In the centre of the tray was placed a capacious white basin, filled with a kind of cold bread soup and around it were ranged a circle of small porcelain saucers, filled with sliced cheese, anchovies, caviare, and sweetmeats of every description: among these were scattered spoons of box-wood, and goblets of pink and white sherbet, whose rose-scented contents perfumed the apartment. The room was a perfect square, totally unfurnished, save that in the centre of the floor was spread a carpet, on which stood a wooden frame, about two feet in height, supporting an immense round plated tray, with the edge slightly raised. Miss Pardoe writing in 1836 of her travels in Stamboul records a Turkish iftar she attended: Some Hadith also state that Muhammad used to read the following dua at iftar: ĭhahaba al-zama’ wa abtalat al-‘urooq wa thabat al-ajr Insha’Allah - "Thirst has gone, the veins are moist, and the reward is assured, if Allah wills." Many Muslims believe that feeding someone iftar as a form of charity is very rewarding and that such was practised by Muhammad. Traditionally three dates are eaten to break the fast, in emulation of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, who broke his fast in this manner, but this is not mandatory. The meal is taken just after the call to the Maghrib prayer, which is around sunset. Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan, and is often done as a community, with Muslim people gathering to break their fast together.