Multifaith Ramadan Guidebooks

For the past several years, Shoulder to Shoulder has uplifted and encouraged multifaith connections through our Ramadan Campaign, an effort to identify, uplift, and connect people to Iftars open to interfaith guests across the nation in order to help facilitate local relationship building among Muslim and non-Muslim communities. Over the years we have collaborated with partners to create dialogue guides, a video series and curate the many amazing resources available to you. Download our guidebooks below, watch the videos, and explore the partner resources at the bottom of the page.

What is Ramadan?

The month of Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide, is a time of fasting, spiritual reflection, community, and shared meals. During the season of Ramadan, which falls during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, many Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and then gather together in mosques, homes, restaurants, parks, and elsewhere to break their fast each evening. These dinners - called Iftars (what’s an iftar?) - sometimes are small family affairs, while others are larger and more festive community gatherings. The American Muslim community is as diverse as the foods and flavors served at these iftars.

Fast Pray Share : Ramadan Reflections | The Fountain. This publication includes reflections from people of different faiths including Shoulder to Shoulder staff member, Cassandra Lawrence and Shoulder to Shoulder Executive Team member, Rabbi Burton Visotzky.

Ramadan Road Trip Video Series

In the summer of 2019, Shoulder to Shoulder embarked on a Ramadan Road Trip visiting 5 cities in the American southeast. On this trip we collected stories and documented experiences from people building an America where people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds are treated respectfully, fairly, and with dignity. After over 50 interviews and story booth conversations in Raleigh, NC; Louisville, KY; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Clarkston, GA; and Washington, D.C., the Ramadan Road Trip team developed a series of videos with accompanying video discussion guides (download below), highlighting the overall experience and a collection of conversations and stories about Ramadan, being Muslim in America, the importance of interfaith community building, how to be a better ally, and more.

This mini-documentary highlights how communities are creating spaces where individuals and communities can move out of their bubbles to encounter their neighbors and find common ground. In these conversations we discover what gives us hope and what breaks our hearts. Together with hundreds of other conversations, these communities are building relationships and trust together to build an America where people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds are treated respectfully, fairly, and with dignity. Click here to check out the accompanying discussion guide!

We are grateful for the partnership with the InterReligious Institute at Chicago Theological Seminary’s Story Project led by Kim Schultz and Seattle-based freelance video producer, Alex Montalvo for bringing these stories together. Special thanks to local leaders and organizations for hosting us at their interfaith Iftars and all those who attended and shared their stories.

Featured
What Ramadan Means to Me

For many American Muslims, Ramadan is a month that holds religious, family, cultural, and deeply personal meaning, each informing how they share, reflect, and celebrate together. This video shows just a small sample of some of those meanings from those we encountered on our Ramadan Road Trip in 2019. Click here to check out the accompanying discussion guide! (3:59 minutes)

Foods of Ramadan

The simple yet profound act of coming together to share a meal is a tradition that crosses all cultures, faiths, and communities. This video features some American Muslims we met on our Ramadan Road Trip in 2019, sharing their favorite foods of Ramadan, including lamb stew, dates, bean pie, sambosa, and IHOP! Click here to check out the accompanying discussion guide! (4:29 minutes)

Being a Better Ally

Building relationships and trust takes time, humility, and intentional effort. We hear the word allyship discussed a lot. This video explores what it means and how it can manifest in the world from people in need of good allies. Click here to check out the accompanying discussion guide! (5:32 minutes)

Good Practices for Building Community Across Differences

In this video we explore the practices that build resilient and diverse communities. These include: knowing your own values, building personal relationships across lines of difference, community mapping, strong public statements and actions and sharing stories. Click here to check out the accompanying discussion guide! (3:57 minutes)

Being Muslim in America

In a climate of hate our Muslim neighbors are struggling to maintain their sense of identity and strength based on their call to show courage, camaraderie, and compassion. The stories and interviews in this video show the raw emotions of what it means to struggle and to find strength with each other. Click here to check out the accompanying discussion guide! (5:07 minutes)

Deepening Interfaith Work

Interfaith engagement is not a new phenomenon, and neither is our ability to deepen meaningful dialogue, relationships, and collaboration. If we practice listening, learning how to agree and disagree, and learning how to engage new individuals or communities, we will build empathy for each other. If that empathy, deeper knowledge, compassion, and courage are there, we can strengthen the foundations of trust as we support each other in times of crisis and in times of joy. These are the ingredients for deeper interfaith engagement. Click here to check out the accompanying discussion guide! (6:19 minutes)

Ramadan Road Trip Discussion Guides

The Ramadan Road Trip Video Discussion Guide Complete Booklet- This booklet includes the below guides for every video.

This is a selection of additional resources designed to support intentional relationship-building during the month of Ramadan. These resources have been made publicly available and are posted with permission by the organization or leader that created them. Do you know of a resource that should be added to this list? Contact us at info@S2SCampaign.org. 

Please note considerations for inclusion on this list: 1) Does this resource offer relevant information or tools for faith and community leaders who wish to build a country where everyone is treated with dignity and respect? 2) Does this resource help cultivate interfaith and multifaith relationships? 3) Is the resource timely and accessible?