DEARBORN — Every year the Muslim community in the city of Dearborn and surrounding areas prepare for the holy month of Ramadan, and this year is no different. Businesses, organizations and local mosques are offering locals plenty of opportunities that will in turn make the month a jam packed one for people looking to dine out for Iftar, have a late night suhoor, or become more educated about the religion through services that will be offered throughout the month.

For locals looking to spend a night or two out for Iftar, there will be plenty of restaurants offering worthy specials during the month. Habib's Cusine on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn will be offering an open buffet daily during Iftar time, charging $18.00 for adults and $15.00 for children. The buffet will include appetizers as well as three entrees and dessert. Al-Ajameh, located on Warren Ave. and Chase Rd. will be offering specials as well, charging  $19.00 per individual. Reservations must be made in advance.

Also in Dearborn is Country Restaurant located on Schafer Rd. The restaurant will be offering an open buffet for $14.99 per person. LaPita located on Michigan Ave. on the west side of the city is also offering specials that will include dates, soup, salad, hummus, chicken tawook, lamb kafta and rice for $17.99 a person. Drinks, aside from smoothies, are also included.

The specials don't stop in Dearborn. Cedar Gardens located on Ford Rd. in Dearborn Heights will also be offering a buffet special for just $14.00 a person. Beirut By Night, located on Ford Rd. and Outer Drive, will be offering an open buffet for $14.99 as well.

For those looking to travel far out of Dearborn, La Feast in Troy, located on E. Lake Rd will also be offering specials for their customers. The restaurant will be offering a Middle Eastern cuisine buffet for $12.99 for adults and $7.99 for children under the age of 12. The special will include hummus, salad, soup, chicken, rice with lamb and vegetables.

Famous Hamburger's Dearborn location on Schaefer Rd. will also be offering buffet specials that will include an all you can eat selection of over 20 items for $14.99 for adults and $7.99 for children ages 5-11. Children under the age of 5 eat for free.  The restaurant will also be open late from 6:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 6:00 p.m.-3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday for customers looking to have hookah or some desserts.

Famous Hamburger won't be the only business re-arranging its hours to accommodate locals looking for a late night out during the month. Sky Lounge, located on Warren Ave. in Dearborn will be offering their normal menu as well as hookah all night long, as they've readjusted their schedule to be closed only two hours of the day, from 7 a.m.-9.a.m. 

Some businesses won't be closing at all. Golden Bakery, located on Warren Ave., the two Yasmeen Bakery locations in both Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, as well as Sajouna Bakery in Dearborn Heights, will be just be some of the few bakeries that will be open 24 hours to provide customers with breakfast items and pastries around the clock.

The month of Ramadan is also big on desserts, and there will be plenty of places to chose from. Shatila Bakery on Warren Ave, a typically busy spot during the month, will be open Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m.-Midnight and Friday-Sunday until 1 a.m. Lebon Sweets, another popular Middle Eastern pastry spot, will be open even later, from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. on weekdays and until 3.a.m. on weekends.

Those looking to be more involved religiously, or would simply like to attend a mosque for a prayer, will have plenty of options to chose from.

The Islamic Center of America located on Ford Rd. will be holding nightly lectures beginning on July 20 that will run through the entire month of Ramadan. The lectures will be divided into two halls, one in English and the other in Arabic, beginning every night at 10:00 p.m. The lectures will be organized by the Young Muslim Association, who will also hold their annual Iftar Dinner on Friday, August 3rd beginning at 8:00 p.m. The center will also be holding Iftar dinners Monday-Thursday, for a rate of $170.00 per ten people. To book in advance, call 313.593.0000

The Islamic Institute of Knowledge located on Schafer Rd. will also be holding nightly lectures during the holy month. Islam Universal will host Sheik Jehad, who has traveled from Australia to join the community for English lectures every night beginning at 10:15 p.m. The organization will also hold their annual  "Spirit of Humanity" Ramadan Iftar Dinner on Friday, July 26 at the same venue. The $20.00 tickets can be purchased during the nightly lectures.

The Islamic House of Wisdom, located on Ann Arbor Trail in Dearborn Heights will also be holding their own Ramadan programs. Every Friday, beginning on the 27th, they will be holding Iftar dinners (during the second week of Ramadan, the dinner will take place on a Saturday instead). Tickets for the weekly dinners will be $10.00 for Adults and only $5.00 for children. In addition, they will be holding lectures in English by renowned speakers Ali Najaf and Hassanian beginning every night at 10:00 p.m. The mosque will also be holding nightly Arabic lectures as well.