Islamic day

In by zeinab

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2020-02-04

Country: South Africa
City: Western Cape
We invited friends from around the world to help us celebrate the 10th Anniversary of World Interfaith Harmony Week, and we invited our friends and colleagues from areas around our City that do not often have much interaction. The Cape Flats is a deeply traumatised area of Cape Town with an exceptionally high rate of violent crime. The Faith Leaders of that area are severely stretched, experiencing the daily necessity of supporting their community through yet more gangsterism, yet another murder. But who is supporting these Faith Leaders? We decided to open our hearts and extend our hospitality in a series of united events designed to create interfaith harmony and express our love and support for all. The principle of compassion and a deep desire for social justice were some of our motivating factors. We wanted to show that "you are never alone", and interfaith friendship is our superpower. Day4:
Islamic day. First stop is the famous District Six museum where we learn the history of forced removals and family tragedies endured by a multifaith, multicultural community in bygone years. Our route takes us to the nearby Al-Azhar Mosque where we enjoy the hospitality of Sheikh Ismail Keraan before moving on to the Tana Baru Cemetry in Bo-Kaap – the first Muslim burial ground acknowledged by the SA government back in 1805. With master-historian and struggle veteran Mohammad Groenewald, we explore the issues of exploitation, crime and gentrification jostling for power in the local struggle to preserve this precious heritage.
We lunch in the Bo-Kaap and experience Cape Town’s unique heritage flavours, savouring the opportunity for an afternoon of in-depth conversation with local wisdom keepers of the Interfaith community.