Karen Grissette, the US Consul-General, opened her home to members of the faith community for an iftar gathering on Wednesday.

Muslims are observing their holy month of Ramadan, which began on March 22 and will end on Friday. This is considered the holiest season in the Islamic year and is a time when Muslims participate in fasting and there is increased prayer and increased reading of the Koran.

During Ramadan Muslims refrain from eating from sunrise to sunset each day. The iftar is the meal served at the end of the day, to break the day's fast; it literally means breakfast. Iftar is served at sunset during each day of Ramadan.

The dinner, which was attended by Tom Oppenheim, the Deputy Governor, and leaders of the Muslim faith community, the Anglican Church of Bermuda and the Baha’í National Assembly, highlighted the interfaith nature of our local community and the support the United States gives to religious freedom and unity.

“Just like Bermuda, the United States of America is a nation of many faiths – Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, Baha’í , and others. The first amendment to the US Constitution gives Americans the right to worship as they choose, including the right to believe in no religion at all,” Mrs Grissette said.

“With these protections, America remains a deeply religious country, a nation whose aim, since our founding, has been for people of different faiths to coexist peacefully and with respect for one another. Just as they do in Bermuda.”

While the relationship between the United States and Islam has been strained in recent years through politics, the religion remains the third largest in America, with more than three million Muslims living in the country.

However, despite what mainstream media may show us, the United States has a long relationship with Muslim communities. In fact, the first iftar meal at the White House took place more than 200 years ago.

Mrs Grissette explained the history and significance of it all: “During my research for this event, I was delighted to learn that the first iftar at the White House was held in 1805, when the first Muslim ambassador to the United States, from Tunisia, was hosted by President Thomas Jefferson. Because it was Ramadan, President Jefferson arranged for the dinner for his guest to take place after sunset. So, our first known White House iftar was over 200 years ago.”

Mrs Grissette and her husband, Apostolos, were honoured to welcome guests and religious leaders and share the meal in celebration of Ramadan.

“Your presence here deeply honours our family, and our nation,” she said. “We are proud to be able to celebrate this special time with you all.”

The fast was broken in the traditional way, with dates and a yoghurt drink. This was followed by the Maghrib prayer for those observing Ramadan, before moving on to dinner.

Iftar is very much a social event, involving family and community members. It is common for people to host others for dinner, or gather as a community for a potluck.

This evening was a symbolic show of interfaith unity.

“Whatever our faith, the beauty of Ramadan is that this time of year reminds us we are all servants, we are all children of God, we are all summoned to care for our brothers and our sisters, to cherish all we have been provided, to share generously, and be charitable,” she said. “All faiths honour these tenants – to love one another and treat one another with respect.”

Muslims will end their fasting period on Friday with a celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which literally translates to “the feast of fast-breaking”.