Annual Interfaith Iftar and Dinner at ICC

Annual Interfaith Iftar and Dinner Party

at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Islamic Cultural Centre has organised an Annual Interfaith Iftar & Dinner Party & Dinner at its Library conference Hall on Thursday 16^th of May, 2019. More than 150 guests including Members of Parliament, diplomats, members and representatives of many embassies, members of interfaith and different Faith groups attended the Iftar & Dinner party. Ambassadors of Bahrain, Algeria and Arab League also attended the Iftar & Dinner party. This Ifter & Dinner Party was sponsored by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, London.

Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre & Central London Mosque Trust, London, welcomed the guests. In his welcoming address, he talked about interfaith as well as the importance of Ramadan and Fasting.

Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan

Dr. al-Dubayan said, “Muslims dedicated their time to more service for the society, for their families, and for their worshippers.”

Ramadan – the Month of Generosity

“It is the month of generosity; it is the month and time when you have to check and not forget those whom you have forgotten whole year - your neighbours; your parents, sometimes, they are away from your place; your friends, even those who there is a chance to give them something or do something for them. It is like a change points or points of change. All Muslims in the year revise their daily lives, revise their relations, revise their worships, revise their connections with Allah whether everything is going right or I need to correct myself,” mentioned ICC chief.

Lot of traditions around Ramadan

Dr. al-Dubayan also mentioned, “In the early generation of Islam when Ramadan starts they dedicated most of the time actually for reading the Qur’an; worship and for giving to those who need help around. There are lot of traditions, of course, came with the month of Ramadan throughout the world; if you go to Africa, you will find traditions; if you go to Asia. Arab world, Middle East everywhere; even the European Muslims for the last fifty years since they became citizens of Europe they are establishing their traditions of the month of Ramadan - about their food, customs, music; food  timing, gathering with families; gathering with friends. There are some dishes actually; we see really in the month of Ramadan, we don’t see in other times.”

All Faiths Sharing Values

“There are lots of literature and heritage about this spiritual month of Ramadan. That’s why; we called to share this. We believe also it is all faiths sharing values - value of peace, value of mercy, value of justice, value of doing something good to everybody; value of protection of environment - of animals and human rights and everything. So we think it is the time to highlight this meaning. When we come together; when we share together this spirit of this month, that means, we are showing you the spirit of Islam which so far the people think as faith as they are sharing different areas and values together,” mentioned the ICC Director General.

It is also the month of peace

The ICC chief also said about the importance and significance of the month of Ramadan. He said, “Ramadan is the month of peace. Everyone wants this peace. But how to do this? is a big question. But it is really for everyone. Peace does not start if things do not start from the heart. When our hearts are full of peace, then peace will dominate everywhere and accepted everywhere. If the hearts are still full of hatred, full of wrong ideas about people, full of stereotypes about others, then peace  does not have space to come; still far to come. That’s why; for all this reason we are here with our friends - Christian friends, our Jewish friends, our Hindu friends, Sikh friends, Buddhist friends, and others also - we all come here together with us and we are so happy here together.”

2019 – The Year of Tolerance

Dr. al-Dubayan also mentioned about the special importance of this day. He said, “This day is a special day from another side. It is greatly sponsored by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).” He just mentioned about the meaning of tolerance and said, “I am not going to talk about it because we have Rawadha, she is here, who is going to talk about it. UAE has announced this year the Year 2019 a Year of Tolerance. So we are also celebrating this and sharing this together.”  

Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon

Minister of Foreign Affairs UK

Lord Tariq Ahmad, Peer of the House of Lords, British Parliament, started in the name of Allah the Most Gracious and Most Merciful. He said Good Evening and  Assalamualaikum wa Rahmatullahe wa Barakatuh.

Lord Ahmad attended in two capacities

Lord Ahmad said, “It is my immense pleasure to be here on behalf of the government in two capacities; I am a Minister of the Foreign Office and I am also Prime Minister’s Envoy of Freedom of Religion and Belief. As I was coming this evening I was thinking about for a few moments that I have what to share; and the coming together Iftar as Dr Ahmad had said realised here. We have from one Ahmad to another Ahmad; so we have got an abundance of Ahmads. I am saying ahmad means blessing hopefully that reflection of all the evenings that is truly blessed. This is not about one ahmad to another; however many ahmad we have.”

“It is about coming together; and I reflected actually before entered into parliament and government in the city of London a number of years ago, 20 years,” mentioned Lord Ahmad.

Lord Ahmad narrated a story about the sacrifice of Prophet Abraham. He mentioned, “One day I have a conversation I said to Michael I cannot come tomorrow It’s a day of Eid; he said, hold on a minute, you had Tariq; you cannot come you had Eid of course, you had Eid ul Fitr. At which point I said to him, Michael, we actually had two Eids, Eid-ul Fitr which actually we had after the end of Ramadan but we have another Eid called Eid ul Adha. He asked, tell me about that Eid. I said you know the story of sacrifice by Prophet Abraham; he said, hold on, you believe in Prophet Abraham; yes I do; I said it’s the story of Sacrifice when Prophet Abraham was instructed to sacrifice his son and he obediently did that. yes yes I know that; we believed in that as well, said Michael and then he said, hold on a minute; he said it was Issac; no no then he picked up the phone and called Robert James, our very diligent finance director; he said Robert come in here; we got an important business; Robert was the finance director; of course, he comes in Michael office; all files in hand as if we have an important business meeting.”

“He  said you are a practising Christian; Prophet Abraham you believed in him; he said of course; I did; he said  about the story of sacrifice and the direction of Prophet Abraham He said  absolutely; Now is the crux of the question; Robert which son? Ismael or Issac? Well Robert said We Christian we believe it was Issac; he turned round to me and said you are a politicians we believe in democracy; two to one; we are right we are right. I share that ladies and gentlemen,” said Lord Ahmad.

It is about Faith, about

People coming together

Lord Ahmad said, “Because it is about faith, it is about community; how people work together; it is our people together; so whether you are in the city of London or in the beautiful setting at the grand mosque at the Regents Park; it is about people coming together; sharing beliefs; sharing ideals; we have  differences; we have  different perspectives;  different interpretations; but the real strength of humanity; that is how we come together unity; and that is, in essence that Dr Ahmad was saying; when we look at the holy month of Ramadan, we come together as communities; it’s about sharing, long term.”

Ramadan is a time of Reflection

Lord Ahmad also said, “Ramadan is a time of reflection; it is time of prayer; we have our challenges; Ahmad, Siddiqa and myself get up early in the morning before the crack of  dawn, we have sahoor in the morning that we can show you we do; fill our bodies with right nutrition trying to avoid spicy foods as we are talking earlier; just at the point when you finish the prayer, read the holy Qur’an and I can bear you can probably have an hour and a half before you get up next call of the day. Half passed Five we have to say mami dadi it is morning time; it is about family as well; it is about community. And that’s why Ramadan defined.”

It is the reflection of bringing together

Reflection of Ramadan

Lord Ahmad also mentioned about the reflection of Ramadan of bringing together. He said, “The holy Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (sallallu wa sallam) peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: The true definition of a person is that he desires for himself what he should desire for all. That is a reflection of the hospitality that we receive here, at the mosque today. It is the reflection of bringing together, is the reflection of Ramadan that community, of whatever the faith belief you may be; be together. Therefore I am ready be honoured to come board in this evening.”

No better virtue than true neighbourliness,

true humanity friendship, true affection

Thanking Dr Ahmad for his kind invitation, Lord Ahmad said, “I am sure I speak for each and every one of your guests here in this evening. We are entirely grateful for your hospitality and there is no better virtue true neighbourliness, true humanity friendship, true affection and love than breaking the bread you do later this evening.”  

H.E. Rawdha Al Otaiba Talked

about breaking barriers of intolerance

H.E. Rawdha Al Otaiba, Deputy Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates also spoke on the need to break barriers of intolerance and work towards a global peace initiative. She said, I am delighted and honoured to be amongst you here at this wonderful gathering to share with you today’s breaking of the fast Iftar in these wonderful surroundings of the London Central Mosque & Islamic Cultural Centre. Notably what could be more fitting than a place of worship to invite people of all faiths to join us to live the joy experienced by more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world during this blessed month of Ramadan? Indeed Ramadan is about not only food or lack thereof, but most importantly about the values it instils in us Muslims, of which is tolerance.”

In UAE, tolerance is a way of life

And not a concession

Speaking about tolerance in the UAE, H.E. Al Otaiba mentioned, “In the UAE, tolerance is a way of life and not a concession. We pride ourselves on the achievement of creating one of the most tolerant societies in the world. Our nation, of which >85% are non-Nationals is now a template of co-existence of over 200 nationalities from different race, religions and abilities. Today there are over 1 million of Christians and many more who are Jewish, Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs who have made the UAE their home, benefitting from a Constitution as old as the Union that guarantees freedom of worship to all faiths.”

Pope Francis’ visit to the UAE

Referring to the Pope Francis’ visit to the UAE, Ambassador Al Otaiba said, “Pope Francis made history early this year when he visited the UAE, conducting an open air mass attended by 180,000 people. It was the first time a pope had ever visited the Arabian Peninsula. The visit was the perfect answer to extremists who claim other religions are not welcome in the land of Islam’s founding.”

Tolerance is also about Acceptance

H. E. Al Otaiba said, “Tolerance for us is also about acceptance. In March this year the UAE hosted the Special Olympics World Games 2019 for the first time in the Middle East North Africa since the movement’s founding over 50 years ago. The games highlighted the integral part of local, national and regional plans to expand opportunities for people of determination in line with the UAE’s shared vision of a unified and inclusive society.”

Rabbi Herchel Gluck OBE

Rabbi Herchel Gluck, Chairman of the Muslim-Jewish Forum also spoke on the occasion.

Dr. Lakshmi Viyas

Dr. Lakshmi Viyas, President Hindu Forum of Europe, chair of Education Hindu Forum of Britain & member of the Religious Council of the UK also spoke at the event.

Javid Rana

Javid Rana, chair of the Association of Muslim Police started with saying Happy Ramadan and he just liked to say: “I am happy to be here for two reasons; the first reason is I am Muslim and the second reason is I am a police officer. It is brilliant to see so many different faiths are here and I would like to thank the mosque the excellent ongoing engagement work with the community. So well done.”

Rana also mentioned, “We find in the Metropolitan Police Service which said in order to effectively serve the public we need to become part of the public; by consent that means we listen to act which tell us and learn and work together that is really really important.”

Rana wanted give some messages. He said, “the first one is about tackling crime; there is absolutely no space for hate crime in the society, the disease we need to eradicate we need to work together; if anyone is victim of hate crime and it is because of your faith, it could be colour, it could be other protective characteristics, please please come forward and report it.”

“Secondly London is such a multicultural place to work in, to live in and now you know that. It is a melting pot. We called it in the world. The police needs to represent every corner of the world.”

John Parry

John Parry, Director of Interfaith Centre, said, “In 1993 an archaeological started in a village somewhere between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. They dug and found the building went back to century. Between the year 500 and 800 that building had been used by both Muslims and Christians together as they remember this was the place where Mary was sent before she went on to give birth to Jesus in Bethlehem. And in that single building also they found there was a place where Christians could worship and there was a place where Muslims could say their prayers in one single building.”

“Move on between 792 and 1492 in the Iberian peninsula that was a time when people were living together; when Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together side by side. Where we have gone wrong? That’s the question,” asked John Parry.

John Parry lamented, “It is sad that we are living at a time when evil people try to keep us apart. I am grateful to Dr Ahmad and the Regents Park Mosque for the way you bring people together and from my point of view as the Director of the Interfaith Centre; from my point of view as a Christian I join with you in determining to gather people together; so they understand and stand together. That, I belief, is the way of God.”