Emam has unleashed a splash on Sydney’s famous Ramadan night markets, calling them “the new King’s Cross” – the city’s famous party district.
The imam, who posts on TikTok under the name ‘Iman Boost’, shared a video on the platform on Monday titled ‘All Western Sydney Muslims must be heard’.
“Have you seen in our societies what Ramadan has become now?” he says to the camera.
This has become the nightlife. This has become… I swearLakemba became the new King’s Cross.
Every year during Ramadan – when Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad – food markets take place every night on Haldon Street in Lakemba, south-west Sydney.
Muslims spend the day fasting from sunrise before eating their first meal, known as iftar, at sunset.
Many celebrate iftar at the plethora of stalls on Haldon Street where chefs prepare dishes from Pakistani and Indian cuisines from the Middle East.
Camel, beef and chicken burgers are on offer, as well as desserts that include the famous Lebanese sweet kunafa, traditional Middle Eastern baklava, homemade churro, chocolate-covered strawberries and marshmallows, and festival favourite, Fairy Floss.
The markets have become increasingly popular over the past decade and are expected to attract more than a million people this year from Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds.
Crowds thronged Haldon Street in Lakemba on Friday night as families enjoyed the hot food on offer from the stalls.
A street chef makes a storm behind the fireplace set up on Haldon Street in Lakemba, southwest Sydney
The Mayor of Canterbury, Khal Asfour, Mayor of Bankstown, noted that the number was more than expected at Sydney’s Royal Easter Show.
Mr Asfour said: “We are delighted that the state government has recognized the importance of this event, which means a lot not only to our community, but to the abundance of tourists who are drawn from all over Australia.”
However, there has been growing criticism of the festival’s popularity.
In the video, the imam explained what he meant by having Lakemba become the new King’s Cross.
He said, “You know in the ’90s, ’80s, ’70s… where do you go to party?”
Go to Kings Cross. No, we now have the new King’s Cross and it’s called Lakemba. It’s the hype, it’s the place to be. Is being there forbidden? I swear It is not forbidden.
The imam grows more and more battered on his chest and adds, “But I ask you, is this what God wants?”
He then makes fun of people waiting to stand in line for 45 minutes to eat a donkey’s burger.
Then the imam criticizes the presence of non-Muslims in the markets.
“So the nightlife — and brother, even non-Muslims are into it,” he says.
‘Do you think non-Muslims are coming because I swear They learn about God? And we are deceived.
Men, women and children from Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds treated themselves to an array of hot food from the stalls on Friday night
Muslims spend the day fasting from sunrise before eating their first meal, known as iftar, at sunset
The video says: Is it not halal or haram? But are you doing more good than bad by being there?
However, not all viewers agreed with him.
One TikTok user said there is “good” in the markets.
Muslims from all over Sydney united. Non-Muslims appreciate our society beyond years of harmful stereotypes,” they wrote.
But the imam is not the only one criticizing what markets have become.
“Lakimba Ramadan markets are more about gentrification than anything else,” said Mostafa Rashwani, The Guardian’s correspondent.
He wrote on Twitter: “There is an implicit understanding in the Muslim community that without acknowledging the sanctity of Ramadan, these markets reduce Islam and Muslims to something expendable.”
He added, ‘A lot of the media is exploiting financial success to tell stories of cultural exchange when in fact, these spaces have been excavated from any sense of Islam. This is how minorities have always been reported – either demonized or turned into food.
Mustafa Rashwani, correspondent for The Guardian, criticized the gentrification of Lakemba Ramadan markets
Mr. Rashwani Share an article Talk to some of the business owners and market stall owners in the area.
Fawzan Ahmed, director of Dar es Salaam Bookstore in Lakemba, lamented the market’s commercialization.
“It went from a few hundred people on the road to tens of thousands of people, the sheer number of people is big, but it’s not an Islamic event anymore,” he said. Watchman.
There is no Islamic spirit that shapes the festival anymore. Previously, it centered around our prayer, people would finish the prayer and walk out.
“The council now sets the time and the streets are full, regardless of prayer times.”
