Masjid Al-Noor’s Interfaith Iftar becomes a Brookfield tradition

Photos by Sandra Whitehead

(Left to right) Shahida Munim, M.D., invited her friend Barbara Mangiafico of Sussex to Masjid Al-Noor’s interfaith iftar last week. Mangiafico invited some of her friends and promises to bring more next year.

Months before Ramadan, as Masjid Al-Noor in Brookfield plans its annual events, “among the first dates we put on the calendar is our interfaith iftar,” when Muslims break their fast with non-Muslim friends, neighbors and colleagues, said Tahseen Hussaini, ameerah (president) of the mosque.

“It is something we prioritize,” Hussaini explained. “It is important to bring people to the masjid and help them understand who we are. Ramadan is a nice time to reach out to all our neighbors.”

Around 140 people, including guests and volunteers, attended Masjid Al-Noor’s annual interfaith iftar last week. Some guests said they have attended several years in a row and even brought friends along—many plan to be back next year. 

“This year we had more guests in attendance than last year, which means we succeeded in reaching out to non-Muslim friends, coworkers and neighbors,” said Rana Alhourane of Brookfield, the event organizer for a second year. “This event is very important for our community to build strong connections, understanding and acceptance among people of different faiths.”

Islamic Society of Milwaukee resident scholar Rami Bleibel, center, chats with Ana Simpson of Waukesha, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast CEO.

Making connections

Masjid Al-Noor’s Dawah Committee, organizers of the interfaith iftar, planned a variety of activities that would strengthen ties between guests and the local Muslim community, including touring the masjid (mosque), sharing a meal, helping women try on the hijab and offering educational literature and an English translation of the Quran. 

As guests arrived, a team of youth from Masjid Al-Noor, along with adult members of the community, met them in the foyer and led them on tours throughout the mosque. They explained architectural and design features like patterns in the rug that help worshippers orient themselves towards Mecca, where they face the Kaaba, the temple of Ibrahim (Abraham) in prayer. Tours stopped by a room for washing, a purification process before salah (prayer), visiting the men’s prayer hall and the women’s prayer hall. 

“We are MUHSEN certified,” noted Tarannum Majeed of Sussex, a member of the Dawah Committee who led a tour group. MUHSEN stands for “Muslims Understanding and Helping Special Education Needs.” Among its programs, MUHSEN certifies mosques for being accessible for people with disabilities.

After the tours, Islamic Society of Milwaukee director Othman Atta welcomed guests and encouraged them to make themselves at home. Masjid Al-Noor is also known as ISM-West and is the primary mosque serving Greater Milwaukee’s western suburbs. 

Some Muslims excused themselves to pray Maghrib, the late afternoon prayer. Then Shayk Rami Bleibel, an ISM resident scholar, said, “It is truly a pleasure to welcome all of you. One of the hallmarks of Ramadan in our faith and culture is the bond of family and community. It is something essential to society. Ramadan is a time to bring families together and the community at large.”

He shared a story of his high school days, when his mother would make a Ramadan dinner for his soccer teammates, who were mostly non-Muslim.

“It was something they looked forward to every year to the point where they started requesting certain foods.

“We hope to see more of you,” he added. “Please feel free to come anytime and invite your family, friends and neighbors.” 

Mushir Hassan, M.D., of Brookfield emceed a program on the essentials of Islam and the history of Masjid Al-Noor. During his presentation, Hassan approached a table of Pius High School students and asked, “What happened Wednesday?”

“It was Ash Wednesday,” a young woman responded.

“What is Ash Wednesday,” he asked.

“The beginning of Lent in the Catholic Faith,” she said.

“What is the significance of Lent?”

A young man took the microphone. “It is when Jesus went into the desert and fasted for 40 days.”

“I asked that on purpose,” Hassan confessed. “I want to highlight the similarities of our faiths. I love that Ramadan and Lent overlap this year.”

In Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, then break their fasts with dates followed by iftar, a meal. “Breaking bread together, eating together in Ramadan, is a huge part of our faith,” said Hussaini, who is also a member of the Dawah Committee. The buffet offered generous portions of Mediterranean dishes. “We really want to let people know we are very welcoming.”

Students from Pius High School explain the Catholic traditions of Lent as Mushir Hassan, M.D., passes around a microphone.

Alhorane and Nawal Ilili of Brookfield manned an information station, where brochures and books on Islam were available. They explained how to wear the hijab and its purpose, as they helped non-Muslim women try them on. 

Amid the buzz of conversations, one heard, “How many kids do you have? Where do they go to school?” or “Do you have grandchildren? Do they live nearby?” 

The most important activity of the night was to meet face-to-face and connect on a personal level, Hussaini said. “We discover how much we have in common.”

Brookfield Mayor Steve Ponto reflects on Masjid Al-Noor’s 10-year history

“This goes back to March 2, 2015, 10 years ago, at the opening of the mosque,” Brookfield Mayor Steve Ponto said about a document he had printed from his computer. “I specifically want to thank the members of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee who came to the city government in good faith and with good will and asked how they could help us. With reasonable compromise, we came to a proposal that reached broad support. Our government process was very opened. Relevant documents were posted on our city website and everyone who wanted had the opportunity to comment at a public forum. We asked that people confine their comments to the proposed building and its impact on the surrounding area in terms of traffic and similar issues. 

“The role of government in this instance was to make decisions about a building and a site. It was not to review a religion. Believe me, none of us want to live in a society where government reviews and passes on religion. In the end, the proposal for this mosque received the unanimous support of the Brookfield Planning Commission and the unanimous support of Brookfield’s Common Council. I’m very proud of that. I believe it was one of the high points for our city government and reflected very well on our community. 

“To the members of this mosque, you are our neighbors and friends, our doctors, lawyers, pharmacists and many other occupations. You are good conscientious citizens who make this community stronger by your presence and your participation in civic matters. 

“We know how important this mosque is to you, a place of your own to worship, right here in Brookfield. We share your joy that this mosque is now open.”

Mayor Ponto also presented Hassan with a proclamation, thanking him for his service on the Elmbrook School Board from April 2020 to April 2024 and “to commend the public spirit which he so amply demonstrated.”

Brookfield Mayor Steve Ponto shared a speech he gave 10 years ago about the opening of Masjid Al-Noor.

Guests return year after year

A wide variety of guests attended, including public officials, Elmbrook School Board candidates, a large contingency from Girl Scouts of the USA and Pius High School students and teachers. For some, it was the first time; for others, it’s a tradition.

In addition to Mayor Ponto, Brookfield City Council members Christopher Blackburn, Chuck Bloom III, and Mike Hallquist attended.

“The mayor invited city officials,” explained Blackburn, who was on the City Council when the mosque was approved. “It’s worked out really well and it’s thriving.”

(Left to right): Mushir Hassan, M.D., Mike and Liz Beaudoin, Bushra Zaibek and Wes Sylla posed before departing. Liz Beaudoin and Wes Sylla are candidates for the Elmbrook School Board in the April election.

Hassan and Bushra Zaibak invited Elmbrook School Board candidates to attend. Two did: Wes Sylla and Liz Beaudoin. Beaudoin’s husband Chris said the interfaith iftar was “really a wonderful event. What strikes me is the commonalities—common interests, very similar values,” he said. 

“I don’t know anything about this culture and this religion, although I have Muslim students and colleagues,” said Mike Pauers, who teaches biology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Waukesha campus. “This event is an opportunity to learn.”

Maria Hickman of Franklin also saw the interfaith iftar as a chance to learn the faith of her students. The Milwaukee Public School and Milwaukee Area Technical College teacher has a lot of Muslim students, she said. At Zablocki Community School, K-5th grade, “during Ramadan, my room is known as the ‘Ramadan Room.’ Although many of the students are young to fast, they want to fast like their parents (and will come to the Ramadan Room during lunch). At MATC, I have a lot of newcomers to Milwaukee—Rohinga, Somali and others.”

Barbara MangiqGico, a nurse and nursing instructor at Alverno College, has known Muslims throughout her career. “I taught Inshirah Farhoud,” a nurse at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and a well-known member of Greater Milwaukee’s Muslim community, she said proudly.

She came to Masjid Al-Noor’s interfaith iftar last year, brought a table full of friends with her this year and plans to bring even more next year, she said. 

“If people can get real knowledge about Muslims, we’ll stop seeing all this hatred,” she added.