With Ramadan announced to begin on 23 March, Muslims all over the world are preparing for a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection to practise gratitude and remember those who are less fortunate. Mosques around the country will be offering various services during Ramadan to celebrate the Islamic holy month. Here are just some examples of what’s on offer in Islington.
Finsbury Park Mosque – Finsbury Park.
This year, Finsbury Park Mosque will be holding free iftar (the evening meal that breaks the fast) each day during Ramadan, which is open to people of all faiths and all backgrounds. Mohammed Kozbar, Chairman of Finsbury Park Mosque, tells City Press that the mosque encourages the homeless community and anyone in need of food to come to the iftar and enjoy the meal with others. Those that attend are welcome to bring food, but the iftar is entirely provided by the mosque and it will cook for around 300 people every day. “It’s an opportunity for people to come and feel the spirit of Ramadan,” Kozbar says. “The togetherness with different communities.”
The mosque will also serve around two thousand people for the daily night prayer, where there will also be opportunities to give to charity – something widely encouraged during Ramadan.
On April 4, Finsbury Park Mosque will work with the Muslim Welfare House to run a street iftar which expects to host up to two thousand people. This event will see speakers and politicians give talks in the late afternoon and use the opportunity to strengthen the relationship between communities, and the day will end with the breaking of the fast. With the first event of this kind occurring after the 2017 Finsbury Park terrorist attack, the mosque is striving for this event to expand each year with other mosques around the country taking inspiration.
Kozbar shares his message for Ramadan. “Ramadan is an opportunity for Muslims to engage with each other and engage with the wider community as well. It is an opportunity to try to lift our spiritual life and to contribute to good causes. We have seen what’s happened in Turkey and Syria, and other countries like Somalia are desperate for the Muslim community to help them. I hope Muslims in the UK will enjoy Ramadan and make it a peaceful month for everyone.”
Donation page: Donations | Finsbury Park Mosque
Muslim Welfare House – Finsbury Park
The Muslim Welfare House is planning to host 500 people each day, offering prayers and a variety of afternoon activities to bring the community together. There will be free iftar every day, which is open to people of all faiths and encourages those in need of food to join. Imams will give talks during the month to spread awareness and to engage in spirituality. The mosque expects to close at around midnight every day.
The Muslim Welfare House will work with Finsbury Park Mosque to host the street iftar on 4 April.
Toufiq Kacimi, manager of the Muslim Welfare House, says: “We want everyone in the community to come and join. It’s a very spiritual experience. We want people to join in and celebrate.”
Donation page: Donate | Muslim Welfare House (mwht.org.uk)
Al Risaalah Mosque – Holloway
Al-Risaalah Mosque will offer a light iftar, consisting of traditional foods used to break the fast. This notably includes dates and water.
The mosque is aiming to have some lectures planned for Ramadan as well as some other small events scheduled for the month.
Ahmed Hassan, a staff member of the mosque, says: “We hope to have peace and mercy for the whole entire world. We send a prayer for the whole world.”
Donation page: Donation – Al risaalah Mosque and Islington Islamic Centre
