Building Harmony during Ramadan

By Rebecca Beisler

Every night in the month of Ramadan, as the sun sets, crowds flood the main street of Lakemba in Sydney’s southwest. Muslims and non-Muslim come together to share in the festival Ramadan Nights, famous for its global food bazaar and vibrant celebration of culture and faith in this holy month for the Muslim community. At the top of the street is Lakemba’s Uniting Church and this was the location for the annual Uniting Church in Australia and Affinity Intercultural Foundation Building Harmony Iftar Dinner on Tuesday 28 March.

In a deep expression of hospitality, solidarity and friendship, 90 guests gathered for the annual event co-hosted by the Uniting Church Assembly, Uniting NSW.ACT and the Synod of NSW/ACT and Affinity, this year marking its 10^th year. Sharing in the Muslim tradition of breaking the fast, the dinner brings together people from diverse communities to build bridges and understanding in the simple act of sharing a meal.

This year’s dinner had an extra invitation to think about what it means to build harmony in our community with the theme of the program - Journey to the Heart – a special focus on the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the invitation of the upcoming referendum for Australian people to vote Yes to providing recognition and a Voice to the first Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The keynote address was powerfully delivered by Indigenous filmmaker Rachel Perkins who is the co-chair of Australians for Constitutional Recognition, an alliance of Yes campaign organisations in the lead-up to the Referendum.

Rachel is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Arrernte Nation in the Central Desert at the heart of the country. She began by sharing some of her story, of her great grandmother who was one of the few survivors of a massacre that killed some 200 of her family members, and of her father, famous Indigenous activist Charles Perkins, who grew up in segregated society but died before his people had achieved the equality he fought for his whole life.

Rachel invited us to consider the powerful impact of what it would mean for Australia to recognise First Nations people in the Constitution with a Voice.

“This is potentially the greatest act of reconciliation of our generation.”

“We’ve had 30 years of the reconciliation movement. And now here on the table is a practical resolution to the process of reconciliation, and all of the hard work that people have put in over that 30-year period to get to this moment.”

“It is not just recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that we seek by recognising us in the Constitution. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are also recognising the Australian state. It is a moment of dual recognition. It is a moment of unity, where can we truly reflect on what a modern democracy could look like.”

In delivering a response to the keynote, Uniting Church in Australia President Rev Sharon Hollis spoke about the shared timing of the holy season of Ramadan and the sacred time of Lent.

“In the Christian tradition, Lent is a season for repentance, to be truthful about those things that need to be set right in our own lives,” said Rev Hollis.

“The word repent literally means to turn around, to go the other way. And that is what I hear in the invitation of the Uluru Statement, an invitation to turn around and to make a new choice, to make a new future with these nations who have been here for over 65,000 years. To find a way to be a country together, and to know that our unity comes not by pretending we are all the same, but by honouring the rich diversity, the rich diversity first of all of the many First Nations peoples.”

“This is what is before us, an opportunity to repent, to say ‘yes’, ‘yes’ to hope, to unity and to a new way of being in this country and this land.”

The third speaker was Mahboba Rawi, founder of Mahboba’s promise and the 2022 recipient of Australia's Human Rights Medal, awarded in recognition of her life of service to women and children of Afghanistan.

Mahboba shared her ‘journey to heart’ experience of fleeing Afghanistan, a dangerous journey over 10 days through treacherous mountains to border of Pakistan and how the tragic death of her son after her family had begun a new life in Australia inspired and moved her to begin a life’s work of supporting vulnerable children in her home country.

The Grand Mufti of Australia Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed provided a reflection on the evening, emphasising the importance and responsibility of each of us to protect the social fabric of the Australian community as a diverse and harmonious community.

Other presenters included Lakemba Uniting Church minister Rev Graeme Watkins who provided a welcome to the program followed by the Acknowledgement of Country delivered by Phillipa McDermott, Wakka Wakka and Mununjali woman and Chairperson of Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Amity College Community Engagement Coordinator Ibrahim Karaisli offered a moving Call to Prayer and Quran recital. CEO of Multicultural NSW Joseph La Posta delivered the Vote of Thanks and the Three Rivers Ensemble gave a stunning musical performance.

Affinity Executive Director Ahmet Polat provided a co-host welcome, along with Heather Watson, Chairperson of Uniting NSW.ACT and Rev Lindsay Cullen, Assembly Associate General Secretary.

Rev Cullen reflected on the Uniting Church’s long commitment to find commonality with friends of other faiths, working together as partners in creating and supporting a society of respect and peacefulness and justice.

“Our founder Jesus spent much of his time on Earth, sharing meals with friends, and with those to whom he extended the hand of friendship. Giving hospitality, and receiving hospitality are both the virtues Jesus commended to his followers. So, we are delighted to join with along with Affinity, in this opportunity to eat together, to learn from one another and to continue developing friendships and bonds of mutual respect.”

Ramadan will continue until the festival of Eid expected on 21 or 22 April. If you live in Sydney you can visit the Ramadan Nights festival until 20 April. Find out more: https://www.cbcity.nsw.gov.au/events/ramadan-nights-lakemba