The Sayyidah Zainab Muslim Community Centre Helps Multi-Faith Ontarians Celebrate Ramadan

Food Basics recognises the key role that sharing a meal can play in harnessing community. That’s why this Ramadan, Food Basics is partnering with Ajax’s Sayyidah Zainab Muslim Community Centre to help multi-faith Ontarians Celebrate! Share! Enjoy! the holy month, bringing diverse cultures and flavours together through shared experiences and education. 

By helping diverse populations learn from one another, the goal is to equip Ontarians with the knowledge to not only understand, but also better support and share in the Ramadan traditions of their Muslim neighbours.

Muslims are the fastest-growing religious group in Canada, more than doubling in population in the past 20 years and becoming the second most popular religion in Canada today. Even so, in some Ontario communities, a child may be one of only a handful of Muslims in their school and an employee may be the only one praying in their place of work. This means holidays like Ramadan - which are supposed to bring people together - can be isolating occasions that some may feel they have to celebrate alone. 

Understanding that fostering multi-faith connection can strengthen communities, Food Basics is collaborating with the Sayyidah Zainab Muslim Community Centre to amplify Muslim voices and educate other Ontario towns on how they can better support their own Muslim populations, big and small. The grocer and local masjid (mosque) are encouraging Ontarians of all walks of life to share the teachings and purpose of Ramadan in an effort to foster unity amongst diverse populations in every town.

The concept of interfaith connection is nothing new to the Sayyidah Zainab Muslim Community Centre. The growing masjid has hosted interfaith iftars in previous years and was built by inspiring leadership who has led the helm of the conversation for over a decade: Syed Soharwardy, chairman of the board, conducted a Multi-Faith Walk Against Violence in 2008, travelling 6,500km by foot from Halifax all the way to British Columbia. 

The 2024 collaboration between Food Basics and the Sayyidah Zainab Muslim Community Centre will culminate in a unique, interfaith iftar at the Ajax masjid in early April, bringing community members of all backgrounds and religions together to experience the joys and flavours of the season. Featuring Arabic and English readings of the Quran as well as opportunities for prayer observation and a children’s craft corner, the event aims to both involve and educate multi-faith residents on the traditions of the holy month to set the stage for better allyship.

As Food Basics is committed to carrying a wide selection of halal meats and imported specialty products year-round, the grocer is also sending guests home with iftar and suhoor favourites and engaging a local, Muslim-owned caterer to bring a traditional Ramadan dinner to life onsite.

“The idea of an interfaith iftar is to reflect and reconnect with the wider community and to remind ourselves that faith is not an isolated task but instead something which inspires - and is inspired - by the community,” explained Shayan Khurshid, volunteer events manager at the Sayyidah Zainab Muslim Community Centre.

"Now more than ever, we need to unite for peace and harmony,” added Zahid Rafique, the centre’s volunteer president. “This evening hopes to start important conversations about living in peaceful and multicultural communities and how we can come together to inspire the next generation of advocates for interfaith harmony." 

Wherever you live and whatever you celebrate, Food Basics and the Sayyidah Zainab Muslim Community Centre invite you to share the spirit of Ramadan in community with your Muslim neighbours this season. Ramadan Mubarak!