The New Zealand Muslims Association, Auckland, hosted an evening of celebration and brotherhood at Western Springs Community Centre on Sunday, July 16.
More than 80 people from the Muslim community and different faiths attended the dinner party at the community centre. The event commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran in Arabic by a young individual who translated and elaborated by Sheikh Mohammad Amir, Head of the Ulema Board of Federation of Islamic Association of New Zealand.
Although Eid was celebrated on June 26, the fervour of the festival continues for a few weeks with community members inviting one another to their homes to celebrate the occasion.
The event was attended by Rakesh Naidoo representing the Human Rights Commission, Ruth Cleaver from Interfaith Council of Auckland, members of parliament representing different parties such as Michael Wood, Labour MP for Mt Roskill, National List MPs Melissa Lee and Dr Parmjeet Parmar, Jacinda Ardern, Labour Party Deputy Leader and MP for Mt Albert, Eugene Sage from Green Party, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Labour candidate for Maungakeikei, Ann Pala, NZ First candidate for New Lynn, Constable Rob Stanton representing NZ Police, community leader Jeet Suchdev from Bhartiya Samaj.
“This celebration is not just for one particular community but for the whole humanity. This day calls for forgiving the woes and being together and helping one another like one big community,” Ikhlaq Kashkari, President of NZMA said.
The Members of Parliament acknowledged the crowd and conveyed their wishes of brotherhood and harmony for the Muslim community.
A member of the community who has just spent six months in New Zealand commended the diversity of the city. He recited a du'a for the community concluding the event for dinner.
NZMA is one of the oldest Islamic organisations in New Zealand established in 1950 and is the founding member of FIANZ.
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