اهتنا الصراط المستقيم
صراط الذين نعمت عليهم
غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالين
Assalamualaikum everybody
We are going to be translating Surah Al-Fatiha
In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, most merciful
All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds
The most compassionate, most merciful
Master of the day of judgment, you alone we worship, and you alone we ask for help.
Guide us along the straight path, the path of those you have blessed,
and those you are, the path of those that you have blessed,
not those that you are displeased with or those who have gone astray.
Good evening, everyone.
I am Pastor Billy Evans, Chief of Faith Engagement in the mayor's office,
and we are so, so grateful to have each of you here this evening.
Give yourselves a hand.
The Mayor's Office of Community Engagement, in collaboration with the Muslim Civic Coalition
and Muslims across this great city, welcome you to Mayor Johnson's 2025 Ramadan Iftar reception.
I want to personally thank Dr. Dilara Saeed for her vision and partnership with our office
to help bring this occasion to fruition along with her entire team.
It's been an honor and a privilege.
This event follows the wonderful tradition that our great city has in recognizing the importance of Ramadan
and the integral part the Muslim community plays in our city.
We know that Ramadan is a time of reflection, a focus on community, and a time of spiritual renewal.
And our hope is that through your dedication and sacrifice, these efforts are achieved.
We also join you in your pursuit for peace and justice in our world.
And we believe that being united as a faith community can cause real change and transformation in our world.
Again, thank you for being here tonight, and we are so grateful for you.
May God's peace be with each of you.
As-salamu alaykum.
Take a deep breath.
We're just a few minutes away from breaking our 19th fast.
This is a city where many of us found our homes after arriving from another nation
or having traveled to it during the Great Migration.
My father worked as a ticket agent at the CTA for three decades,
and he still pays his ATU union dues because he says this is the city where he moved our family
from a roach-infested apartment north of Cabrini Green to a middle-class home in Edgebrook
and now to a beautiful condo in the South Loop in this city.
Having Ramadan iftar in the city is also historic because this is the center of the city
where decisions are made to ensure you and I are protected by our mayor and our city.
and so that you and I and our families can thrive.
This year, Ramadan comes at a time of deep reflection and rejuvenation for many.
Christians are in the middle of Lent.
Hindus are celebrating Holi.
I believe you've got a Navy Pier moment coming up this week, and I'll see you there.
Hindus are celebrating Holi, and Sikhs are commemorating Visaki.
Soon, it will be Easter, and then we will have Passover.
In these challenging times, faith has been used by some to drive deep divisions across our city, our nation, and our world.
But our ancestors and our prophets, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad,
they were each sent to bring peace and to bring us together
to integrate faith and humanity and civic duty
so we are our brothers and sisters keepers
we are each other's resources and our protectors
And we build a better future for all humanity.
Chicago City Hall, this beautiful building, is also historic because it serves the largest per capita Muslim population in the nation.
And we, Muslim Chicagoans Americans, are of every race, culture, class, and background.
Ramadan one-pagers are at your tables and under your seats
that share a little bit about the practices and the power of the month.
Our fasts cleanse our bodies, and our prayers cleanse our soul.
Thank you, Mayor Brandon Johnson.
You and I share teaching 8th grade U.S. history to a bunch of teenagers,
and we share serving our city of amazing people across every background.
And again, tonight is a collaboration of a lot of different folks
and a lot of different teams coming together.
And we are appreciative of, of course, the mayor's office,
the community engagement team, Leslie Guzman, Sarah Mathers, Noreen, Hashim.
thank you so much for all that you
have done to make tonight possible
to our sponsors and to our
vendors as well, community leaders
at the Muslim Civic Coalition
and Okipo
consulting teams, we want to thank
you, Tandar
Tandar
Char House, Chef Faraz
Sadaria
thank you so so much, where are you?
appreciative of
everything you've done tonight
Fruit display by Ding Dominguez.
Let's Eat to Live by Chef Carmela Kamard.
Thank you so much.
And Elite Decor, Sambanla Events by Rahana Bahaja.
Thank you so much.
Our spoken word artist tonight is Jessenia Abouli.
Our reciter, Ahmad Al-Amin Martins and his parents.
Thank you so much.
Our Oud player, Ahmad Ashraf, and Imam Lawrence Najib of Ephraim Bahar Cultural Center.
Thank you again, everyone.
Today's program will be simple.
We began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Ahmed.
What grade are you in, Ahmed?
Fifth grade.
I taught fifth grade for many years.
Great year to be in.
And you'll learn U.S. history in fifth grade.
Fifth grade, please give Brother Ahmad, our youngest brother here.
We will now have spoken word by our artist, Jacinda Bully.
Then our friend and the mayor's policy director, Noreen Hashim, will introduce our mayor.
And after the mayor's remarks, we will break our fast,
and Imam Lawrence Najib will lead us in Maghrib prayer right here.
During dinner, which you have two kinds of wonderful cuisines,
soul food from the south side and Asian food from the north side.
During dinner, we'll have fellowship with each other
while Ahmed Ashraf plays the beautiful Syrian and Arabi-inspired Oud.
And now it is my pleasure to introduce Jacinda Bully to share spoken word.
Assalamu alaikum.
13th, 2013.
It's Ramadan, and it's also the night of the verdict.
See, fasting is this self-imposed verdict.
But when it is sweat, the two-sided justice system, mothers contemplating what to tell their son about Saturday night birthday, this is what it feels like to be tongue-syllable dry, throat-sung depleted, there's no hijab, pudding, food, not even water, none, but
Ceremonial, stone-hot, Radio Raheem, hate and love, a summer.
First time I saw bullet-ripped flesh, back to my boy Marvin.
He was on the wrong side, I'm B-side, stuck in 10th grade with my dual cassette tape player.
Rewind, but my tape is jammed, so I look for Mookie, Buggin' Out, Mother, Sister, Jade, even Sal, someone to do the right thing.
A native girl who you say acts like, traveling all track, reaching far back to bring myself back.
These toe sacks, this fancy dance that I do not go with.
I've been told that sweat can help us to re-seize to remember.
One, boy on the Ferguson news, so far distant, he is close enough to be mine.
Son number two, he got a basketball scholarship to this uppity private school.
And my third grade baby boy, still too small to overstand test taking predictions.
See, he rocks this hoodie to school.
The principal tells him to take it off or turn it inside out.
It's red, extra small, front pocket, black ink.
the front reads police murder people and the sons of the exile for my daddy's black so that they
may sing in my mother's southern sense like her i want to feed them reminders of their friday
These Jeremiah airbrushed teas, I'm going to die making sure I know you know about love and liberation.
And since these days love seems to me a color, I have to love them black, love them back.
In the only ways that I know how to give love, in fast, in sweat, in reflection, and in these environments.
That's so beautiful. Thank you so much for reciting that. I think you really set the tone for what Ramadan is all about.
My sisters, brothers, and fellow Chicagoans, As-salamu alaykum and Ramadan Mubarak.
My name is Noreen Hashim Jawani, and I have the humble honor of serving the city of Chicago as the first deputy of policy, driving the mayor's policy agenda forward.
I also serve on the board for the Muslim Civic Coalition, and it is an honor to be here tonight with all of you, gathered in the spirit of reflection, community, and hope.
This Ithar is not just about breaking of the fast.
It is a moment to recognize the resilience of our communities, the strength of our faith, the power of collective action to build a more just and compassionate city.
For me, this work, this calling to serve, is the work of mine and my forefathers' and foremothers' wildest dreams.
It is the fulfillment of a belief that has guided me as a Muslim woman, as a public servant, and as someone who holds deep love for the city.
That the right to hope is one of the most powerful gifts that we can give people.
Hope is what drives the mother seeking safety for the family, the young leader organizing for change,
the survivor reclaiming their future.
And hope is what drives the policies we fight for.
The policies that create a better, stronger,
and safer Chicago for all.
It is in this spirit of hope, resilience, and shared purpose
that I am honored to introduce someone who
has been a leader in this work.
Someone who understands that government
must not just be about serving people,
but also empowering them.
Someone who has led with conviction and compassion, ensuring that Chicago remains a place where
every resident, regardless of faith, background, or circumstance, has the opportunity to thrive.
Please join me in welcoming our mayor of the greatest city in the world, Mayor Brandon
Johnson.
Thank you so much.
As-salamu alaykum.
Ramadan Mubarak to everyone here this evening.
It is truly an honor to be here tonight with you all.
particularly as we continue our fast and offering up our humility and our humanity
before our God over these last several days that are left in the holy month of Ramadan.
I do want to take a moment to recognize a few folks.
Thank you, Dr. Saeed, for your leadership and your commitment to justice.
I want to thank, of course, again, Noreen, Hashim, Jowani.
Her leadership has been just an inspiration to so many people.
Of course, as I was listening to the introduction and understand that after me,
we get a chance to taste the wonderful creations of our brother, Chef.
Thank you, Brother Faraz, for your leadership and for your love,
and to all of us who are committed to justice and equity.
And thank you all to our sponsors for your donations and your commitments tonight.
You know, Ramadan is not only a time for fasting and reflection, but it's about friendship and community as well.
It gives me so much joy to see a room filled with the beauty and the joy of humanity.
You know, this is a time where we have to be more thoughtful in how we sacrifice one to another.
how we reflect and renew.
It's also a time where we are reminded of our strength
that is not found in just simply our own individual power,
but it is through patience.
The belief that we can endure all of that which is in front of us
through faith.
It's also a gathering as we work to break this fast,
the family of...
friends in Ramadan. It reaffirms and strengthens our collective faith, but it also ensures that
these important traditions pass on from generation to generation. And to our young brother, who spoke
eloquently, can speak the tenets of his father's faith. That is the joy and the hope that our
ancestors have maintained. Chicago is proud to be home to such a vibrant Muslim community
that has greatly contributed to what I call the soul of Chicago.
Members of our Muslim community serve as leaders, activists, educators,
and business owners, and chefs, and public servants,
and you also provide service and outreach and advocacy,
helping to make a better, stronger, safer Chicago come to fruition.
As our Muslim community has carried the torch,
often stand on the front lines, the front line for social change.
It's now more important, now more than ever, that we must continue to fight for social justice and equity and peace and safety for every single person that calls Chicago their home.
Our city is what it is today because of our shared histories and cultural exchanges and the mixed rich and vibrant traditions.
You know, as someone who's grown up in a holy home, who takes the scriptures seriously, reminded of the words in the Holy Koran, that challenges us that indeed we created you and made you into the peoples and tribes so that you may get to know one another.
It's those words that hold us accountable to one another.
And that's why I'm truly honored that we are coming together to break this fast,
but to celebrate our vibrant, proud, Muslim community.
Many of you who will continue to show bravery and courage,
who truly show up for our nation, even when the nation doesn't always show up for you.
We are truly showing the country and the world
that Chicago is not just the most diverse and welcoming city in our country,
it is a city that stands firm on our unwavering belief that peace and justice must exist
and we have to stand up to those who wish to interrupt peace and justice.
A city that is called for a permanent ceasefire in the releasing of hostages
because we believe in humanity.
The only controversy in standing up for peace and justice
and the releasing of hostages, the only controversy, those who do not believe in that.
That's why today my administration will continue to work to ensure that Chicago remains a city
where people can live and thrive and worship in peace.
And whether you are in Garfield Park or the Gaza Strip, you deserve the sanctity of our humanity.
And as we work to bring peace throughout humanity to this earth, let's remain vigilant and hopeful that the generation that will look back at this moment will sing and stand proud on the firm belief that we did not cower under pressure, we did not succumb to the evils of the world, and even as we break our fast, we will not allow this moment to break us.
God bless you. God bless you. God bless the great city of the world.
The city of Chicago.
Assalamu alaikum.
I'm Lawrence Najeeb from the Heaton Bar-Hawka Center.
I'm going to associate them, and I would ask them a little bit of a duo,
what you call a short prayer for a regular band.
With Allah's name, and mercy for being a faculty, and mercy for being a faculty.
Praise the Lord Almighty Allah.
I love the Lord and the Church of the Lord and the Church of the Lord and the Church of the Living.
Master of the day of judgment, you alone whom we worship and alone whom we call Him for help.
Guide us into the right path, the path of those who have gone down and restored thy grace,
not the path of those who have earned your wrath nor those who have gone astray.
All I keep fast for your sake, and I believe in you, and I put my trust in you,
and I bring my fast to the food provided by you. Amen.
Okay, so we are about to
Six good minutes before the breaking of the fast.
And then when that happens, our young brother Ahmed just,
you know, did y'all say, I heard that he was in the fifth grade,
but you didn't hear how old he is.
How old are you, Ahmed?
Nine.
Okay, so he's a little bit of a bit.
Shout out to Ahmed.
Wonderful.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
So we will be breaking the fast.
He will be calling the Al-Ghazan and we'll be breaking the fast.
And with Muslims, we want to be exact.
We don't want to break it too early.
But I want us to take a moment.
And I know that Dilara touched a little bit about who's in the room.
My name is Ndidi.
My company is Enocapa Consulting.
Shout out to the team here.
So happy to work with the coalition,
so happy to work with the Muslim community and our allies,
and so many people to help get this program in order.
It was a quick turnaround.
So we're appreciative for you showing up.
We're appreciative for the mayor for doing this.
you know. But I just wanted to touch base a little bit about my story, my Muslim American story.
You know, my mother was an activist in the Muslim communities. She was actually one of the persons
who helped start the first Iftars at the White House because we're from D.C. originally, right?
Yeah, you didn't know that. She fought against apartheid, with Muslims against apartheid in
of Africa, and she was a really great humanitarian, and also advocated for
black Muslim communities around Muslim communities of color. That's my story.
Dilara told her story. There's so many stories in here. We have in the room,
so I wanted to say a special thank you to Alma Campos for doing the translation of the praat.
So that is one that we wanted to make sure that we caught, and also I think there are dates
kind of going around so yeah so just making sure that the dates are being
passed around so we can okay they're actually on the tables okay so
they're on the tables okay so we're good all right cool the Muslims are hungry
and they're trying to get rid of the eat
and firstly take a little bit of water
I saw this, you feel it?
Look, these are being chapped around.
And there are also waters under your seats.
You feel it?
There are still just, okay, so we're getting ready.
We're getting ready, but trust me,
the algal sounds when it's time to eat.
You don't want to break your fast before it's time to eat.
But I wanted to take a moment.
I think we have to be the one in the room that does that.
That's so refreshing, thank you.
I'll leave, that's what I'll talk to former supervisor, she knows.
I'll be the person in the room.
That's dope.
So, yes, we were talking about stories.
We're wrapping up here.
But I just, I love the different communities that are brought here together.
The universality of Islam.
We're taught in the Quran,
none of you truly believe until you love for your brother,
that's what you love for yourself.
and it's
God is great
all the time
God's good all the time
all the time
God's good
yes we do know this
so
with that being said
it doesn't make a discrimination
against race
it doesn't make a discrimination
against faith
it just basically tells us
that we have to be good
and we pray
that in this blessed month of Ramadan
this Ramadan in which the Quran
was sent
and revealed for all of us
and became
and was
came through a mercy for mankind
through the prophet. We pray that
you have as much healing
as we have.
Yeah, let me do a do-all
since we have a few minutes.
We have one minute?
Alright.
Okay.
God, we thank you for bringing us here
today. We ask that
you purify our hearts
our minds our bodies our souls we ask that you increase us in this month and always we ask that
all of the gems that we've gained in this month that you help us to carry that throughout the
year throughout our lives and into the next life we ask that you continue to allow us to be one
brotherhood one sisterhood together as one community under you guys so we thank you for
your many blessings, and please bless our food.
Assume your position.
Water and bait.
OK.
Still got it.
Hey, women.
Oh, that's hot.
It looks like a lot of us.
So go for you.
The folks will go up.
The folks will go up.
The folks will go up.
It's like, all the Muslim allies are like, I need to do that.
Yeah, I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Yeah.
I actually wanted to honor our guests.
Right now in this room, we have a lot of different organizations.
We actually wanted to call them out so that the mayor knew some of the amazing organizations doing work in our communities.
I'm going to start with Brother Samir.
What organization?
Okay.
Can I have MCC, Muslim Community Center, President Masood Bijapuri and his team are here.
Iman, Alia Bilal and her team are here.
CIOGC, Dr. Hamadeh Abdullah Mitchell and their team.
Please, community wellness with Dr. Constance Shabazz and their amazing team.
Thank you for all the work that you do on the South Side here.
Don't be shy, shout out.
Arab American Chamber of Commerce with Hassan Najib and his team, they are here.
Masjid al-Takwa, with, of course, Clyde El-Amin,
Raj Bashir, and the team are here.
Islamic Relief USA.
Islamic Relief USA, doing community service
and humanitarian relief.
Masjid al-Faruq.
Masjid al-Faruq.
Okay, Talif, in the heart of the city, on Halstead, are here.
Masjid al-Takwa is here.
Masjid al-Faruq.
Masjid al-Faruq, on the south side, are here.
Yes, Niagara Foundation and the seven organizations
that make up the Turkish community leadership in Chicagoland are here.
Iqna Ohala Foundation was mentioned before.
Iqna Relief is here with Dr. Saima Ufsar and her team
doing amazing work in the city and in Glendale Heights.
Inside Hospital Board on the south side.
Nigerian Islamic Association is over here.
Downtown Islamic Center is here.
Majid al-Eksan.
Bengal Ilm of our Shia community is here.
The Israeli community, where is the Israeli community from?
Of course, they are here.
Israeli demand.
Oh, the Uzbek community is here.
The Uzbek Community Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Central Asian Community.
Hang on just a second.
OMA Center in Lake County, truly supporting our most vulnerable communities and resilient communities in Lake County.
Oh, Abdul Raffur Pai of ISNS, the president of ISNS, Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs.
So, mashallah, say takbir.
this is the beautiful american muslim chicago community let us begin last before we begin i
want to make sure our city servants are thanked our city alderman please raise your hands please
thank our alderman our city commissioner please raise your hand please thank the city commissioners
the city treasurer is here oh
Please our city works for us
We show up for our city
Sometimes if the city is not showing up for us
We make sure the city shows up for us
And they always come through
We gotta do our part so that they can do their part
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
I love law
I pray that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
Come to the peace.
Come to the peace.
Allah is the greatest.
There is no God except Allah.
If you're joining us for prayer, please.
Thank you.