Ramadan begins with first in person gathering in three years

The annual month of Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam began Friday night, and at the London Muslim Mosque it was a full house.

The annual month of Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam began Friday night, and at the London Muslim Mosque it was a full house.

“The mosque was packed and in fact, not just the London Muslim mosque. Where we had the main prayer hall which was packed we had the basement was packed. We had the gym as well. And every single prayer hall in London, they were all busy,” says Bilal Rahhal, the chair of the London Muslim Mosque Board.

This is the first time in three years that a gathering like this has been allowed, and for Aarif Anwer, Imam, and Director of Religious Affairs the evening prayer session was very ‘bright.’

“It was amazing. It was it was awesome. To see people together again to have this opportunity to be together to pray together. We missed out on it the last couple of years, so the opportunity to be back was just awesome,” Anwer said.

The Mosque has been able to pivot during the pandemic and offer virtual prayers, something they say they will continue to do post-COVID, but appreciate the closeness they are able to experience this year.

“This is actually one main part of Ramadan is the you know, ability to get together to see one another to get closer together,” says Rahhal