During the Holy month of Ramadan in 2010, Muslims all around Sydney once again opened their doors and hearts to welcome guests into their homes for Home Iftars.
An idea initiated by Affinity Intercultural Foundation, Home Iftars are a means to inviting non-Muslim Australian’s from many walks of life to enter a Muslim home during Ramadan and allow them to experience a sacred time for many Muslims and their families.
The Muslim hosts prepare a traditional meal and welcome the guest whom they have never met before to their home with an open heart. They share a meal and conversation over the dinner table.
This initiative by Affinity started 4 years ago and is still going strong today. An Affinity representative was present at all homes to introduce the guests to the host families. Below are some comments from individuals who experienced the dinners first hand themselves.
Affinity President Mehmet Saral said that these Home iftar’s are a great way for Muslim integration into wider Australia and also are a great way to enhance our common bonds.
Some testimonials of prominent people who attended the iftar included the following:
‘Judi and I really enjoyed the experience. It was special to take part in a family Iftar, and to be invited to an Aussie home so soon after our arrival here... we were made to feel very welcome in all respects. We were doubly honoured to have Mehmet and his wife join us from Affinity.
Please invite us again next year and we will be honoured to participate.
It was our pleasure to be part of this tradition’.
Mr Niels Marquardt & wife Judi
Consul General of United States of America
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‘We had possibly the most enjoyable home visit with Abdullah and Fatma and their guests.
Our discussions on the meaning of Iftar and Ramadan, schools education in Australia, interfaith dialogue, ecumenism, Turkey, migration and the struggles of second generations, and so on was so illuminating and everyone participated.
A great night and we thank our hosts immensely and we thank you for your excellent organisation’.
Jim and Gill Mein - The Uniting Church, Australia
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Fr Reg. Howard and I both appreciated the Iftar dinner. I think it is a wonderful idea, getting families to meet at homes. It makes Islam and Muslims “ordinary”, if you will pardon the expression. It removes the demonization and stereotypes. The more that people can meet together in homes, over meals, in social settings, the more rapport they can develop in the usual way. I think this is a great initiative and deserves to be promoted and developed into even greater outreach. I thought your job of coordinating was done very well. It was very helpful to know what to expect, time to arrive, appropriate gift to bring to hosts. All in all, a great initiative. Congratulation’.
Rev Dr Patrick J McInerney is the Coordinator of the Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations CMI
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