The second floor of the Star College in Bridgetown, Athlone lit with prayer and connection as friends, colleagues, affiliates, comrades and allies of the Turquoise Harmony Institute (THI) gathered on the 10th day of Ramadaan for a Mass Iftaar (Arabic for “breaking fast”).
The Cape Town Interfaith Initiative was warmly invited to the event by THI Director Mehmet Kaya, and was in attendance by Cecil, Pippa, Jenny, Sharon and Tasneem, with Cecil Plaatjies taking to the stage as chairperson to deliver an address of interfaith connectedness on behalf of the organization.
A program took place with an opening prayer and keynote addresses that included multimedia introductions to Ramadaan, as well as the call to prayer in Arabic and its translation at Iftar time.
Some of the program of speakers included Father Chiedza, Adnaan Adams, King Siyambonga Matanzima of the Western Thembuland King, Joel Stevens (MPhil student at UCT) and long time CTII friend Dr Aydin Inal of the Nizamiye Mosque in Midrand.
The event was led by programming director Osas Asemota, a UCT PhD student. A meal of note was prepared for all guests to enjoy as well as a shared prayer space for Maghrib and Taraweeg, and opportunities to intermingle socially.
Event attendees share their experiences:
Cecil: “Thank you Mehmet for inviting CTII members to your well-organised Iftaar dinner and surprising us with a visit from Aydin. It was a beautiful and joyous evening spent among good friends”
Pippa: “Iftar is not simply the breaking of a fast. It is the breaking open of the heart. And that is why interfaith engagement matters so deeply—especially here, especially now. In Islam, the Qur’an teaches that humanity was created into different nations and tribes “so that you may know one another.” That call to know one another—not merely tolerate, not merely coexist, but truly know—is the heart of interfaith work.”
Jenny: “Dialogue and friendship was the theme of the event. We were blessed to have an invitation extended by Aydan to have an interfaith initiative brought to Johannesburg”
