By KLTV Newsdesk –

On Saturday evening, community members, faith leaders and local dignitaries gathered at Jamia Masjid Noor for a special Taste Ramadan event aimed at building understanding and strengthening community ties during the holy month of Ramadan.

Organised through a partnership between Rosebuds Huddersfield, Huddersfield Community First and the Jamia Masjid Noor mosque, the event welcomed residents from across Huddersfield and beyond.

Guests of all faiths and backgrounds were invited to experience the spirit of Ramadan through hospitality, conversation and shared reflection.

The evening was well attended by local community members, representatives from voluntary organisations, faith leaders and civic figures. Among those present were Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Sophia Buncy MBE, MP for Huddersfield, Harpreet Uppal and Nadia Sethi.

Opening the Mosque to the Community

The event was designed to give visitors a first-hand insight into the meaning of Ramadan and the role it plays in Muslim life.

Guests observed congregational prayer, shared a traditional three-course iftar meal at sunset, and took part in informal discussions about faith, community and shared values.

Local Imam Mohammed Abubakar spoke about the deeper significance of fasting during Ramadan.

“When we’re fasting, people often think it simply means staying away from food and drink,” he explained.

“But it’s actually so much more than that. It’s about bettering yourself as a person, and through that, strengthening and improving our communities.”

He emphasised that the purpose of events like Taste Ramadan is to challenge division and promote unity.

“Unfortunately, today there is a lot of negativity and disunity being spread across communities. The purpose of today is to bring people together around a month that is really about building stronger communities.”

Building Bridges Through Shared Experiences

For Nadia Sethi, who leads the volunteer-led Rosebuds Sisters group locally, collaboration was central to the evening’s success.

“Tonight’s event is about collaboration between ourselves, Huddersfield Community First and the masjid,” she said.

“But it’s also about promoting unity and bringing our communities together, especially during Ramadan, which is a month of reflection, generosity and connection.”

Rosebuds is a grassroots network of Muslim women who organise social, wellbeing and outdoor activities, helping create supportive spaces for women while also strengthening wider community engagement.

A Time for Reflection and Shared Values

Speaking to guests, Sophia Buncy reflected on the wider significance of Ramadan and its emphasis on compassion and charity.

“Ramadan for me creates a focus on human connection and understanding,” she said. “It invites us to look beyond ourselves.”

Drawing on her humanitarian experiences abroad, she highlighted the importance of gratitude and generosity during the month.

“Although this is a nourishing month spiritually and physically, the most important part for me is the sense of charity, neighbourliness and community that comes out of it.”

She also noted the symbolic significance of Ramadan coinciding with other important moments in the calendar this year.

“Gatherings such as this are more important now than they have ever been. I pray this month will be a time of peace, understanding and renewed hope for all of us.”

Community Leadership and Civic Engagement

Addressing attendees, Harpreet Uppal thanked organisers and highlighted the role of such events in strengthening social bonds.

“Ramadan invites us to pause and reflect on our responsibilities to one another through fasting, prayer and acts of charity,” she said.

“It’s a time when communities come together, doors are opened, and bonds of care and solidarity are strengthened.”

She added that events like Taste Ramadan demonstrate the power of local communities working together.

“This event is a fantastic way to honour those values, and it’s wonderful to see so many people from different backgrounds coming together to share conversation and understanding.”

A Shared Table, A Shared Future

Following the speeches, guests gathered for the sunset call to prayer before sharing a three-course iftar meal. For many visitors, it was their first experience inside a mosque and their first time participating in the breaking of the fast.

The atmosphere throughout the evening was warm and welcoming, with conversations continuing long after the meal had finished.

By opening its doors and inviting neighbours to take part, Jamia Masjid Noor once again demonstrated how simple acts of hospitality, sharing food, listening and learning can help strengthen the fabric of local community life.