The Muslim community based in Panama wishes to perpetuate the teachings and rituals of Islam by drawing on the virtues of coexistence with other religions and cultures that form the basis of Panamanian society in all its diversity.
During the holy month of Ramadan, this community that consists mainly of immigrants of Indian origin, in addition to the Arab minority from Lebanon, Palestine and Morocco, remains anxious to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between its members and lay the bridges of dialogue and communication with dozens of Panamanians who converted to Islam in recent decades.
In order to preserve the relationship of respect and solidarity between members of the Muslim community in Panama City, the Panamanian Islamic Foundation organizes daily collective Iftars in the grounds of the Grand Mosque. Muslims but also people of other religions take part in an atmosphere of piety and altruism.
On this occasion, the benefactors engage in the sacred month in a kind of “virtuous competition” to fill the Iftar tables and help others as a way to pay it forward.
Indeed, the holy month of Ramadan is for the members of this small community the opportunity to come together, strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and revive the common traditions that characterize this month of blessings and good deeds.
However, some members of the Arab community prefer to break the fast in Arab restaurants in the capital, which represents an opportunity to meet and revisit the nostalgic moments that recall the rituals of the holy month in the countries of origin, which are certainly different from one country to another, but which share an authentic spirituality.
Said, a Moroccan who has been living in Panama-city for 24 years told MAP news agency that he’s used to spending Ramadan in this country, taking every evening off to go perform the prayer of al Icha and Taraweeh in the mosque.
In the city of Colon, which is located at the entrance to the Panama Canal on the Caribbean coast, lives an important community of Arab origin who had settled in the country for decades and which has become part of Panamanian society, without forgetting the traditions and values of the country.
In this context, the Islamic Cultural Centre plays an important role in preserving the stamp that distinguishes the Muslim community in this country, through various activities for the benefit of Muslims.
Besides the course of memorizing the Holy Quran, the Centre organizes charitable activities to benefit the needy of the city and collective Iftars with officials and the central government. The center also has a radio station that broadcasts the Holy Quran and religious and educational programs.
Ramadan nights in Panama reach their splendor with the prayers of Taraweeh accommodated in 12 mosques and other places built for this purpose. According to the preacher of the mosque of the Islamic Foundation, 300 people managed to memorize the Holy Quran through the services of Koranic Madrasa of the area of La Chorrera, which has become a Mecca for faithful from the Caribbean and Latin America .
