Because Muslims believe God made each creature with an intended purpose and way of life, the Quran provides guidelines about what sort of food is OK to eat. According to writer Christine Huda Dodge, Islam permits people to eat what is healthy and lawful on the earth and prohibits all things that are harmful or unlawful.
Some of the foods Muslims are prohibited from eating include swine, animals slaughtered in dedication to false gods or predatory animals.
Food that meets general Islamic dietary guidelines is called halal, which is what we’ll be eating during the appetizer portion during Faith Feast: an Intercultural Progressive Dinner.
Dodge explains that Muslims strive to follow these guidelines, but believe God is merciful. Therefore, if a person finds himself in a situation in which he is starving and nothing is available except unlawful food, he is allowed to eat the food in order to save his life.
On April 21, Faith Feast will begin with Halal appetizers at the Spokane Islamic Center. Then guests will dine at the Sikh Gudwara of Spokane and conclude at Millwood Community Presbyterian Church.
The Spokane Islamic Center, founded in 1979, is dedicated to serving Muslims in the Spokane area and to fostering understanding and goodwill between Muslims and non-Muslims through education and community involvement, according to its website.
Its current building in the Spokane Valley was completed in 2009 and in 2013 the community welcomed its new imam. About 250 people attend prayers at the mosque.
When entering a mosque, all people must remove their shoes, men must remove hats, and women must cover their heads.
Suggested Ticket prices are $50 for individuals or $80 for a pair. Seating is limited.
All proceeds from the dinner will benefit Spokane Faith & Values, the area’s nonprofit, nonsectarian online religion news publication.
To purchase tickets, call (509) 240-1830 or email [email protected].
