Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz marked the closing days of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, worship, and contemplation by visiting mosques in the Midwood and Boro Park communities. Friday, October 20 , Imam Hafiz Mohammad Sabir , spiritual leader of the largest Islamic Pakistani congregation in Brooklyn , welcomed Borough President Markowitz to Brooklyn’s largest mosque Makki Masjid. Monday October 23, Imam Bahatt in Turgut greeted Borough President Markowtz at the American Association of Crimean Turks , Brooklyn’s oldest Turkish mosque. According to Islamic teachings, Ramadan represents the time when God delivered his word to the prophet Muhammad in the form of the Koran.

During Ramadan observant Muslims fast, refraining from both eating and drinking, between sunrise and sunset. At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar . On October 10, Borough President Markowitz hosted Borough Hall’s third annual iftar, continuing a tradition he started in 2004 when Borough Hall became the first New York City civil building to host an iftar.

For the close of Ramadan, Makki Masjid hosted Eid ai-Fitr, the feast of fast breaking, a celebration to mark the end of the holy month.

“Brooklyn is proud to be one of the M uslim capitals of A merica ,” said Borough President Markowitz. “Brooklynites recognize that our vibrant, generous and devoted Muslim-American communities are, like every other group in our fabric , successful, community-min ded contributors who improve our quality of life . I hope the next Ramadan finds us all healthy and prosperous in a world where peace has replaced conflict.”