Last week I attended a Multi-Faith Iftar, hosted by the beautiful Golden Mosque in Rochdale. It was lovely travelling together with my fellow members (Jonny, Grange, and Shashi) of the Faith Network 4 Manchester. We represented four faiths in one car; Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Bahia. This was also one of the nationwide police #WeStandTogether events organized by Chief Inspector for Cohesion, Umer Khan, who is doing a marvellous job in promoting community cohesion.
There was a fantastic atmosphere, and wonderful speakers with messages of peace, challenging hatred, and promoting tolerance. This is what it should be — everyone living and working well together as different faith communities. As it happens, one of the speakers, Rabbi Prisz, is a neighbour of Chief Inspector Umer Khan, and It was lovely to hear about their wonderful neighbourly interactions. Five lovely girls narrated Nasheeds, entitled Inshallah. I was asked to share, and read out the Rochdale Borough prayer with the audience.
We thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the gorgeous mosque, admiring designs of the ablution/wash area — the best I had ever seen — and non-Muslims also enjoyed watching a demonstration of the washing rituals, called the wudu. The evening was recorded as part of a documentary to be used in universities about different faith communities.
Finally we ate and broke our fast together — what a great feeling and atmosphere. I loved this evening. Well done and congratulations to the organisers!
It was a terrific evening with men and women of all faiths having quality time to spend together, touring the mosque, listening to speeches, and eating together. Sikhs, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Bahais, and Christians all stood together — #WeStandTogether — all united.
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