As Ramadan continues across the world and here in Nashville's Muslim community, the 11:11 Art Collective and the Nashville Radical Library are offering a recurring Queer Ramadan event for the LGBTQ Muslim community to observe the holy month.
11:11 Art Collective is an in-home art space for queer, BIPOC and disabled artists, and the Nashville Radical Library provides radical literature in the Nashville community. The groups' weekly Queer Ramadan events add to the list of organizations and restaurants celebrating and adjusting hours for Ramadan and offering iftar dinners in Nashville. The goal of the Queer Ramadan events is to create a space for the LGBTQ community to feel accepted while learning more about their faith and deepening their spiritual knowledge during the holy month.
On Feb. 21, they hosted their first community iftar with an introduction to Taraweeh prayer. The Taraweeh prayer is a voluntary nightly prayer performed after the Isha prayer. This involves praying in units called rak’ahs, and the opportunity to recite the Quran. For Muslims, Taraweeh prayer allows Muslims to seek forgiveness to pardon past sins, and it also allows them to connect further with Allah.
Iftar dinners at restaurants including Edessa and Middle Eatz offer opportunities for reflection
Additional events are scheduled throughout the month. This Sunday, March 1, the 11:11 Art Collective will host a Sufi poetry event starting at 5 p.m. A genre of poetry that allows creative expression related to mysticism and spiritual experiences, Sufi poetry is rooted from Sufism, a religious practice within Islam. There will be a meal to share as the group recites poetry.
Future events include a Dhikr on March 7 at 5 p.m. This event will offer and introduce a Sufi communal gathering and worship as they break their fast. Dhikr Circles is a gathering through prayer, chants and specific breathing in remembrance of Allah.
On March 14 at 5 p.m., the organizations will host guided meditation events. They will guide attendees through mediation, journaling and henna, creating a reflective experience during Ramadan.
For more information and to sign up for an event, visit 11:11 Art Collective or Nashville Radical Library on Instagram.
