By Zaharah Othman – April 30, 2022 @ 5:10pm
WHEN I attended the first open air buka puasa or iftar at my alma mater, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in 2013, it was just a walk-in kind of event with perhaps a few hundred people comprising mostly students and the public who sauntered in from the streets.
Many were rough sleepers, some were refugees, all from different backgrounds and faiths — sitting together on the lawn eating and listening to speeches. It got many non-Muslims to ask questions about Islam.
The event was organised by the Ramadan Tent Project, an initiative that was started by a group of university students.
Community and religious leaders were invited to create a dialogue aiming for a better understanding of Islam and other religions to enable us to coexist in a country that was embracing multi-culturalism.
And what better time to achieve this objective then in the holy month of Ramadan, where strangers sat together in a neutral space such as the lawn of SOAS and became friends.
On Friday night, I was among more than 2,000 people (a record-breaking figure, said the organisers) who broke fast together at the Open Iftar event held at London’s iconic Trafalgar Square, after the imam recited the azan (call for prayer) in the cold spring evening.
The event was also attended by politicians, community leaders and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who gave his full support to the project.
Nine years since its inception, a lot has changed. The organisers were proud to announce that they have fed 350,000 people with over 150,000 meals in over 20 cities and at some very iconic institutions.
Hundreds of people had gathered on the steps of the Royal Albert Hall, with more breaking their fast and praying together at the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Library, Westminster Abbey and Wembley Stadium, to name a few.
These institutions were transformed into spectacular dining areas which the organisers hoped to provide the space and opportunity for people to understand more about each other, and more importantly, about Islam.
“It has been phenomenal this Ramadan, the first after two years of virtual events (during the pandemic).
“This is the biggest open iftar in the United Kingdom for Ramadan. People from different backgrounds have come together to understand more about Islam and Ramadan,” gushed Omar Salha, founder and chief executive of the Ramadan Tent Project.
The open iftar at Trafalgar Square was the last for the month of Ramadan, and it was a privilege indeed that Mercy Malaysia UK (MMUK) had a foot in at the last minute to help sponsor the event with 700 packs of food catered by Tuk Din Flavours of Malaysia.
MMUK chairperson Haliza Hashim, who had attended several open iftar this month, met Salha and the meeting led to the collaboration and culminated in a very Malaysian presence and flavour in the biggest open-air iftar event at the magnificent square.
“I am so pleased to be able to join in this year’s open iftar by fundraising and coordinating iftar food for their event,” said Haliza, who is also a TV3 correspondent in the UK.
This collaboration was a highlight of many fundraising events by MMUK.
“MMUK had been organising 1,500 iftar meals for the homeless, rough sleepers and refugees in London and Leeds this Ramadan. For this event, Tuk Din Flavours of Malaysia made 700 packs of chicken biryani. It was a great ending to our Ramadan project!” said Haliza.
Haliza added that she was chuffed that she and her team of volunteers were able to make this happen at the very last minute and she is looking forward to doing more next Ramadan.
“I am really pleased to be involved and it’s a great opportunity to be able to feed people at Trafalgar Square,” said Zainuddin Yahya, more popularly known as Tuk Din.
It was a real community effort with students and Education Malaysia officials helping to pack the food at Tuk Din’s with free transportation provided by Malaysian transport providers in London.
Even the wife of the Malaysian High Commissioner, Aini Abdul Rahman, joined in the effort and was later with High Commissioner Zakri Jaafar at the event.
“This is something that is really interesting to observe. There is high value to what we want to achieve towards inclusiveness and coexistence in a diverse environment. The country is adopting multiculturalism. This a good way of exemplifying it,” said Zakri.
Leaving the square and rushing back to Malaysia Hall for our isyak and tarawih prayers, I wished “Eid Mubarak” to the guard manning the exit.
He was at a loss to say something.
“How do I reply?” he wanted to know.
“Eid Mubarak to you too,” I said. That night, that guard learned something new, no matter how basic.
On the tube back, a woman was complimenting the food she had broken her fast with at the square.
“That’s Malaysian food from Tuk Din’s Restaurant,” my husband offered readily.
It was certainly an experience not to be missed. The atmosphere was electrifying and one could feel the spirit of oneness in that big space with thousands of people.
Although the sound system failed us during the congregational maghrib prayers and some food arrived late, we were happy to be there to be part of a historic event at an iconic place.
My only hope is that for future events, perhaps more people, especially displaced individuals, would have the opportunity to join in, which would be more in line with the programme’s objective.
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