WASHINGTON, DC — On Tues., May 12, 2020, Muslim Advocates and Honorary Co-Chairs Reps. André Carson, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison hosted The National Iftar.

The event featured a political discussion from the co-hosts, stories from heroes working on the front lines of the pandemic, reflections from spiritual leaders and Ramadan greetings from American Muslim politicians, artists, business leaders and more.

Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host this historic iftar during this historic time:

“Tonight’s event is special.

Honorary Co-Chair and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison discussed his mother, who recently died from COVID-19 complications, and shared how that experience brought his family together:

“Right before Ramadan started, my mother passed away.

Stories from the Front Lines of the Pandemic came in from University Muslim Medical Association Community Clinic CEO Adel Sayed in Los Angeles, CA; City Councilman Basheer Jones, Cleveland, OH; Zareen’s Restaurant owner Zareen Khan in San Francisco, CA; and Stony Brook Medical Center Staff Chaplain Khurram Ahmed in Long Island, N.Y.

Spiritual Reflections from Islamic Studies Professor Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Islamic Center at New York University Executive Director and Chaplain Imam Khalid Latif, and Imam W. Deen Shareef, Convener of the Council of Imams in New Jersey, who also gave the call to prayer known as the adhan.