The Importance of Building Genuine Community

Community goes beyond simply congregating at a mosque or a place of worship. True community is built through deeper connections and interactions with others. It involves getting to know and befriend people beyond the formal spaces of prayer. Community is about knowing each other's families, having meals together, making friends with neighbors and even bus drivers. It's through these genuine connections that a sense of community is fostered. The example of the Cape Town Muslim community illustrates this, where the elders shared their experiences of apartheid and the hardships they went through together. This shared history and resilience created a strong bond among the community members, highlighting the importance of true community beyond mere population or formal spaces.