This is the second annual Iftar to be held by the Club at the Etihad Stadium, with more than 100 guests in attendance.
The evening started with a recitation from the Quran, which was followed by presentations from Club representatives on the work the Club is doing to create a more inclusive environment for members of the Muslim community.
Guests were then surprised with a live performance of the adhan, which was played throughout the Etihad Stadium as the sun set over east Manchester.
During the adhan, which is also known as a call to prayer, guests were provided with dates and water to open their fast as is the tradition for many Muslims.
A graphic of the Kaaba (House of God) was shown on the stadium’s digital display boards, depicting the qibla (the direction of Meccah). Once the sun had set, the evening prayers took place before guests enjoyed a range of South Asian inspired food as they came together to break their fast.
Mohammed Ullah, City Matter’s Black Asian and Mixed Heritage Supporters Representative who is also a Chaplain at Manchester University and Manchester Metropolitan University, commented:
“The Iftar was special for everyone who attended. To hear the adhan in the stadium that many of us have come to for years and then pray together was an amazing moment and I know it was something which meant so much to us all.
We can’t thank Manchester City enough for opening it’s doors and demonstrating its support for its local Muslim community by hosting an iftar for the second year running.
As a City Matter’s Black Asian and Mixed Heritage Supporters Representative, I see first-hand the Club’s commitment to creating an increasingly inclusive environment and the event was another example of the amazing work they are doing on a daily basis.”
As part of our ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive environment, the Club recently became the first team in the Premier League to appoint a Muslim Chaplin to conduct weekly Jummah services for its staff.
As Ramadan draws to a close, the celebrations of Eid ul-Fitr begin.
