Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah,
Muslims the world over will be welcoming Ramadan this evening. On behalf of the Muslim Council of Britain, I would like to wish you all a very blessed Ramadan.
Ramadan is a month when Muslims strive to immerse themselves in the remembrance of God and reading of the Qur’an, many attending night prayers in mosques. It is one of the five pillars of Islam with lessons for self-control and concern for the needy. It is a time of reunion at dusk when families and friends collect to break the fast. It is a time when Muslims reach out to their neighbours and to those of other faiths, or none, to share in this special moment. This year in particular our hearts are with the dispossessed and in refugee camps in so many parts of the world, who lack even the most basic of amenities and access to food that we take for granted.
Through countless reports, it has been stated that every year, Muslims are the biggest charity givers, with around £38 donated every second. Zakat, as one of the five pillars of Islam, obligates Muslims to donate 2.5 percent of their wealth to the needy, and every Ramadan, Muslims donate millions to help those in need, both here in the UK and abroad.
Throughout our work at the MCB, we have been striving to create greater unity between communities and a better understanding of our faith. This has been epitomised in our Visit My Mosque initiative where, every year, we encourage Mosques to open their doors all on the same day, so that anyone who wants to find out about what Mosques or Muslims are about, can do so. We have initiated many new projects this year such as the Better Mosques projects, community listening exercises and media monitoring. If you would like to help us in our work, please do here. You can also view our Ramadan guidelines in the links included below.
This year, as we open our doors, minds and hearts, I hope you all have a fruitful Ramadan, full of warmth, blessings and unity.
Ramadan Mubarak.
Harun Khan,
Secretary General