Before you abuse, if not stone, I would like to dispel the notion that I am a newly converted Muslim or, for that matter, perhaps unbelievably being born as a Muslim, I did not fast earlier than yesterday Friday 12th September, 2008 though as per my Pakistani passport, I will be 65 years of age on 14^th December, 2008.  This is neither a riddle nor a dream, for that matter, and not an imaginary story either but a fact, hard fact to be honest.

I flew in to Kuwait from Saudi Arabia in September 1978 and since then I am staying here and have no intention to quit the place, at least in near future, if not distant away. For quite many years I have been thinking to eat "˜free iftar' served in all mosques during the holy month of Ramazan but each time I felt too shy and timid to be one of those who deserve to be fed free, at least for the month, if not six months or whole year long. Kuwait being an Islamic country pays very special attention towards the needy irrespective of the fact whether the needy are local citizens or expatriates. Kuwait can very rightly boast of owning, patronizing and assisting various humanitarian and charitable organizations working within the territorial limits of the tiny oil exporting country. There are many NGOs too looking after those who rightly deserve to be taken care of and frankly speaking I do not have statistical data to list out as to what could be the figure as to whom and how many entities fall under the category of helping the humanity but still the number could be quite high in two digits, if not in three digits.

It is centuries old annual tradition that each year during the holy month of Ramazan, the Muslims are served free meals at the time of breaking the fast at the time of sun setting and, from this particular point of view, hardly there is any difference between an individual and or an organization. Kuwait is itself an Islamic country where expatriates are more than Kuwaitis, could not be an exception to the established practice. Kuwaitis in particular and some expatriates in general, at their own sweet will, send daily cooked food, fruit and drinks etc to the nearest mosque of the place they reside in. Some of them will also erect special tents and or designate special places in their respective vicinities where anybody can come to eat and break the fast. The government, religious organizations, charitable institutions and humanitarian bodies do the same but, of course, at much larger scale than the individuals but still the principles remain the same.

I know for fact that each year, couple of months before Ramazan, philanthropists and social welfare organizations survey those areas where poor laborers or for that matter low paid employees are living and note down as to what could be their numbers and where to host iftar parties for them. I also know that this all needs logistics and unless and until all steps are taken care mere wish to feed needy will suffice. Quite a big force including, buyers, drivers, cooks and serving staff etc is temporarily engaged handle and manage the show from the start of the month till the end of the month. Once the place is selected and numbers are ascertained then comes who will serve and how. This all needs lot of logistics to accomplish what has been thought of and I need not spell out the operational and logistical steps.

I very well know for sure that free iftar parties have been hosted annually and continually since my landing here in 1978 and to tell the truth quite many a time I was too tempted to there but each time I was awed and feared that if any one known sees me eating there then the news with my photo or without could be flashed in Arab Times-the leading Kuwaiti English daily. Believe you me, this year too I was very much cross minded as to how to eat, when to eat and where. Each day I go to mosque next to my residence in Mahboola and see myself 1000+ men breaking fast just outside the boundary wall of the mosque (my residential complex owner is the host) but I shivered in shame and ignored. However I had decided that come what may I will eat this Ramazan in any case and as the bad luck had it, I went to few mosques much distanced away like in Qurain, Adan and Mishrif but did not feel like eating at any of the places simply because I noticed that a group shares one big common platter to eat whereas I had preferred and decided for individual serving. The baffling question, or more correctly, awkward question as to where iftar is served individually could not be asked and I wondered how to solve it.

Luckily on Fri 12th I, on return to my house, passed through Surra round about (next to cooperative supermarket) around 1730 hours and I noticed that individual food packets are laid up for the free guests and no denying the fact this is what I have been after. I passed through but came back to make sure that I am not mistaken in my judgment. I parked my car and walked towards the open area next to the mosque boundary wall where not only mats had already been spread out and quite a sizeable people were seated with individual servings in their front. I sat in the first row behind the first food box where none was sitting though there were many on my left, right and front and despite the fact that I was not comfortable, rather on the contra, I was sweating a bit and my heart beat was higher than normal but what could I do otherwise unless I voluntarily quit and waste the golden opportune.

It was printed food box of a certain catering company which had so many items like full cooked rice biryani with a big mutton piece, curry container,  loaf of bread (roti), salad container, dates packet, one orange and a plastic spoon. In addition to this I, like anybody else, had two water packs, one juice pack and one butter-milk as well. Then on the top of it, men were giving extra dates as well to each and every one in case if any one cannot open the machine packed dates. I had peeled off the orange, removed plastic covering from water packs and butter milk container during the gap time and waited for the call of the prayer. Two Kuwaitis were very much active in directing those who were responsible for serving the free guests. I saw many that extra mats were spread as and when new men came and, of course, each one was gifted all what I had been presented.

The time had come and sun set prayers call was heard and al the invitees recited the Quranic verse and ate date to break the fast. The rice dish was truly very tasty and I am not exaggerating to say the meat was too tender and very nicely cooked and first I ate raw rice raw without curry which I added later and unbelievably I really relished it. I did my best to eat and drink maximum but still I failed to justify as what has been given to me. I seriously doubt any one can eat all this within ten minutes since one is to offer prayers as well. I could not eat more than almost quarter of rice, no time to eat salad, bread. I was short on time to drink the juice.

I am neither hesitant nor reluctant to pen that hardly any one would like to miss such tasty food and that too free and though I am going again I simply could not resist telling you about my 1^st "˜free ifter'. Allah bless all those who look after the needy, I very solemnly and sincerely pray.

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With my honest and solemn prayers

Sincere Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Former Pakistani diplomat / zaidi_x_diplomat@hotmail.com / Tel + Fax 3715102 / Mobile 6229897