AMI Hosts Friends and Neighbours for Big Iftar

After having to refrain from social contact during the Covid pandemic since 2019, Al-Mahdi Institute was honoured and delighted to, once again, host its 6th Big Iftar event; hosting friends, families and neighbours of the Institute, coming from different faith backgrounds and all walks of life. Fittingly, the theme of discussion, this year, was “Life after Covid: Learning from our Shared Experience.”

Building on the success of previous years and in keeping with the spirit of the holy month of Ramadhan, the aim of the event was to invite people of all faiths – and none – to participate and experience an Iftar, to encourage multi-faith dialogue, and simply catch up with old friends and make new ones. The programme consisted of a moving recitation from the Qur’an followed by addresses from various faith communities with faith leaders from the Sikh, Hindu, Christian, and Muslim communities. AMI, being an NGO with the United Nations and its commitment to outreach and humanitarian causes, also held an appeal in collaboration with Beta Charitable Trust for its Striving Against Starvation campaign, highlighting the desperate situation for many within our human family. Following the congregational prayers in the gardens, everyone enjoyed a delicious meal together.

The speakers who presented were:

• Ms. Violet Owen (Representing the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahais in Birmingham)
• Mr. N. Chohan (Educator on Religious Studies, Birmingham)
• Revd. Dr. Helen Paynter (Bristol Baptist College – Founding Director for the Centre for the Study of the Bible and Violence)
• Acharyaji Umesh Yadav (Representing the Hindu Community in Birmingham)
• Mr. Gurdev Singh (Representing the Sikh Community in Birmingham)
• Shaykh Arif Abdulhussain (Director of Al-Mahdi Institute)
• Shaykh Mahmood Dhalla (Striving against Starvation Campaign)
• Ms. Violet Owen (Representing the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahais in Birmingham)