Muslims across the world began observing Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and charity, on the evening of March 10.
Muslim communities in Minnesota will host events for the next several weeks to commemorate the Islamic holy month, while also raising money for relief efforts in Gaza and Sudan. Muslims will fast from dawn until sunset for 30 days. The first fast began on March 11. The holiday commemorates the month when the Qur’an, the Islamic holy book, was first revealed more than a thousand years ago.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic 12-month calendar. The calendar is a lunar cycle, so Ramadan falls at different times each year. The month will end with a celebration of Eid al-Fitr tentatively set for April 10.
Observing Muslims who are physically and financially able abstain from food and drink while fasting. They also spend the month bettering themselves and treating others with kindness. They also increase prayer throughout the day and night, and read the Qur’an.
Muslims break their fast at sunset with family, friends, or on their own. Muslim-led organizations and mosques in Minnesota typically host free iftars, or breaking of the fast, for Muslims to come together for food, prayer, and community.
Mosques and Muslim organizations also host fundraisers, volunteer events, and halaqas, or classes, about Islam. Muslims often attend their local mosque for taraweeh, the night prayer, in the evenings after breaking their fast.
Sahan Journal compiled a calendar of events at mosques and local organizations.
Do you have a Ramadan community event to add to this calendar?
Please reach out to us at hansari@sahanjournal.com with the subject line “Ramadan 2024,” and we’ll add your event to our directory.
Here’s how you can celebrate Ramadan in Minnesota this year:
March 12, 2024
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6 p.m. at Rabata Cultural Center, 3533 Lexington Ave. N., Arden Hills, MN 55126
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
March 14, 2024
Rabata’s weekly iftar for women and girls, ongoing event
Location/Time: Rabata Cultural Center, 3533 Lexington Ave. N., Arden Hills, MN 55126
Cost: Free
Contact: bookshop@rabata.org.
March 15, 2024
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Relief USA Iftar
Location/Time: 5:30 p.m. at the Fridley Community Center, 6085 7th St. N.E., Fridley, MN 55432
Cost: Free
Contact: RSVP here.
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:30 p.m. at Masjid Hamzah/Al-Mahmood Foundation, 5995 Timber Trail S.E., Prior Lake MN 55372
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
March 16, 2024
Islamic Relief iftar
Location/Time: 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Bloomington, 3200 E. 81st St., Minneapolis, MN 55425
Cost: $45 ticket if bought in advance. Childcare is also available for purchase.
Contact: mw@irusa.org
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:30 p.m. at Masjid Hamzah/Al-Mahmood Foundation, 5995 Timber Trail S.E., Prior Lake MN 55372
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
South Metro Islamic Center Fundraiser Iftar
Location/Time: 7 p.m. at the South Metro Islamic center, 15400 S. Robert Trail, Rosemount, MN 55068
Contact: info@SouthMetroIC.org or (651) 252-1186
Al-Amal School Ramadan fundraiser
Location/Time: 5 p.m. at Islamic Center of Minnesota, 1401 Gardena Ave. N.E., Fridley, MN 55432
Cost: Free
Contact: fundraiser@al-amal.org or 763-571-5604
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 4 p.m. at Al Islamic Community Center of MN/Masjid Al-Iman, 1429 2nd St. N.E., Minneapolis, MN 55413
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:45 p.m. at Islamic Association of Mankato, 222 E. Walnut St., Mankato, MN 56001
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
March 19, 2024
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 5:30 p.m. at Northwest Islamic Community Center, 3300 Plymouth Blvd., Plymouth, MN 55447
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6 p.m. at MCC/Masjid Ar-Rahman, 8910 Old Cedar Ave., Bloomington, MN 55425
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:15 p.m. at Brooklyn Park Islamic Center, 2100 93rd Way N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:15 p.m. at Muslim American Society Blaine, 12175 Aberdeen St. N.E., Blaine, MN 55449
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
March 20, 2024
One Ummah One Plate: Benefit Iftar for Orphans with the Human Development Fund
Location/Time: 6 p.m. at the Zawadi Center, 1701 American Blvd E Suite 15 Bloomington, MN 55425
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: 1-800-614-9560 or info@hdfund.org
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6 p.m. at Masjid Dar Al-Hijra, 504 Cedar Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55454
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:45 p.m. at Masjid At-Taqwa, 1608 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:45 p.m. at Quba Islamic Center, 415 N. Chestnut, Chaska, MN 55318
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
March 21, 2024
18×26 Academy Annual Iftar Fundraiser
Location/Time: Zawadi Restaurant and Event Center, 1701 American Boulevard East #Suite 15 Bloomington, MN 55425
Cost: General admission $100.
Rabata’s weekly iftar for women and girls, ongoing event
Location/Time: 3533 Lexington Ave. N., Arden Hills, MN 55126
Cost: Free
Contact: bookshop@rabata.org.
March 22, 2024
Building Blocks of Islam Iftar
Location/Time: 6 p.m. at Mounds View Community Center, 5394 Edgewood Dr., Mounds View, MN 55112
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: info@thebuildingblocks.org
Northwest Islamic Community Center Annual Fundraising Iftar
Location/Time: 7 p.m. at the Northwest Islamic Community Center, 3300 Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth, MN
Cost: $10, registration required here.
Contact: (612) 756-9422 or office.admin@nwiccmn.org
March 23, 2024
ARAHA: The American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa (ARAHA) Sudan fundraiser iftar
Location/Time: 5 p.m. at Eastro Event Center, 2300 University Ave. N.E.
Cost: $29.99 for general admission
Contact: (763) 270-5351
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6 p.m. at Abubakar As-Sadique, 2824 13th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55407
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:15 p.m. at Imam Hussain Islamic Center, 6120 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
March 24, 2024
Council on American-Islamic Relations Minnesota Annual Iftar
Location/Time: 5 p.m. at Coffman Union Memorial Hall, Great Hall, 300 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Cost: Free
Contact: RSVP here.
March 26, 2024
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 5:30 p.m. at South Metro Islamic Center, 15400 S. Robert Trail, Rosemount, MN 55068
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:30 p.m. at Assalam Mosque, 1460 Skillman Ave. E., Maplewood, MN 55109
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
March 27, 2024
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:30 p.m. at Maple Grove Masjid, 10186 Lancaster Ln. N., Maple Grove, MN 55369
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
March 28, 2024
Rabata’s weekly iftar for women and girls, ongoing event
Location/Time: 3533 Lexington Ave. N., Arden Hills, MN 55126
Cost: Free
Contact: bookshop@rabata.org.
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 5:45 p.m. at Eastern Twin Cities Islamic Center, 12585 Hudson Rd. S., Afton, MN 55001
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6 p.m. at Abubakar As-Saddique/Faribault Islamic Center, 1201 Division St. W., Faribault, MN 55021
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:30 p.m. at Dar Al Farooq Center, 8201 Park Ave., Bloomington, MN 55420
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
March 29, 2024
Islamic Resource Group iftar
Location/Time: 6 p.m. at the Roseville Skating Center, 2661 Civic Center Dr., St. Paul, MN 55113
Cost: $10 general admission
Contact:irg@irgmn.org
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6:45 p.m. at the Turkish American Society of Minnesota, 6565 Oakley Dr. N.E., Minneapolis, MN 55432
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
March 30, 2024
Minnesota Deaf Muslim Community iftar
Location/Time: 5:30 p.m. at the Wilder Foundation, 451 Lexington Parkway N., St. Paul, MN 55104
Cost: $25-100 per ticket.
Contact:mdmc@mndeafmuslim.org or (612) 213-0110
Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, ongoing event across the state
Location/Time: 6 p.m. at the Islamic Center of Minnesota, 1401 Gardena Ave. N.E., Fridley, MN 55432.
Cost: Free, but register here.
Contact: Cynthia Bronson Sweigert at revcbs11@gmail.com
April 4, 2024
Rabata’s weekly iftar for women and girls, ongoing event
Location/Time: 3533 Lexington Ave. N., Arden Hills, MN 55126
Cost: Free
Contact: bookshop@rabata.org.
