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On March 25, 2023, an event took place in Times Square, New York, which saw a large number of Muslims offering Taraweeh prayers. The event was organized by social media influencer SQ in collaboration with Muslims Giving Back and Droplets of Mercy, and was sponsored by Project ZamZam. The aim of the event was to showcase how Ramzan is observed and to educate non-Muslims about the Islamic faith.
The event saw hundreds of Muslims gathering at Times Square to break their Roza (fast) and offer Islamic prayers, led by reciters Faisal Latif and Faraj Hasan. Free iftar meals were also provided, with Muslims Giving Back claiming to have given away more than 2,000 meals in collaboration with food sponsors. Motivational speakers and social media influencers were also invited to deliver speeches at the event, and members of the Jamil Foundation for Children and Youth distributed free copies of the Quran in English and Spanish.
The event was not only a prayer event, but also an opportunity for Dawah, the act of inviting or calling people to convert to Islam. SQ claimed that the event served as an example of Dawah through action, and highlighted the conversion of two non-Muslims to Islam by the end of the event as a major accomplishment.
While SQ acknowledged that Islamophobia is on the rise, he also stated that Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, but also one of the most misunderstood. He saw the event as an opportunity to explain the religion to those who do not know much about it, and to establish the “Haqq of Islam and give dawah.” SQ also asserted that Islam is a religion of peace, and that the event was organized at Times Square for a reason, as it is an iconic location that attracts many non-Muslims.
The event garnered a lot of attention on social media, with videos of the event showing a huge number of people attending the Taraweeh prayers and breaking their fast. While the event may have caused some inconvenience due to the blocking of one of the busiest roads in New York, it served as an opportunity for Muslims to come together and educate others about their faith.
