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The setting sun over the western skies of Mogadishu, Somalia, on June 5, 2017, not only signaled the end of the daily fasting over the month of Ramadan, but also marked an important step in building relationships between the U.S. and Somali military leadership. This was the first time a U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Imam led an Iftar at the Mogadishu International Airport for U.S. personnel from AFRICOM, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), the Mogadishu Coordination Cell, as well as Somali National Army leaders.
The event required close coordination between the U.S. hosts and the SNA partners. Using a pair of headphones, Col. Nuuraani Ali Dirir, Liaison Officer for European Training Mission in Somalia, listened intently for the international Islamic call to prayer, which announced the moment when Muslims should line up for the beginning of each prayer.
After Ali Dirir gave the cue to begin, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Abuhena Saifulislam, U.S. Africa Command deputy command chaplain, led six other Somali National Army guests to a designated area in which they would pray before partaking in the Iftar feast.
Saifulislam, originally from Bangladesh, served as the Imam for the evening prayers.
Per the Islam faith, Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, improvement and increased devotion and worship. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the soul by freeing it from harmful impurities. The prayers proclaim Muslims’ belief and trust in God as they fast.
Immediately following, the guests gathered around a table to break bread with one another.
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.13.2018 11:37 |
| Photo ID: | 4294358 |
| VIRIN: | 170606-F-WX664-001 |
| Resolution: | 9028x3000 |
| Size: | 9.73 MB |
| Location: | MOGADISHU, SO |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 7 |
This work, AFRICOM Imam leads first Iftar with U.S., SNA leaders, by TSgt Eboni Reece, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
