‘Our hearts are open’

HOW FELTHAM’S AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY HAS RISEN TO THE CHALLENGE OF LOCKDOWN

RABEEB Mirza, a ‘murabi,’ or religious minister, at the Baitul Wahid mosque said its community of more than 300 members have risen to the challenge of ‘virtually’ coming together for celebrations, and looking for the positive in the dramatic change to life during the pandemic.

“The government restrictions are in place, they are there for the safety and welfare of the community at large, therefore we strictly adhere to those rules,” Murabi Mirza explained.

“It is difficult more generally in the month of Ramadan, it would be a time our congregation increases, we’d meet one another, we would then break our fast with one another, we had more opportunities to pray in the mosque with one another.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t make us despondent. There’s no drawback as such, we are having little mosques created in homes of the members.

“In this regard it is a beautiful speculation that even though the mosques may physically have closed, there is always one mosque that is open.”

Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, and particularly its youth organisation, have been offering support to the coronavirus response in the borough, helping with charities such as Open Kitchen and Muslim Hands dropping off food parcels to vulnerable residents

The community has been running seminars and classes online, and its national congregation has hosted four special events of the ‘Big Virtual Iftar’ which has drawn in thousands of viewers this year.

The live occasion is open to all, religious or not, to take part in events such as the fasting challenge, Ramadan lockdown video diaries and a virtual tour of the biggest mosque in Britain.

During Ramadan, Iftar is the evening meal which breaks the fast at the end of the day.

“Throughout our lives various challenges do come, therefore we are very optimistic that this is just a temporary challenge,” the 29-yearold said.

“It is teaching us other things as well, that maybe we couldn’t spend more time with families in normal days, [now] we are getting to spend time with them, we are getting to educate ourselves more.”

Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, and particularly its youth organisation, have also been offering support to the coronavirus response in the borough, helping with charities such as Open Kitchen and Muslim Hands dropping off food parcels to vulnerable residents.

The community has offered help to 200 households around the mosque, near Hanworth Park, and its ladies group has been making PPE gowns and hundreds of masks for NHS workers.

Samosas and dates have also been delivered to a charity which hands out Iftar meals for elderly and vulnerable residents in Feltham.

The Murabi said: “As much as we can do we are doing. Our hearts and our doors are always open too. We are willing to help anyone.”

And he added: “These times are definitely challenging and very anxious, and unprecedented and turbulent times, however we need to come together.

“We see so many examples over the last few weeks of how people have been so generous, and how people have helped one another.”

The Feltham-based mosque has also put up a sign of appreciation to the NHS outside its doors, offering their thanks to the frontline workers during the crisis.

“They are dedicating their time for this cause, they are giving up their sleep, and the way they are meeting this is totally remarkable.

“I really appreciate what they are doing,” the religious minister said.

With the end of Ramadan and Eid fast approaching next weekend, it appears unlikely that the celebrations will be allowed to go ahead in its usual format as the lockdown remains in place.

Rabeeb said: “Eid is definitely a time everyone congregates together... but again our first and foremost priority is to obey the government.

The government is working for our interests and so whatever the government says we will definitely adhere to that if this lockdown runs on.”

“We don’t become displeased or despondent, we know whatever steps are being taken they are being taken for our welfare and for the people to stay safe.

“We will offer our Eid prayers. It is on the top of the list of our prayers to pray for the world at large.”

To find out more about the Big

Virtual co.uk

Rabeeb Mirza at the Feltham Baitul Wahid mosque

Iftar, go to bigvirtualiftar.