A blessed night of Iftar and Taraweeh on Haldon Street, Lakemba

Thursday night, 5 March, saw Haldon St, Lakemba, transformed into a place of worship as the Lebanese Muslim Association partnered with Human Appeal and the City of Canterbury-Bankstown to host Iftar and Taraweeh during Lakemba Nights, the month-long community food and cultural festival which each year is held throughout the same month as Ramadan.

Earlier in the evening, more than 1,000 people gathered to break their fast together at an open-air Iftar generously provided by Human Appeal.

As the call to prayer echoed through the heart of Lakemba, the congregation stood shoulder to shoulder for Isha, led by the Imam of Lakemba Mosque, Sheikh Yahya Safi.

Even longer rows continued to form along Haldon Street as Taraweeh commenced, led by renowned qāriʾ Motasem Alasali, who later concluded the evening with a moving nasheed.

Internationally renowned qāriʾ Motasem Alasali,

Guests also heard from City of Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek, Sheikh Aref Chaker representing the LMA and Human Appeal CEO Bashar Al-Jamar.

MC Omar Al-Jamar guided the evening smoothly and professionally.

Events such as this require enormous co-ordination, and full credit goes to the three partnering bodies behind the night : Human Appeal, the City of Canterbury-Bankstown and the LMA, along with the many volunteers, of course.

Human Appeal and LMA officials flank City of Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek (third from right).

“It was truly a special Ramadan moment to witness line after line of worshippers gathering in prayer along Haldon Street,” said Salim Allouche, Religious Affairs and Events Administrator at the LMA.

“For many visitors, it was also their first time seeing the beauty, unity and spirituality of the Muslim community in prayer, and we hope it has left a lasting impression of what Ramadan is truly about.”