Masjid Bilal & Community Centre in Paris shares Ramadan message through food delivery to area neighbours

By Casandra Turnbull

If you received some delicious Popeyes Chicken delivered to your home last weekend, you have the Masjid Bilal & Community Centre to thank! As a way to recognize Ramadan in the Muslim faith, a time of fasting and giving back to the community, the local community centre distributed 30 Popeyes Chicken boxes with Ramadan messages attached to its neighbours onApril 2nd

“We were thrilled to receive a warm and positive response from all community members, who were delighted to receive the food,” said Muhammad Umair, Director of Communication and PublicAffairs for the centre

The Masjid Bilal & Community Centre, which just opened its doors on Spruce Street in Paris last November, is just one of many Muslim based centres worldwide that recognize Ramadan as the nineth and most sacred month in the Islamic calendar Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during this time. The act of fasting from sunrise to sunset, during Ramadan, is not about starvation, but about strengthening your spirituality and closeness to God and a time of self- reflection. Ramadan ends on April 21 or April 22, depending on whether the moon is seen or not.

The local community centre hopes to share the Muslim faith in Paris, which is why they chose to deliver the food to area residents. They’re also spreading the message in local schools. Last week, representatives from the centre were at Paris District High School to give a talk about What is Ramadan and Why Muslims Fast

“The session was a great success with many students participating and asking insightful questions about Ramadan and fasting,” said Umair. “We believe that these events are important not just for the Muslim community, but for the wider community as well ”