Crane Bank hosts 500 Muslims to Iftaar meal

By Nigel M. Nassar

With the month of Ramadhan being one where Allah closes the gates of hell and rewards good deeds in abundance, individuals and business people the world over take advantage of this month to enable Muslims have a smooth fasting period.

According to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, whoever gives food and water to a fasting person to break their fast will receive the same reward as that of the fasting person whose fast they helped break.

Some 500 Muslims were treated to an Iftaar meal. Photos/Denis Dibele

From what happened last Saturday evening at Kabira Country Club, the prophetic revelation was not lost on the runners of Crane Bank, as they hosted 500 Muslims to Iftaar, a mandatory meal fasting Muslims have immediately after the sun sets.

Crane Bank owner and business mogul Sudhir Ruparelia chats with some of the guests

In attendance were respected Muslim scholars and sheiks, members of Islamic institutions, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, that of the United Arab Emirates, and Crane Bank clients and employees, including the bank’s owner Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia.

“You are welcome to celebrate with us the Iftaar ceremony, which is a traditional way of celebrating the month of Ramadhan,” said Puneet Swarnakar, the Crane Bank head of sales and marketing in his welcome speech.

“We have a tradition of hosting Iftaar, which goes several years back, and we are privileged to host you this year as well,” he added during what has so far been the biggest Iftaar feast in Kampala this year.

Iftaar is a mandatory meal fasting Muslims eaten immediately after the sun sets

There was no room for many speeches, as it was all about food. Indeed, the food was in plenty, and in all sorts of types. At exactly 7:00pm, believers broke the fast with light snacks before shortly heading off to the hall in the hotel’s basement for Magrib, the fourth and second last mandatory prayer of the day.

It was after the prayer that activity heated up in the hotel’s gardens, as all and sundry treated themselves to a sumptuous Iftaar buffet, washed down with a variety of soft drinks. Indeed by the time all left at about 10:00pm, they hardly had any ‘free space’ left.

Ramathan, the fating perios for Muslims, ends over the weekend

An important religious, social and cultural event around the world, the Iftaar meal gives an opportunity to the whole family to sit together, sharing and caring about one another while breaking the fast, a thing Crane Bank seeks to achieve in hosting Iftaar annually.

In fact, Muslims who are unable to fast due to health complications or other permitted reasons are encouraged to go on a deliberate drive to enable fasting Muslims break their fasts, a thing that entitles them to loads of blessings and favour from Allah (God).

Little wonder that Crane Bank, which started with just one branch in 1995, now has 41 branches spread all over entire country, Plus a wholly owned subsidiary in Rwanda.

The holy month of Ramadhan folds in less than a week. Help a Muslim break their fast and pile up blessings from Allah.

Eid Mubarak.