Ma'idat ar-Rahman
Maʾīdāt ar-Raḥmān, meaning “The Table of the Merciful,” is an Islamic Ramadan tradition where large tables of food and drink are set out so people can break the fast together. The meals are especially for the poor who can’t afford an iftar at home. It is common in many Muslim and Arab countries, especially Egypt, and sometimes celebrities sponsor the tables.
Some historians say the practice began in Egypt during the Tulunid period (around 868–905 CE), when Ahmad ibn Tulun asked wealthy merchants and nobles to feed the poor. Others say it started in the Fatimid era (909–1171 CE), with rulers, merchants, and the palace providing sugar and flour to make Ramadan sweets like kunafa and qatayif.
In 2025, Al-Ahram reported a Christian man in Hurghada hosting a Maʾīdāt ar-Raḥmān during Ramadan, highlighting Christian–Muslim coexistence in Egypt.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:22 (CET).