Mosque opens doors for religious feast
Muslims around South Auckland are preparing to celebrate an event that’s all about sacrifice, dedication, and faith.
Eid al-Fitr is an annual religious feast marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Shafiq ur Rehman is an imam, or leader, as well as the central missionary, at the Ahmadiyya Muslim community’s Manurewa mosque.
He says Ramadan is a period of ‘‘devotion and dedication to almighty God’’. It requires Muslims to fast daily, starting about 90 minutes before sunrise and ending at sunset, he says.
‘‘Muslims don’t eat or take any fluid or nourishment [during this time]. It shows dedication and sacrifice to almighty God and benefits us in many ways.’’
Muslims observing Ramadan also aren’t allowed to use profanity or retaliate if someone does them harm, Rehman says.
‘‘If a person who is fasting uses one vulgar word, it invalidates the fast. Even if they’re provoked, they have to say ‘I am fasting, so if you are harsh to me I can’t be harsh to you’.’’
Rehman’s mosque is this year marking Eid al-Fitr on June 26. Celebrations will begin at about 9am with a prayer service.
‘‘It’s a time for celebration and jubilation,’’ he says. ’’Most families bring food and we have a feast. Any guests also join in. It brings people together.’’
Following the shared meal, at about 9.45am, worshippers are encouraged to go into the com- munity and visit people who are less fortunate, Rehman says.
He says it’s tradition on Eid alFitr for Muslims to take food to their neighbours and invite them over for a meal.
His mosque has been working during Ramadan with organisations such as the Salvation Army and Monte Cecilia Housing Trust to distribute clothing and about 100 food parcels to people in need.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at national president Bashir Khan says it’s important for people to make an effort to understand different faiths.
‘‘This event gives our nonMuslim friends a chance to experience first-hand how we break a fast and to gain an understanding of some of the principles that make up the Islamic faith.’’
The Ahmadiyya Muslim mosque at 20 Dalgety Dr, Manurewa, marks Eid al-Fitr on June 26. Celebrations begin at about 9am with a prayer service and all are welcome.