Question: May Allah give you good; the questioner says; during the month of Ramadan some of the neighbors establish group iftars in the masjid with the intention of bringing about unity and strengthening the ties between them, so what is your view concerning this?
Sheikh Fawzan: This was not done by the Salaf; they would not intend to gather for the purpose of having iftar, not in Ramadan or outside of Ramadan.
But if the purpose is brotherhood from the standpoint of having the poor and needy share iftar with them, so they gather in the masjid for iftar with the purpose of feeding the poor and the needy then there is no problem with this.
But if they gather by themselves as though this gathering is virtuous; then this is an action that was not done by the Salaf.
But if there are those who are in seclusion (I'tikaf) in the masjid then there is nothing wrong with them gathering together for iftar and dinner.
But as for the people coming to the masjid just for the purpose of iftar and the intent is not to feed the poor, then this has not been legislated.