Kelham Island Museum hosted an Open Iftar community gathering, which was run by the Ramadan Tent Project (RTP).
Over a hundred people attended the event, listening to inspiring speakers, breaking their fast and praying together before sharing a meal.
Iftar occurs after sunset every evening during the month of Ramadan, where Muslims come together to open their fast, and RTP host many events across the month at locations such as Windsor Castle, Shakespeare’s Globe and Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Maryam, a member of the RTP team, said: “We want to open the doors to the community, so people of all faiths and no faith can come in, just enjoy the evening and break fast together.”
This year’s theme is Connection, a force that unites people across cultures, environments and backgrounds, fostering community, empathy and understanding for a shared sense of community.
Suhaib Zaino, an attendee of the event, said: “The sense of community was really nice, because I live on my own in Sheffield.
“Having a community and being able to celebrate any aspect of Ramadan with other people is nice.”
He added: “It reinforces this idea that just because family isn’t around doesn’t mean you can’t find other ways of connecting with people.”
RTP is a Muslim charity bringing communities together and spreading the spirit of Ramadan through various activities, and Open Iftar is their flagship event.
The initiative started in 2013, with a group of students at SOAS University of London who came together to invite international students to share iftar, providing a home away from home.
The first Open Iftar was held in a tent, hence the name, Ramadan Tent Project, and since then, the initiatives have grown, connecting over a million people across the country.
Ahmed, the Open Iftar Sheffield City Lead, said: “We wanted to bring the Muslim community and the wider community into a space that they feel connected.
“To see the community that I’m very proud of, the city that I’m very proud of, in this light is just amazing.”
Sheffield has held Open Iftars since 2019, with the first one being outside the Crucible, and since then, Kelham Island Museum has opened its doors to the initiative.
