CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION MAREZ, MOSUL, Iraq — Promoting an understanding of Islamic faith and Muslim culture, the Mosul Reconstruction Cell hosted a dinner for MRC staff and Mosul city reconstruction leaders to celebrate Ramadan, Tuesday.
For Muslims across the world, Ramadan is the holiest of all months in the Islamic calendar. According to Muslim belief, Ramadan is the month the Prophet Muhammad received his revelations from Allah through the angel Gabriel, which he later wrote down as the Quran. It is a time of self-reflection, fasting, prayer and charity. Spiritual growth comes from refraining, not only from food as Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset during the holy month, but from any sinful thoughts, words or deeds.
Each evening of Ramadan, after sunset, Muslim's break their fast. The opportunity for U.S. forces to celebrate the breaking of the fast with their Iraqi counterparts gave the American attendees a unique cultural experience. The attendees visited and snacked on dates, a tradition traced back to Muhammad. This was followed by an evening prayer for the Islamic worshippers, and finally, a meal of rice, lamb, flatbread and other traditional Iraqi dishes.
Yaseen Aziz, MRC special advisor, a native of Sulaymania in Iraq's Kurdish region who immigrated to Greenville, S.C., in 1997, said fasting during Ramadan is similar to fasting in Christian and Jewish religions.
"The only difference," Aziz said, "is Ramadan is more than fasting from food. It is fasting from drink and activities."
Aziz said the celebration dinner was a chance to trade information and help the Iraqis and Americans learn from each other.
"It is essential to understand each other's cultures, how they pray, how they fast. It shows a type of care and love for each other, a key point in building relationships," he said.
Attendees included Iraqi municipality, public works and engineer reconstruction leaders, as well as Brig Gen. Robert Brown, deputy commanding general (support), Multi-National Division-North, 25th Infantry Division and Lt. Col. Fabian E. Mendoza, Jr., 130th Eng. Bde. commander.
MRC officer-in-charge, Lt. Col. Chad R. Walker, 130th Engineer Brigade, said his team wanted to honor the Iraqi culture and heritage and pay their respects to the Iraqi reconstruction leaders and engineers his team has worked so closely with since the 130th's arrival in country.
"Being part of this celebration is very significant," Walker said. "We are bridging the gap between religions, cultures and nations."
Walker's team plays a critical role in aiding the reconstruction efforts in Mosul and Ninawa province. Working directly with Iraqi government officials, the MRC helps develop, coordinate and execute a wide variety of projects to rebuild essential services and improve health and welfare for local citizens.
Master Sgt. Wade E. Christensen, MRC non-commissioned officer-in-charge, 130th Eng. Bde., has worked with local officials to provide trash trucks and dumpsters for a large scale clean-up of Mosul. He said hosting the Ramadan dinner was a great way to show the Iraqi people that the U.S. forces embrace the Iraqi culture and respect the way they conduct business.
"This event allowed the major players in reconstruction to break bread together, talk about issues and build relationships," Christensen said.
The MRC hopes the Ramadan dinner helped facilitate greater awareness and respect between two very different cultures as their partnership in reconstruction continues to improve the quality of life for residents of Mosul and Ninawa province.