As many readers will know, Muslims in Northampton and around the world have been marking the holy month of Ramadan.
During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink during daylight hours in order to commemorate the first revelation of the Qu’ran to Mohammed.
For many Muslims this is an important and challenging time of year. As the Islamic calendar is not aligned with the Western calendar, the date of Ramadan moves each year, and Ramadan this year falls during the time of year when we have the hours of longest daylight. This means that Muslims observing Ramadan in the UK cannot eat food or drink water between about 2:30am and 9:30pm – which is of course not easy to do! This is also a time of additional prayer, and a time when many Muslims give generously to charity.
In the evening, after official sunset, Muslim communities gather together to break the fast for the day, in a celebration called Iftar. I was very pleased to be able to join the Moulvibazar District Association Muslim community at the Northampton Bangladeshi Association for an Iftar dinner recently.
This was a great opportunity to meet with Muslims in Northampton during a time that is holy to them, and hear more about their community here.
Readers of this column will know that I have offered my support to groups from all the main faiths practised by constituents in Northampton North, including of course Christian events at our Churches, both Anglican and Roman Catholic, in civic services and at Christmas; Muslim festivals such as at Eid, for the Hindu festival of Diwali, and for Sikh events at the Gurdwara and elsewhere. All the faith groups in Northampton work together very well and do great work.
Residents of Northampton North of any faith, and of none, can be assured of my continued support.