Celebrating Ramadan in Onkaparinga

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan began on Sunday 3 April (ending Monday 2 May), and Muslims around the world are currently fasting, focusing on their faith, and performing generous acts.

South Australia’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Community—whose two SA mosques include one in Morphett Vale—has been particularly active, with one of its key charitable campaigns in Onkaparinga coinciding with the sacred month. 

Onkaparinga Now spoke with Ahmadiyya Muslim Community South Australia’s Regional Missionary, Imam Atif Ahmad Zahid, about the significance of Ramadan and the work the community has been doing to make Onkaparinga a better place to live. 

“There is one full month in every year in which fasting is prescribed for Muslims all over the world,” Imam Atif explains of Ramadan, which changes dates each year because Islam uses the lunar calendar (based on the cycles of the moon). 

“Fasting in Islam begins everywhere at the first appearance of dawn, and ends with sunset. During this period, one is expected to abstain from all food and drink completely.” 

Fasting—one of the five pillars of Islam—is important because it allows Muslims to devote themselves to their faith, self-reflect, and come closer to Allah (or God). 

It’s common to have a meal just before dawn, and families and friends usually gather to break their fast (known as Iftar) and enjoy a communal meal once the sun sets. 

“The institution of fasting is extremely important because it cultivates a believer in almost every area of his spiritual life,” says Imam Atif. 

“Among other things, an individual learns through personal experience about what hunger, poverty, loneliness and discomforts mean to the less fortunate sections of society.”

Ramadan is also a time for prayer and doing good deeds. Aside from those on an individual level, The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community also carries out the latter through non-political, non-religious international relief and development agency Humanity First, which has been busy in the City of Onkaparinga. 

“With the support of Amanda Rishworth MP, we’ve been able to continue our Feed the Hungry campaign by collaborating with [City of Onkaparinga’s] Christie Downs Community House,” says Saleem Shaukat, Regional Director of Humanity First SA. 

The collaboration sees more than 120 free meals provided to those in need at the centre on the second Wednesday of every month, with the next taking place during Ramadan on Wednesday 13 April. 

Leftover meals are provided to the centre to distribute to the community, and to Old Reynella’s Neporendi Aboriginal Community Centre, which Humanity First have donated various sanitary items to in the past. 

Donations of face masks and hand sanitiser have also been made to southern homes, churches and businesses—including those surrounding Morphett Vale’s Noor Mosque—during the COVID-19 pandemic. Humanity First also provides support with setting up events in Onkaparinga, including the Southern Deadly Fun Run. 

Members from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association at Woodcraft are active in the fight against pollution in the City of Onkaparinga, working with Adopt a Spot to regularly collect rubbish at Port Noarlunga beach, and participating in the annual Clean Up Australia Day. 

After the last day of Ramadan on Monday 2 May, a three-day celebration or festival called Eid al-Fitr is held, where families and communities come together for a feast. 

Until then, here’s wishing Onkaparinga’s Muslim community Ramadan Mubarak (or “blessed Ramadhan”)!