Features / muslim
Faith, fasting and community spirit in Bristol
People from across different religions, professions, backgrounds and generations came together for an evening of education and a celebration of community spirit during Ramadan.
“We live in a hostile world, so it’s is about breaking down barriers, encouraging discussion and promoting community cohesion,” explains Ismaeel Akram, a former pupil at Bristol Cathedral Choir School, who first started the annual Interfaith Iftar in 2016.
Hosted in Bristol Cathedral Choir School’s Cresswell Theatre, this year’s event saw representatives from Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Bahai and Sikhism speak about fasting and what it means to them.
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Samina Iqbal and Ismaeel Akram, organisers of the Community Interfaith Iftar
“There are a lot of things we have in common that we did not realise,” comments Samina Iqbal, who organised the event alongside Ismaeel as part of the Community Iftar Project, which is a Bristol Muslim Cultural Society (BMCS) initiative.
She added: “We hope to promote awareness of different religions – the only way we can get on as a community is when we learn about each other.”
Muslim professionals from different sectors also spoke about their own experience of fasting while working.
Aziz Deen, a training solicitor, spoke of the importance of being open with employers
Aaliyah Hussain urged young people to pursue social justice
“For me, Ramadan is about slowing down,” said Aaliyah Hussain, founder of WeRise.
Speaking about the principles peace and justice that underpin Islam, she urged adults not to quash young people with ambitions to make the world a better place.
“I would encourage young people, whichever faith they belong to, or none, to pursue these aims of social justice,” she said.
Tara Miran said Ramadan is a time when people come together
Tara Miran, of Bristol Women’s Voice, touched on the common questions asked by non-Muslims during Ramadan.
“We always get ‘what, not even water?’” she said, adding: “It’s challenging but you get through it and it’s always our favourite time because it’s about togetherness – we break our fast together.”
Ahmed Elboshra, a former head student at Bristol Cathedral Choir School who is now studying at the University of Bristol, compered the evening.
Observing the Maghrib prayer
After Maghrib (sunset) Prayer, everyone gathered downstairs for a feast of curry, cake and plenty more.
“The tradition of eating together around a table is something we’ve lost as a society,” comments one guest, reflecting on the importance of breaking bread in all cultures.
People from different faiths and backgrounds came together to break the fast
Representatives from different religions spoke about their own experience of fasting
It was the fourth year for the interfaith Iftar
The event was hosted by Bristol Cathedral Choir School and organised with the support of BMCS’s Community Iftar Project. Headteacher Paul Atkins said he would love to see it grow and evolve each year.
Reflecting on the event, Ismaeel, who is now studying chemistry at Cardiff University, said: “We are all humans. If we can come together and learn, we can build community cohesion.”
Bristol’s Grand Iftar takes place on St Mark’s Road on Thursday, May 30.
Read more: ‘It’s a golden opportunity for us to share with the community’
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