Sandiso Phaliso and Raphael Wolf
Cape Town’s biggest mosque, Masjidul Quds in Athlone, hosted several public figures for a breaking of the fast last night – an occasion that has become a feature at the mosque during Ramadaan.
Members of different faith- based organisations were among the guests, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
Premier Helen Zille and Cape Town deputy mayor Ian Neilson.
They were taken on a tour of the mosque before the breaking of the fast.
Tutu, who walked with difficulty, said he was encouraged by the fact that the mosque provided 5 000 meals to poor people every week.
“It is fantastic that they are giving to the poor, it is so ama-zing.”
Faizer Royker, of the mosque committee, told the gathering that in an uncaring world there was a greater need for kindness and understanding of different religious groups.
Mosque liaison officer, Sataar Parker, said Muslims had suhur, a pre-dawn meal before they fast during the day and they have iftar – breaking of the fast – at sunset.
Zille said:
“This is to celebrate our many faiths. It is a very important day for us
. The great thing about this gesture is that it unites different faiths. We celebrate our diversity and we understand each other.”
Last night’s occasion followed that of Saturday when a group of Muslim congregants from the Open Mosque in Wynberg broke their fast in a church in Constantia.
They were invited by Our Lady of Visitation Catholic Church in Constantia, said Open Mosque founder Taj Hargey.
“For the first time in South Africa the Muslim call to prayer (Adhan) was said in a Christian church.”
The theme of the evening was: ‘building bridges of friendship and banishing the barricades of fear.’
“The event was quite moving and inspirational,“ said Hargey.
The church’s Father Frank Conlisk focused on the importance of different faiths coming together and that Cape Town should be a beacon of harmony.
He added that the church ladies had prepared a halaal meal for their visitors.