar alone. Asmahan is a student studying abroad, but she made sure she was back in Muscat on time for Ramadhan. Then there might be someone who has lost a family member. And the sense of emptiness is difficult to overcome.

I can never forget how one person chose to be with his family while he had his meal. He beautifully recreated the 'feeling' of home when the table he was at was significantly quieter. He works at the supermarket. He took a break to have his meal and had his family join him via video. Once done, he bid them bye and went on to continue his work.

Truly, technology has changed the way families in the diaspora break their fast together across time zones.

Food is a living history, and Iftar is a platform that has been showcasing the variety in taste and recipes.

The community Iftars bring together people from all walks of life. And to share your space with someone you have never met before gives one an opportunity to understand the world from a different perspective.

The Iftar at Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque had people of different nationalities, along with individuals who had taken the first steps towards knowing the religion. For many, it was the first Iftar. They were introduced to the process of breaking the fast — dates, water, buttermilk and snacks. And the dates are taken in odd numbers.

It is an intriguing experience to understand the science of the date: a deep dive into the nutritional 'why' behind the Sunnah of breaking fast with dates and water.

The logistics of generosity are different from person to person. There have been public gatherings of Iftars, which saw participation of 3,000 to 5,000 people.

The focus is to get hot meals to everyone at the exact moment of sunset.

A friend said she and her friends found a person capable of cooking large amounts, and they provide incentives for him and the provisions.

Then there are people who are breaking fast on the clock, such as paramedics, firefighters, police, pilots, or ER doctors who have to catch a bite to eat between emergencies.

Then there is the delivery drivers' and taxi drivers' sunset:

They might have to spend the 'golden hour' delivering Iftar meals to others, often breaking their own fast with a bottle of water on a motorbike or in a car.

What is important is not to be in a hurry to reach the destination to break the fast. Safety first. This is why another friend pointed out that it is better to keep dates and water with you. It is common knowledge that traffic gets tighter towards the Iftar, and people are known to become impatient. Once again, the Iftar deadline teaches us the importance of time management.