Auckland, June 14, 2016
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will be inviting their Kiwi friends to experience Iftar (breaking of fast) during Ramadhan, the holiest month of Islam at their mosque, Baitul Muqeet in Manukau on Saturday 18th June evening.
“We now have over 50,000 Muslims calling New Zealand home and it is important that we take the initiative of sharing this experience, which is a core tenet of Islam across the ever changing face of the wider New Zealand Community” said Mr. Iqbal Mohammed, the National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in New Zealand.
This annual event gives New Zealanders an opportunity to experience Iftar (breaking of fast), sharing a meal with a Muslim friend after sunset and getting to understand the purpose of the Muslim fast. The holy Qur’an acknowledges that fasting was prescribed for many faiths including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Christianity before it became a pillar of faith for Islam.
Fasting obligation
The Central Missionary for the Community, Maulana Shafiqur Rehman said, “Fasting is a duty for the desire of Allah, an obligation for a month to refrain oneself from those actions that are otherwise allowed in day to day life. Thus in this holy month, a human merely for the desire of Allah refrains oneself from the otherwise allowed actions. Thus in this condition it is not possible that one performs unsavoury acts or commits sins”.
Dynamic community
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, fast-growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) in Punjab, India, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spans over 206 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. The New Zealand branch of this community was established in 1987 and has just over 400 members. It is a registered charitable organisation and endeavours to be an active and integrated community within New Zealand society.
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