Side by Side

Shahjan Mohammed and I were born and brought up in Port Talbot, but Shah is a good few years younger than me, and from 'town' — where I'm a Sandfields girl — so our paths didn't cross. We eventually met when we were both working as Database Analysts for the American IT company EDS. Shah joined my team, and we soon became firm friends.

You are probably aware that the Muslim period of fasting, Ramadan, and Lent overlapped this year, and this brought the many similarities in our faiths into my mind. So I was really pleased to be invited by Shah — who is now Chair of the Port Talbot Mosque — to take part in a community Iftar in what was the old Plaza cinema, where I watched many films as a girl. I attended in my roles as Priest in the Church in Wales and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the charity Adferiad.

Ramadan is a period of increased self-denial, prayer, giving to charity and community service. During the fast, our Muslim brothers and sisters begin their day with a meal called Suhoor, eaten early in the morning before dawn. They then eat or drink nothing at all until the main meal of the day, Iftar, which is eaten at sunset. Some people are exempt from fasting — the elderly, small children, pregnant and nursing mothers, the ill, and those who are travelling.

The Community Iftar started at 5pm and was hosted by Henry Gilbert, Master of the Worshipful Livery Company of Wales. Young Ismaeel Hussain, aged 8, gave a beautiful recitation from the Qur'an.

There were many speakers, all talking of the importance of community and service to one another. These included Shah and I, Tony Potts, Neath Port Talbot CVS Executive Director, Norma Glass MBE, a leading member of the Jewish community, Saleem Kidwai OBE, former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Wales, and Imam Ashraf Ali, Imam of Port Talbot Mosque.

The speakers had to be carefully coordinated, as the whole timing of the event was based around the moment of sunset. Mosque member Alomgir Hussain announced that moment with the Maghrib Adhan, the Call to Prayer. While he was singing, everyone broke the fast together with a date and a piece of fruit. We then had the privilege of being present while our Muslim friends prayed together. I silently joined my Christian prayers with theirs.

After this we ate and chatted together, enjoying the food and one another's company.

I took home some wonderful memories, but also a physical reminder of the strong links between the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. We were each given a small bottle of water.

In the Bible, in Genesis 21, we are told of the exile of Hagar and Ishmael, and how Hagar was led to a well by the Angel of the Lord. The Qur'an contains the story of Hajar and her son Ismail too. While Hajar was searching in despair for water to save them, the angel Gabriel — Jibril — appeared to them, causing water to emerge from the ground where baby Ismail was kicking. It is believed that this spring is the Zamzam Well, located within the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The small bottle contains water from that well. I will treasure it as a symbol of the links between the Abrahamic faiths, and a reminder of the need to look for common understanding, not division.

Rev'd Sue Northcott is Assistant Curate in the Cwmtawe Ministry Area.