A Bradford family is inviting the community to a Ramadan dinner Friday at The Friendship Table.

Dr. M. Javed Akhtar and his family have sponsored the dinner for several years. This year it will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. and includes spaghetti and meatballs, salad, fruit and drinks.

Akhtar explained that the holy month of Ramadan, which began on May 27, is when Muslim people fast every day from dawn to dusk.

“There’s several ideas behind it,” he said. “The main thing being to identify with the people who have nothing to eat. You feel what they feel.”

The annual dinner provides a chance for people in the community to learn about the significance of Ramadan and about the Muslim faith in general, said Akhtar, who noted that many people ask questions.

Akhtar, who volunteers with his wife a couple Fridays a month at The Friendship Table, is hopeful that many people will attend the free dinner.

“The more, the merrier,” he said.

Akhtar added that the month also encourages body cleansing and discipline. The fast is an absolute fast with no food or drinks — even water. It was during the this month that the Quran, the Muslim holy book, was revealed to the prophet Muhammad, according to the religion of Islam.

According to Akhtar, the dates that Ramadan falls each year are determined by the lunar calendar, so they are different every year. The month can be 29 or 30 days.

“It’s really 10 days earlier each year,” he noted.

Most Muslims will give alms to the poor during Ramadan, which is a time when there is more reward for actions including charity and prayer, Akhtar said. It’s also a time for congregations of mosques to pray together in a service and eat supper together.