In the heart of Gulf City Mall yesterday evening, shoppers and passers-by paused for something rare: T&T’s only public Iftar. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Caribbean Dawah Association invited the public to witness—and join—the communal breaking of the fast, central to the Islamic month of Ramadan.
“It’s important that people get a peek into what life for a Muslim is like in this important month,” said Siddeeq Shakoor, team leader of the Caribbean Dawah Association’s outreach group.
“We want to spread the message that there is only one God and that we worship this one God and submit our wills to Him, especially in Ramadan.”
The event included a brief Islamic message, free Qur’ans, educational material and meals distributed to the public. While the association had hosted an Islamic exhibition at the mall throughout the week, the Iftar marked a moment of cultural and spiritual sharing. Visitors were encouraged to observe and take part in the evening ritual that ends a day of fasting.
Shakoor said the group also used the opportunity to offer prayers for those suffering both locally and abroad.
“We want to make a special prayer for all those who are suffering in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as outside… especially places like Palestine, where Muslim peoples are being oppressed,” he said. “We, as the Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago, feel strongly about this.”
The Caribbean Dawah Association hoped the event would not only deepen understanding of Islam but also foster unity across communities during a time of spiritual reflection.
