23-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Charity tour shows how to support Hong Kong's Muslim community during Ramadan
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The Islamic holy month of Ramadan began on March 2. Since then, Hong Kong's Muslim community has been deep in prayer.
More than a dozen people visited the Kowloon Mosque one rainy Saturday afternoon. They were part of a group tour organised by the Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI). The charity looks to combat societal issues and support ethnically diverse communities in Hong Kong.
The tour educated the group about Ramadan. It also introduced them to some ethnic minority business owners in Tsim Sha Tsui.
'We FSI, we believe in supporting small businesses,' said Adnan Riaz, who works for the charity and ran the tour.
He added that the tours help people 'have a better understanding of the ethnic diversity, ethnic economy in Hong Kong.'
Supporting the community
Prayer and fasting are major points of Ramadan. Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during the holy month.
Rustam Khan moved to Hong Kong from Pakistan in 1980. He is the CEO of Chinese Custom Tailor in Mirador Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui. Khan is a practising Muslim. He told the tour group how Ramadan teaches him to be patient. He said his connection to his culture and faith helped him fast during Ramadan.
'As a Muslim, we have a very strong culture. And with the strong culture, you can adapt [for] a month,' he said.
Mohammad Abdul Rehman is an 18-year-old intern at FSI. He chose to intern at the charity because he 'felt a deep connection to their work with ethnic minorities'. Mohammad said the organisation works with many Muslim business owners and that 'Ramadan really affects their business performance.'
Many South Asian restaurants have fewer customers during Ramadan because of fasting. That's why one of the tour's goals was to tell people outside the South Asian community about these local businesses. Then, they could support them during Ramadan.
What it's like for Muslim students in Hong Kong to fast while studying for the DSE
Understanding and tolerance
Mohammad was born and raised in Hong Kong. He is a first-year student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and a practising Muslim. He admitted that staying on top of classes and assignments during Ramadan could be tough.
During this time, people wake up early to eat and pray before the sun rises. Then, they begin their fast.
'You have to adapt to waking up at 4am and then sleeping again, just for a couple hours, and then waking up for uni again,' Mohammad said.
'It's really difficult. I've skipped many classes already, unfortunately ... We don't get enough sleep, but it's all about how you manage it.'
Riaz said that non-Muslim communities can support Muslims during Ramadan by 'fostering understanding and tolerance'. For instance, Mohammad is grateful that his university has a prayer room for him and his peers to gather during Ramadan.
'All the Muslims gather there at lunchtime. We pray; we connect together,' he said. 'Having the prayer room helps a lot ... it's always more blessed if you pray together.'
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