I am personally involved every year to set up the dasterkhaan for iftaar.

Answer

This is done taking into account the hadith that mentions the reward for feeding a fasting person.

b. We are close to the university and many students come for iftaar.

c. There are many lessfortunate musallis that come as well.

My question - Is it permissible to continue with this practice taking into account the intention and the students that attend the daily iftaar?

A.It is necessary to have knowledge of all angles pertaining to an act ordered by the Shariah. While the Hadith mentions the reward of feeding fasting persons, it orders the method of Iftaar. Feeding people is not permissible in a way which is in conflict with an order of the Shariah. If there are genuinely poor people attending the Musjid, then bring food in disposable containers which they can take home. It should not be consumed in the Musjid. Iftaar has to be incumbently with only dates and water or only dates if available. Samoosas, haleem, etc. are not proper for Iftaar.

The students who come from the university should bring along their own three or five or seven dates. They have thousands of rands to waste on attending haraam universities. They can make their own Iftaar arrangement with dates. At most, you may place some dates on a tray from which they can take and break their fast.

As mentioned above, give the less-fortunate musallis either some money which goes in preparing food in contravention of the Iftaar Sunnah, or give them food to take home where they can enjoy it with their family. It is not permissible to feast in the Musjid especially at the time of Iftaar. About three minutes after the Athaan, the Maghrib Salaat should commence.

Discontinue the wasteful practice which negates the Sunnah practice. The intention may not be cited to abolish a practice of the Sunnah.