Ramadan is a month about a lot extra than simply fasting. It’s about generosity, giving charity and exhibiting up on your neighborhood.
That’s precisely what Wael Allou is doing together with his restaurant Al-Quds Grill in Roxboro on Montreal’s West Island.
This Ramadan, he’s providing a free Ramadan meal to anybody who desires one. No situations, no questions requested. You don’t should be Muslim and also you don’t even should be fasting. That you must present up and ask for a Ramadan meal.
“Ramadan make us really feel hungry, which is an effective factor since you bear in mind those who feels the identical manner all 12 months lengthy. Since I’m a child I’ve been taught that if I can feed somebody, I ought to,” Allou mentioned.
“Bodily it’s a bit arduous since you’re cooking meals and also you’re fasting all day lengthy so that you’re surrounded by meals. Feeding individuals when you’re fasting, it reminds you of why Ramadan is so particular.”
Whereas Allou’s household is from Palestine, he was born in Lebanon and immigrated to Montreal in 2006.
“We do that not simply due to the cash. I don’t take into consideration the monetary factor about it. We do it as a result of we really feel like we wish to, we wish to give it again to the neighborhood. I’ve been taught since I’m a child. I don’t like seeing individuals hungry round me. So I might love to assist and share. Sharing is so essential today.
“When individuals see what we do and so they all come and help us. After we want the neighborhood, everybody comes and helps us. So it’s nothing to do with monetary. It doesn’t matter if we lose right here and there. We give, we acquire extra by giving.”
Allou’s generosity is infamous within the West Island of Montreal, and it runs all 12 months spherical.
“I like this neighborhood, Roxboro, West Island on the whole. There’s individuals right here from all around the locations and so they all reside collectively and so they help us all 12 months lengthy. So what we do in Ramadan or by the 12 months, it’s a thanks from us to everybody that help us all of the 12 months.”
Whereas the success of his restaurant would possibly let you know in any other case, that is the primary restaurant Allou ever operated.
“I studied enterprise and once we opened the eating places, I’d by no means been in a restaurant earlier than in my life. So it was a dangerous factor to do. However we handle it and right here we’re.
“Please don’t hesitate (to cease by). Everyone seems to be welcomed. For those who’re in want, in case you can’t afford a meal exterior, in case you’re struggling, in case you’re hungry, please come by. Al-Quds Grill is at all times open, not simply in Ramadan, any time of the 12 months. We don’t ask no questions, no judgments. You’re welcomed like a household.”
Allou shared one essential reminder.
“Please don’t abuse the factor we’re doing, as a result of we’re attempting to assist the actual individuals in want. There’s lots of people that I do know there’s some individuals who come and take meals that they actually can afford, they will go purchase (it). However nonetheless, we don’t say something. We give out the meals as a result of we give it from our coronary heart. So we don’t ask something.
“However I inform these individuals, please, please maintain this to individuals in want, that individuals that actually want this meal, that they will’t afford it. As a result of there’s so much right here. So we’re attempting to assist as a lot as individuals as we are able to. However nonetheless, we’re going to present everybody, anybody, no questions, no judgment.”