Kulsum Bassadien preparing the supper
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
In the heart of Elsies River, the spirit of Ramadan is not only marked by fasting and prayer, but by a powerful culture of sharing that brings an entire community together.
At Siddique Mosque, evenings during the holy month are filled with the aroma of home-cooked meals and the hum of volunteers working side by side. Each night, families from the community take turns preparing meals that are shared with hundreds of people from surrounding areas.
According to Imam Moulana Mogamat Hassiem Cassiem, the feeding programme is deeply rooted in the purpose of Ramadan itself.
“Every day a family gets to cook something for the community, so it really is a community-driven effort, because the donations we receive also come from the broader community and SANZAF,” he explained.
The mosque currently feeds between 200 and 300 families each evening, with people coming from areas including Uitsig, Leonsdale, and congregants linked to Halt Road Mosque and Siddique Mosque.
For Cassiem, the act of feeding others during Ramadan is inseparable from the meaning of fasting.
“Our task during Ramadan, and this feeding scheme and way of sharing with those less fortunate, coincides with the purpose of fasting. The purpose of fasting is to feel the pains of hunger of those less fortunate. After feeling that pain of hunger during the day and sacrificing it only for the sake of the Almighty, in return we share and give to those what the Almighty has given us.”
Yet, he emphasised that the initiative is not about charity alone.
“The reality of our people is that they are poor before Ramadan, during and after. So when we feed, it’s not giving it’s more about sharing. I say share because when you care, you share.”
Cassiem believes the dignity of those receiving meals must always be preserved, which is why the food served is the same quality that volunteers would prepare for their own families.
“I also believe in giving foods that we ourselves would eat. All this would not be possible without SANZAF,” he said.
Beyond the plates of food served each evening, Cassiem says the true beauty of sharing lies in the example it sets for younger generations.
“The beauty of sharing is that you enrich yourself and the generations after you. When your children see you sharing, they often take on the same role as you.”
Importantly, the mosque’s feeding efforts extend far beyond the month of Ramadan.
“We don’t only serve once a year. We feed on a weekly basis to Muslim and non-Muslim. We do this because hunger knows no religion. Sickness knows no religion. There is no creed or kind it chooses,” he said.
“As much as we think it’s Ramadan time and it’s for those who are fasting, we must remember a community does not only consist of Muslims. It consists of human beings. So when we share, we share with human beings.”
On the day the Weekend Argus visited the mosque, the kitchen was alive with activity as volunteers prepared the evening meal.
Standing behind a large steaming pot was Cassiem’s sister, Kulsum Bassadien, affectionately known as “Aunty Kullie” in the community. Known for her sweet treats and savoury dishes, she was busy preparing a hearty butternut bredie filled with tender pieces of meat, served alongside basmati rice.
Bassadien said giving back through cooking has long been close to her heart.
Moulana Mogamat Hassiem Cassiem and his baby sister Kulsum Bassadien
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
“I know how we grew up, so it’s important for me to give back. And what better place to do it than here in the kitchen at the mosque,” she said.
She explained that her involvement grew through working alongside SANZAF initiatives and community feeding programmes.
“We want everyone to have food. Everyone wants food, so the barakat goes a long way.”
Working together in the mosque kitchen has also strengthened family ties.
“My brother has always been passionate about sharing, but what many don’t know is that he is also passionate about cooking,” she said with a laugh.
“He is a full-time priest who is at the mosque every day, but in his free time he’s here helping us peel potatoes. It also strengthens our bond as siblings.”
For Bassadien, however, the most rewarding part of the long hours spent cooking over large pots is seeing the joy it brings to the community.
“The most rewarding part of standing in front of a hot 100-litre pot for two hours is seeing the faces of the little kids light up when they get handed their plate of food along with fruit and juice,” she said.
“That feeling you can’t describe. We just say shukr Allah that we are able to do this.”
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za