LONDON: Born in Birmingham, England, Jehangir Malik spends his weekends at home in nearby Solihull and his weekdays in London, where he works as CEO of Muslim Aid, a UK-based Islamic charity. The organization, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2015, operates around the world, providing emergency relief as well as long-term support for sustainable development in local communities. Malik, who spent six years as director of Islamic Relief UK, is a prominent figure in the Muslim humanitarian sector in the UK and celebrates Eid in London and Solihull, where his wife and children are based. As Ramadan draws to a close, he’s looking forward to marking the occasion with family and friends.
Eid is a very special time and represents the end of 30 days of strong discipline for the body, mind and soul. We get into quite a routine during Ramadan and a lot of physical and spiritual cleansing takes place. On the last evening of the holy month, there’s a joyous atmosphere among the family as the preparations get underway for Eid the next day. The children look forward to getting their new clothes ready and arranging the gifts for their cousins and friends. This year, if Eid falls on the Friday, my daughter will be sitting her A-levels, so sadly may not be with us for the celebrations.
Typically, we start early and congregate with the wider family in the central mosque, although recently, with Eid falling during summer, the prayers have been held in parks outside. In Birmingham, an event called Eid in the Park attracts around 100,000 worshippers, which is quite a spectacle. It also means you get to celebrate the day with people from all corners of the globe, coming together in one city under the banner and blessed occasion of Eid, which is happening more and more in the UK. In London, there’s Eid in the Square, where people of all backgrounds and faith gather in Trafalgar Square in an event that celebrates the many cultures of the UK’s cosmopolitan capital. It’s a beautiful thing to see. Everybody likes a good party — that’s universal — and we welcome everyone to participate in the fun.
My perception is that there’s a greater awareness of Ramadan in London — there’s a lot more media coverage and greater outreach with messages of support from the prime minister and leading politicians. Different faiths take part in Ramadan and Eid too. Over time, I have been invited to iftar at churches, synagogues and temples; it’s become such an inter-faith activity. For me, the most important thing is to come together as a family, strengthening the bonds we share. After prayers in the park first thing, we go to the homes of other family members and exchange gifts. We also try to share Eid sweets with our non-Muslim neighbors so they can feel part of the special occasion. The children get so excited about this part and enjoy going round giving out sweets. By evening you’re exhausted but there’s so much joy and happiness, and if we’re blessed with good weather it’s the perfect day.
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