The Islamic Center of Western Pennsylvania mosque in Marshall brims with excitement, the low hum of conversations and the sound of children playing throughout Ramadan.
That was the scene last Friday as the sun set, when hundreds of Pittsburgh-area Muslims gathered to break their Ramadan fast, known as iftar. It marks the breaking of the sunrise-to-sunset fast, observed daily during one of the holiest months in Islam.
The Islamic center hosts a community iftar each weekend, bringing together Muslims of all ages and backgrounds.
“People make a special effort to come for these iftar prayers just to connect with people,” said Sarmad Ashfaq, a practicing physician and board member of the Islamic center. “We see a large number of crowds that come specifically during Ramadan because everybody’s busy with their lives, but people make a special effort to come during Ramadan.”
Once the sun set, attendees broke their fast with a small meal including dates and other fruits, then came together for prayer.
Participants then served the full meals, including lamb, chicken, and fresh parsley-laden tabouleh salad, dessert, and splashes of Arabic coffee and cardamom-infused tea.
Hundreds attend iftars at the Islamic center, and to alleviate overcrowding, the men pray and eat on the lower level while women do so on the upper level, Dr. Ashfaq said.
“We get together … we laugh, we talk,” said Hesham Amr, 59, who attended the festivities. “Some people here, I haven’t seen for the whole year.”
Once the meal is finished, the Isha prayer and then Taraweeh prayer are recited, led by Imam Mohamed Yacoub.
He said the fasting, aside from providing a time for spiritual reflection, also serves as a way for the faithful to connect with those who may be struggling.
“You don’t eat, you don’t drink, so when you do that, you feel for the poor people … when you see homeless people, you know what it means to stay for hours without any food or drinks,” Imam Yacoub said.
The global observations of Ramadan help connect Muslim communities worldwide.
“Even though we are from different cultures, our process of fasting is the same,” Fozia Chatta, of Cranberry, said.
The length of the daily fast varies each year. Ramadan follows a lunar cycle, meaning it can shift by 10 to 12 days from one year to the next and increase or decrease the daylight hours in which observers are fasting.
Iftar meals served at the Islamic center reflect its diverse population representing at least 15 different countries. Each meal features food from a different cultures, including fare from Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Middle East and Pakistan.
“My favorite is the samosas,” said Hepah Asmar, 42, of Wexford. “In the Middle East, we don’t have samosas, so it’s something that I learned here.”
Dr. Chatta, who is Pakistani, likes to break her fast with food that reminds her of her home country or India.
“We like spicy food,” she said.
Iftars are community-building moments. “It’s supposed to be a point of socialization,” said Dr. Khalid Malik. “You see your friends. You mend the fences. Any disputes you should always resolve.”
Non-Muslims are also welcome, with the idea that opening the doors may help spread knowledge of their faith.
“I tell people, please listen to us and hear from us, not about us,” Imam Yacoub said. “Read from us, not about us. This is how you get to know who we are.”
First Published: March 20, 2025, 9:30 a.m.
Updated: March 20, 2025, 6:47 p.m.
