AMI hosts its annual Interfaith Big Iftar exploring the theme of ‘The Human Family: Beyond Race and Religion’

March 29, 2025

On Saturday, 29th March 2025, Al-Mahdi Institute welcomed guests from across the West Midlands and beyond for its annual Interfaith Big Iftar, renowned to be a space for dialogue, connection, and the celebration of shared humanity during the blessed month of Ramadhan.

Held in partnership with the Universal Peace Federation and the Women’s Federation for World Peace UK, the programme brought together representatives from a wide range of religious backgrounds, each contributing to the evening’s spirit of openness and understanding:

Patricia Earle (Women’s Federation for World Peace UK)
Patricia founded the Women’s Peace Group in Birmingham in 1993. She is known for creating supportive spaces where women of all backgrounds can share their stories, build friendships, and work towards peace.
Councillor Shahin Ashraf MBE (Mayor of Solihull)
The 71st Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Ashraf is active on several local government committees related to education, health, and community wellbeing. She has also served as Deputy Leader of the Green Party within the Council.
Swaran Talwar (Hindu Community Representative)
Swaran is a poet and storyteller who serves as Vice Chair of the Geetanjali Multilingual Literary Circle UK. She has over 50 years of experience organising cultural and literary events across the UK.
Ely Stanton (Jewish Community Representative)
Ely is a member of the Progressive Synagogue and Nisa Nashim, a women’s organisation dedicated to fostering dialogue and understanding between Jewish and Muslim women.
Yann Lovelock (Buddhist Community Representative)
Yann is a trustee of the Birmingham Council of Faiths, Deputy Lead for the Environment on his local Parish Council, and Secretary of Hagley U3A. He also leads mindfulness groups to support community wellbeing.
Jatinder Singh Birdi (Sikh Community Representative)
Jatinder serves as a Committee Member of the Leamington and Warwick Sikh Temple and is a former Co-Chair of the UK’s National Interfaith Network. He is also active in local voluntary and advisory roles.
Shaykh Arif Abdulhussain (Muslim Community Representative, Founder of AMI)
Shaykh Arif is the founder and director of Al-Mahdi Institute, known for his contributions to Islamic scholarship and for his books and translations on faith, reason, and human purpose.

As the evening drew to a close, guests were treated to uplifting Songs of Peace by Claire Bowman, a trained singer, Quaker, and dedicated interfaith advocate with the Birmingham Council of Faiths and Birmingham City of Sanctuary.

The night concluded with congregational prayers and the breaking of the fast (Iftar), where guests enjoyed traditional dates and a meal together—a powerful reminder of the unity found in sharing food and conversation.