Ordinarily, Muslims breaking their Ramadan fast in a Sikh temple may not be a common sight, but the last week in Bahrain has been anything but ordinary.
As evacuees sought shelter after Iran’s strike in Juffair forced them to leave their apartments, the Shri Guru Singh Sabha Sikh Temple offered over 200 of them more than just a house – they gave them a home.
“When the attacks began and we were told to evacuate, our manager told us that we would be taken care of at the ‘Gurudwara’ (Punjabi term for the temple, translated to ‘Home of God’),” 40-year-old Mohammed Jamshed, who works at a restaurant in Juffair, told the GDN, while enjoying his ‘futoor’ surrounded by people of all faiths.
“In our time here, not only did they offer us food and shelter, at the time of iftar, they even prepared special snacks for us to break our fast, all without charging us anything.
“Every day, at sunset, groups of us get together from all religions and walks of life as we Muslims break our fast.
“The temple has even offered us a place within their prayer hall to do our ‘namaz’ (the Muslim prayers done five times a day).”
Approximately 95 families of different nationalities and religious faiths took shelter at the mainly volunteer-run temple, where they slept in the prayer and food halls, and were served breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as fast-breaking ‘futoor’ and pre-dawn ‘suhoor’.
“As the holy month of Ramadan is ongoing, arrangements have been made for our Muslim brothers and sisters to observe their fast, break their fast (Iftar), and offer their prayers at the Gurudwara,” Shri Guru Singh Sabha president Jagir Singh added.
“Likewise, individuals from other religions are also free to pray according to their own beliefs. It is a touching and inspiring sight to witness people of different religions praying together in an atmosphere of mutual respect and harmony.”
The Sikh temple in Budaiya runs on donations and in‑kind contributions from community members. For more than 200 temporary residents, the temple has been using more than 20kg of wheat flour, 20kg of rice, and 50kg of vegetables each day, as well as 30 litres of milk. At their facility, everyone from a four-month-old baby to those aged 60 and over have found a home, with just a few simple rules.
“Of course, we only serve vegetarian food in line with our faith, and adults are required to cover their head while here, and everyone has been quite happy and co-operative here,” one of the Sikh community members added.
Beyond just complying, many have started to volunteer around the temple – serving, cleaning, clearing water during the rains last week and cooking in the kitchen.
Mr Singh even joked that some, who usually work at restaurants in Juffair, are better chefs than the regulars at the temple.
“People from different countries and backgrounds have come together and are supporting each other like one big family,” he added.
“Many residents are voluntarily helping in different ways – some are cooking, some are cleaning, some are organising supplies, while others are taking care of children or helping with daily activities.
“This shared spirit of co-operation has created a peaceful and supportive environment within the Gurudwara.”
However, despite the jovial and cohesive atmosphere within the temple, the sound of sirens and distant booms serves as a constant reminder of the ongoing situation. Still, many say that being at the temple has helped them feel less anxious in the company of others going through the same situation.
During the GDN’s visit, as children played while others rested and some even had their laptops out to work, the siren system activated and phones started going off, bringing a slight pause as everyone turned to their phones and looked out the windows before breathing a sigh of relief that all seemed well.
“As residents of the Kingdom of Bahrain, we believe it is our duty to contribute positively to the society that has welcomed us,” Mr Singh added.
“We would also like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad, the Bahrain government, and the people of the kingdom for building a nation that stands as a global example of peaceful coexistence, tolerance, and harmony among different cultures and religions.
“The Sikh community remains committed to supporting the kingdom and its people in every way possible, especially during times when help and solidarity are needed.”
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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