Ramadan is a time for piety and prayer as well as strengthening faith but it is also a time for sharing, especially when it comes to food. In the month of fasting, food plays an important role — it’s something we appreciated more than usual, it is seen as a blessing and a celebration, and there is much joy in breaking bread together when it comes to Iftar. 

During this month food becomes the focus of communal and community events, and in many kitchens, a time for remembering and reviving culinary traditions. In a broader sense, it’s becomes the key bridge-building exercise between many cultures within many communities and attending an Iftar can be a significant step for many to better understand Islam and it’s people.

However, not many people understand the importance and impact of an iftar that is cooked and served in a family like setting especially within communities. For us, every Iftar is an important time and occasion, not only for signalling the end of each day’s fast, but also because of the social and cultural aspects associated with the meal.

So, to help you achieve a more flawless and fun-filled Iftar gathering, here are a simple set of guidelines to help you with everything you need to know about throwing your best Iftar dinner party.

First, make a timeline.

Hosting a dinner party can be stressful. And hosting Iftar? Well that’s on a whole other level, but just like any other dinner, there’s always the desire to feed people delicious food. Planning in advance, is the key to will ultimately making your Iftar party dinner party that much easier to pull off.

Making accurate lists and giving yourself plenty of time for each task will minimize chaos and help you tackle the inevitable glitches that arise. Outsource where possible, ask you friends, family or colleges to help — you don’t need to hire a catering staff for your private affair, just think about what you don’t have to do yourself — like picking up a dessert, making the drinks, or even having some of your other supplies delivered. Keeping it simple for yourself is crucial. It’s the company that counts…

Choose or think about your guest list.

How many people can fit comfortably in your space? Can you prepare enough food for the number of guests you’re inviting? Is there anyone on your list who won’t get along with others or is likely to cause problems at the dinner?

Have you included a friend or two who will give you a hand during the Iftar if needed — and who can help facilitate conversation? Will the people on your list mesh well together, even if they don’t yet know each other? Prior to the Iftar, try and find out a little bit of information from those who are attending or those you intend to invite, knowing key information such as their interest and passion(s) may help you organise and think about how you might seat different people together.

Send the invites.

When you have built your guest list or now know who’s attending. Send out the invitations — this let’s your guests know you’re planning something special for them, and helps mark the occasion. Where possible your invitation should reflect the aesthetic of your evening and the level of formality you wish to communicate.

Your invitation should include the time and date of your event, the location address, the theme (if there is one), a deadline and any special arrangement’s they should be aware of if you’re planning something fancy. Your guests will most likely bring something, so don’t be shy to suggest something that might actually be helpful but if they don’t that’s also fine too..

Tell people what they’re eating and where possible, serve more than just chai…

In order to create the atmosphere and anticipation of what your Iftar will consist of, let your guests know what they will be having for their Iftar. Try being descriptive and elaborate on anything unusual or unfamiliar — and serve more than chai or coffee to your guests. 

For us, some version of chai is always a must in our family. Whether that’s a simply brewed cup of breakfast tea with a splash of milk or a full-blown glass kettle bubbling away with traditional spiced chai, caffeine simply cannot be skipped. Some people (like us) the chai will be drunk almost immediately after opening fast because we already have a headache from the withdrawal through the day, while others may prefer to drink it after a meal.

Either way, don’t serve the chai solo. Make up for the day’s dehydration with some other beverage offerings. Water and some fresh pressed juices are always a good shout..

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