Nottingham Forest Football Club Host Iftar

Nottingham Forest hosted its first Iftar at The City Ground this week, where members of the community broke their fast pitch side in the Brian Clough Stand.

The event was co-organised by Nottingham Forest Football Club, Nottingham Forest Community Trust, the Karimia Institute, Guru Nanak’s Mission and Angela Kandola. The idea behind organising the event was to promote community cohesion as communities of multiple faiths and backgrounds came together.

Iftar is the initial meal consumed by individuals who observe fasting during Ramadan. It is typically consumed immediately after the Maghrib prayer is announced at sunset. Forty community members joined staff from Nottingham Forest along with Forest defender Moussa Niakhaté, who has also been observing Ramadan.

Moussa and the attendees broke their fast around 8:12 pm with water, dates, and a call to prayer, followed by a meal that attendees enjoyed pitch side as the light faded away.

This event marks the first time Nottingham Forest has hosted an event to celebrate one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar and provided an opportunity for the community, some of whom are big Forest fans, to meet, pray, and eat at a Premier League football stadium.

Calum Osborne, Nottingham Forest Community Trust Deputy Chief Executive Officer said, “Acknowledging Ramadan and the Muslim community is an essential element of our efforts to encourage religious cohesion.

“Nottingham Forest Community Trust engages with communities across the city and county, and we’re committed to supporting Ramadan by hosting this event along with the Club, Karimia Institute, Guru Nanak’s Mission and Angela Kandola.”

“The Community Trust’s values are accessible, committed, and progressive and we actively seek to engage with all individuals. This has been a ground-breaking occasion and the first of its kind for Nottingham Forest Football Club and we’re proud to have been a part of it.”