Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, is a time of profound spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide. It was during Ramadan that the holy Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Beyond fasting, Ramadan is a month of worship, self-reflection, and good deeds, offering opportunities for spiritual growth and redemption. It emphasizes community bonds and charitable acts, fostering a sense of solidarity and support for those in need.
On 15 March 2025, our Project GuideFong organized the first-ever Ramadan-themed GuideFong Tour to allow 16 participants to immerse in the spirit of Ramadan in Hong Kong in Chungking Mansions, Tsim Sha Tsui. This special event also aimed to celebrate and support the members of Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI)’s community of grassroots ethnically diverse entrepreneurs by connecting them with the broader local community, and highlighting the resilience of small businesses during this sacred month.
The Kowloon Masjid and Five Prayers of Islam
Led by Adnan Riaz (“Dani”), FSI’s Community Business Support Assistant, the tour kicked off with a visit to the Kowloon Masjid on 105 Nathan Road. Originally built in 1896 by the British Indian Army to serve Muslim soldiers stationed in Hong Kong, the Kowloon Masjid was demolished in the 1970s due to the construction of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR). In 1984, a new and larger mosque was built on the same site to accommodate the growing Muslim community in Hong Kong, including Muslims of South Asian, Indonesian, Malaysian, and Chinese descent.
With its distinctive white marble finish, the Kowloon Masjid is a major landmark in Tsim Sha Tsui and a true identity of the Muslim community in Hong Kong, and it is open for anyone to visit. On the day of our visit, many Muslims stayed at the Masjid even after the prayers to socialize, read the Quran, and pray.
At the Kowloon Masjid, we took participants on a tour and showed them the main prayer hall. Here, participants learned the history of the Masjid as well as the five prayers of Islam and their significance to Muslims.
- The Five Prayers
- First prayer (Fajr): Morning prayer observed after sunrise.
- Second prayer (Dhur): Observed at 1:30pm. Many prefer to pray at the Masjid in a congregation during their lunch break.
- Third prayer (Asar): Observed at 5pm.
- Fourth prayer (Magrib): Immediately after sunset.
- Fifth prayer (Isha): During the night.
Observing Ramadan at Mirador and Chungking Mansions
Introducing participants to Ramadan and its customs, Dani took participants to the Mirador Mansion to visit several ethnically diverse entrepreneurs whose businesses remained open.
Ram Sajnani, Founder of Reena Enterprises, came to Hong Kong as a 17-year-old in 1968 from Bombay, India, to seek work opportunities. After working in the retail industry for 15 years, he started Reena Enterprises to sell tailored clothing items for women, including traditional South Asian costumes. “Remember to pray and do a lot of hard work. Then, leave it to god, he’ll provide.” were the parting words of this man who takes pride in the success of his time-honored business.
Our next stop was Chinese Custom Tailor, where we met its co-partner and CEO, Rustam Khan, who proudly claimed that he is in the industry to “make people look elegant”. Coming from Pakistan to Hong Kong in 1980, Khan’s love of fabrics led him to become a tailor and, subsequently, a co-partner of Chinese Custom Tailor in 1991.
“Ramadan is my favorite month as I become closer to my faith, and I enjoy the spirit of the holy month,” said Khan. Learn more about Khan’s life journey and notable clients, including Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics NBA team and various dignitaries, in this blog post.
Our last checkpoint was the Chungking Mansions, which 90% of the participants had never stepped foot into before the tour.
At the sound of the Azan (the call for prayer) by Muslim business owners, we took participants to Sher-E-Punjab, a halal-friendly eatery serving Indian and Nepalese cuisines, to break the fast at 6:35pm sharp, the time of sunset. The staff at Sher-E-Punjab served us the iftar – a meal of dates and fruits to break the fast. Participants continued to mingle as dinner was served – a delicious spread of Chicken Tikka, Paneer Curry, Butter Chicken with Naan, an Afghan dish called Kabuli Pulao, and fresh salad.
Owing to popular demand, we extended the tour by 15 minutes as some participants were eager to explore the diversity of micro and small businesses at Chungking Mansions. To Chakwal International Hair Salon we headed, followed by Paul’S Kitchen, Ghana Locals, and lastly, we visited Uncle’s Centre to try one of the best Pakistani-style Chai to end the day.
Are you interested in joining our upcoming GuideFong Tours to meet the vibrant ethnically diverse business community? Get in touch with us at info@guidefong.org to find out how we can curate bespoke GuideFong Tours for your schools, companies, or even groups of friends looking to delve into the vibrant cultural tapestry of Hong Kong! For now, feel free to browse our GuideFong directory, the first online directory dedicated to ethnically diverse businesses in Hong Kong.
