On Thursday 31st May, Al Manaar, The Muslim Heritage Centre hosted a multi-faith Iftar to celebrate Ramadan with neighbours of all faiths, create opportunities for people to come together, meet, eat and build relationships and bridges.
Since the Grenfell tragedy in June 2017, the Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea and just over a mile away from Grenfell tower, has served as a sanctuary for many people who lost their homes in the disaster and continues to be a beacon institution at the heart of the community. The multi-faith iftar forms part of Faiths Forum for London’s Big Iftar, that works to bring communities from across London together by sharing a meal, talks and respective traditions.
In October 2017, in light of the Jewish festival of Sukkot, often referred to as the Season of our Rejoicing, The Faiths Forum for London organised for a Sukkah, a temporary shelter to be built at Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre for an interfaith meal to be shared.
Abdurahman Sayed, Chief Executive Officer of the Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre said: “Al-Manaar takes community cohesion very seriously and has made reaching out to different faith and no-faith communities one of its principal activities. The inter-faith iftar is an opportunity that brings together neighbours and partners to share a social event and promote mutual understanding.”
The evening consisted of speeches from James Brokenshire, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Counsellor Majorie Reid of Place2Be, a children’s mental health charity, Steven Saxby from London Churches and a Council member of Faiths Forum for London and Cllr Mohammed Bakhitar, Deputy Mayor of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Mustafa Field, MBE, Co-Founder of The Big Iftar and Director of Faiths Forum for London said:
“With the one year anniversary of the Grenfell disaster approaching, it is more important than ever to strengthen community spirit. Al Manaar, the Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre has been at the forefront and at the heart of the local community affected post Grenfell. ”
“Ramadan is a time of giving to charity and also sharing food and conversation with neighbours of all faiths and none to promote cohesion and integration, which Al Manaar encompasses”
For more information about The Big Iftar events throughout Ramadan, visit: