Iftar: إفطار‎

Iftar: إفطار‎ Refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan & is often done as a community, with Muslims gathering to break their fast together. Iftar is done right after Maghrib (sunset) time. Traditionally, a date is the first thing to be consumed during iftar.

Pakistanis observe religious and cultural events passionately, and so accordingly, in Pakistan almost everybody stops to rejoice for a few minutes following the iftar sirens and azan (adhan, call to prayer). Preparations for iftar commence about 3 hours before, in homes and at roadside stalls. The fast can be broken by eating dates or drinking water, if the former is not available. As a meal in Pakistan, iftar is usually heavy, comprising mainly of sweet and savoury treats such as jalebi, samosas, pakoras and namak para, besides the staple dates and water. Rooh Afza, a sweet syrup-based drink, is also considered an integral part of the iftar in Pakistan, Other items such as chicken rolls, spring rolls, Shami Kebabs, and fruit salads are also very common. The iftar is often, but not necessarily, followed up by a regular dinner later during the night.

Here i want to share some photograph of preparations for iftar

Jalabi (Sweet dish)

Dates

Samosa (Potato triangle)

Egg Pokara

Mix vegetable Pokara

Preparation of Jalabee

Preparation of Jalabee

fruit Stall

Stall holder selling food item

A Special person selling Fruit

Rooh Afza with Milk & Water

Invocation at Iftar (Breaking of fast on Sunset)

Muaz bin Zahrah reported that when the Prophet broke fast, he used to say: O Allah! for Thee I fasted, and over Thy provision I broke It." Abu Dawud (Mishkat)

Therefore, muslims break their fasts with the following invocation

O Allah! I have fasted for You, and I have relied on Your provision

and I have broken fast by Your mercy, O Merciful"