“Ramadan Mubarak”

This week Muslims across the world started their month of Ramadan, many once again face restrictions as the fight against coronavirus continues.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast during daylight hours, as a means of celebrating and reflecting on their faith.

While reflecting on the year that has passed, we share messages from political leaders in our Ramadan Supplement 2021, including messages from the Prime Ministers, Labour and Liberal Democrats party leaders and number of members of Parliament

Over 3 million Muslims across the UK started their Ramadan this week, for another year under restrictions. Adapting to new changes has seen millions taking Ramadan online and connecting with family and friends with digital prayer reading and breaking fast together all while keeping their spirit of Ramadan going under these conditions.

This year at Londra Gazete we have prepared our Ramadan Supplement 2021 which can be founding our newspaper issue this week or you can read our special supplement online here…

Boris Johnson

Prime Minister

“Ramadan Mubarak to all those observing Islam’s holiest month this year.

I’m afraid that again this year it is necessary to follow the rules to stay safe but I hope this month of fast, prayer and charity brings much peace and reflection to all Muslims.”

Sir Keir Starmer

Labour Leader

“Today I would like to send warm wishes to Muslims across the UK and around the world as you mark the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

For Muslim communities, Ramadan is an important period: of reflection, of prayer and of fasting.

A period to celebrate the power of faith and community.

But like last year, this Ramadan will be different.

The continuing pandemic will mean congregations and families won’t be able to come together as usual.

But this will not stop us from celebrating the huge contribution Muslim communities have made over the last year.

From doctors and nurses in our NHS, putting their lives on the line to save others.

To the countless volunteers and community leaders in Mosques and community centres: delivering the vaccine, operating food banks and supporting our most vulnerable.

This embodies not only the essence of this month but also the values of Islam.

So on behalf of the Labour Party, I want to take this opportunity to wish all Muslim communities: Ramadan Mubarak.”

Ed Davey

Leader of the Liberal Democrats

 “I want to send my best wishes to Muslims in the UK and across the world as we welcome the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is a time of reflection, renewal and generosity. These are much needed in our communities, our politics and all our lives.

A second year observing Ramadan with restrictions on meeting together will be difficult.  Holding an iftar will be different, loved ones will be missed and celebrations will be muted.

We must all continue to do our part to control and suppress the virus. As we do, we look forward in hope and faith to when we can see loved ones again.

I wish all those observing this holy month a blessed and peaceful Ramadan.”

Sadiq Khan

Mayor of London

“As salaam alaykum,

I would like to wish Turkish Londoners and all Londoners of Islamic faith a happy and blessed Ramadan.

I know that celebrating our second Ramadan in a pandemic will be challenging. I am a people person and there is nothing I love more than meeting with friend

s, family and Londoners of all faiths or none for iftar – to share food and conversation – after a long day’s fast.

Unfortunately, this year there is still a very real risk of spreading Covid-19 when meeting indoors, so it is essential we continue to avoid it and follow the rules for as long as is necessary to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

During this holy month of restraint and reflection, my thoughts will be particularly with those who are grieving. It has been an immensely difficult year for our community, the virus has disproportionately impacted ethnic minorities and limited our ability to gather for worship and find comfort in our deen.

Despite this, I have been hugely encouraged by seeing Turkish communities across London demonstrating selflessness, kindness and generosity in caring for vulnerable people. Our Prophet preached compassion and peace, and I have been inspired seeing these teachings in action throughout this difficult period.

This Ramadan, thanks to the development and deployment of multiple Covid vaccines, brighter days are coming. I have had my vaccine, so has my elderly mother and we know they are safe, effective and halal but they are also our ticket back to normality and our surest path to once again doing the things we enjoy with the people we love.

This Ramadan, let us look ahead to these brighter days. Let us take inspiration from the shows of compassion exemplified by London’s Turkish communities – including readers of Londra Gazete – in deciding the sort of London we want to rebuild. And, as we spend this holy month praying for the good of our city and all its citizens, let us find new ways of connecting safely with those who share our desire to pursue a London that works for all.

From my family to yours, Ramadan Mubarak.”

Ümit Yalçın

Turkey’s Ambassador to the UK

“Ramadan mubarak to our community.

Ramadan is a month of sharing, empathy, solidarity and charity. It is in this month that prayers are intensified and humanitarian values are lauded further.

Unfortunately, some restrictions are ongoing due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, virtues of sharing and empathy, which are highlighted in this holy month, do become more relevant at the pandemic time.

Our community has shown an exemplary act of resilience, solidarity and charity during in the last year and I have every confidence that it will continue its valuable contribution to the fight against the pandemic during Ramadan.

By this opportunity, I wish Ramadan to bring good health, peace and prosperity to all humanity.”

Oya Tuncalı

TRNC London Representative

“Valuable Members of the Turkish Cypriot Community in the United Kingdom,

Dear Brothers and Sisters.

We are celebrating the beginning of Ramadan, which is the holiest of all months for Muslims. I would like to wish all members of our community, the Turkish nation and Muslims all around the world a blessed Ramadan.

May this holy month bring peace to your hearts and prosperity to your households.

I sincerely hope this holy month will be cherished in unity, solidarity and tolerance and we will all reach Bayram in cooperation and solidarity.

During this holy time, I wish all our citizens a month filled with health, peace and love. I would like to convey to all my best wishes, love and kind regards.”

Feryal Clark

MP for Enfield North

“I want to start by wishing everyone in Enfield North and beyond celebrating the month of Ramadan a blessed, healthy and happy year ahead. This past year has been very difficult for our community in Enfield and across the country, especially as we go into yet another month of Ramadan under lockdown. Many people have lost family members, friends and loved ones to Covid. We are sadly not completely over the dangers of Covid-19 and my plea to our community is to continue to act with caution as lockdown easing is ongoing. I know not being able to have friends and family in our homes for iftar once again will be hard – but it’s essential we follow the rules to protect ourselves and those we care about. Whilst restrictions will be more relaxed compared to 2020, many of the usual practices normally observed such as going to the mosque for iftar and visiting friends and family indoors will sadly still not be possible this year. I hope the good weather will hold giving families to meet in gardens and outdoors for iftar. I wish all our Muslim communities in Enfield North observing Ramadan a safe, peaceful and blessed month.”

Sir Iain Duncan Smith

MP for Chingford and Woodford Green 

“To readers of Londra Gazete and the Turkish community across London,
During this upcoming holy month of Ramadan, my family and I wish you a happy, prosperous, and peaceful celebration. For those of you who may be marking this holy period by fasting, we send you our best wishes. The British-Turkish community are an integral part of our great British society. As a community, you have joined the nation in its religious and cultural celebrations and have often adopted them as your own. In this time of your own celebration, we stand by you to offer all our thoughts and prayers. I appreciate that you will soon be entering another Ramadan impacted by Covid restrictions, meaning that for a second year in a row you are unable to celebrate with your extended families and community in the way you would have liked. Despite the current lockdown restrictions and separation from loved ones, may this Ramadan be a special and peaceful time for you all.”

Catherine West

MP for Wood Green and Hornsey

“Ramadan is a time for community spirit and spiritual nourishment, and whilst the Covid-19 pandemic prevents the communal breaking of the fast and night prayers for the second year, it is a reminder of the deeper meaning of Ramadan and the sense of reflecting on those in need. Thank you to all our local faith communities who have volunteered throughout the year to help their neighbours.

The challenges of the pandemic will make this a difficult Ramadan with the cherished traditions proving impossible, but I know that the community will still cherish the spiritual and communal lift that Ramadan provides. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and I am hopeful that the community will be able to come together normally next year and break the fast with their family and friends.”

David Lammy

MP for Tottenham

“I am so proud to represent one of the most diverse constituencies in the country. Raised as a child on Dongola Road, I’ve grown up in a community built by a multi-ethnic coalition of compassion, love, and generosity. I’ll be spending this Ramadan celebrating the unquantifiable contribution that Muslim communities have made in Tottenham, in London and across the UK. I’d like to invite my constituents to join me in recognising the leading role they have played in teaching us the value of a warm, inclusive and welcoming society. To Turkish-speaking and Muslim members of my constituency, I wish you a blessed and rewarding month. Let it provide you with strength and solidarity as we emerge from this global crisis, and the time to reflect on the bonds of solidarity you have forged in getting through it together. From my family to yours, Ramadan Mubarak.”

Meg Hillier

MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch

“I send my warmest greetings to you all at the start of Ramadan.

It has been a challenging year. Too many have lived through the loss of a loved one, torn apart by Covid even at the moment of death and in the rituals of prayer and burial.

In normal years I look forward to meeting you at Aziziye or Suleymaniye mosques in Hackney for iftar – but this year, as last, we have to be with each other in spirit rather than in person. I look forward to meeting in person during Ramadan in 2022 as a sign that our world is returning to normal.

Marking important religious and family festivals has been hard in the last year. People of all faiths have missed communal worship and prayer and the fellowship that faith brings to us.

But the last year has also underlined that even when we cannot physically be together we can support each other. Islamic charity and support to fellow men and women has been just one of many examples of how Hackney’s and London’s communities have pulled together.

The vaccine is a game changer – but in Hackney take up rates are very low among certain groups. There is evidence that some of the younger members of our communities are believing the fake news on social media and persuading older family members not to have the vaccine. And yet it’s older people who are more likely to die or become seriously ill. I have had my vaccine – it was safe, quick and painless. I urge you to do the same so we can all meet again safely before too long.

By the end of Ramadan I hope that meeting up will be possible. This important month is a time to reflect, pray and be thankful that we are coming through this most challenging of years.

My very best wishes to you all.”

Ensari Yentürk 

Turkish Religious Foundation UK

True to the name of al-Hakim (the wise), every work of our Almighty Creator is based on wisdom. A job without wisdom is not suitable for him. The creation of the world in its current form, the functioning of the entire universe, the existence of human beings, the existence of hundreds of thousands of different creatures, their way of life are all a source of wisdom. Time is also like that. It flows in seconds, hourly, daily, monthly, even seasonal and annual increments. It is our Almighty Lord who programs them in such a perfect form. Allah (c.c.) describes a month, Ramadan, different from the others, within the yearly time frame. In this month, he ordered us to worship him more intensely with his special forms such as fasting, zakat, tarawih, and itikaf. As it is known, our religious and spiritual feelings are exhilarated this month, we are in a sense spiritual rehabilitation with an atmosphere of intense worship. We remember that among our busy shifts, between all kinds of material and spiritual difficulties, among our valuable and worthless worldly pastimes, our reason for existence is our servitude to Him (Surat al-Zâriyât: 56) and we try to serve. There are many personal and social benefits of the prayers performed in this month. Of course, sincere believers do not perform these prayers because of their benefits; He does it because he is a servant, because Allah (c.c.) commands him. With these feelings and thoughts, we congratulate your Ramadan, the month of mercy and forgiveness; I wholeheartedly urge Bari Azze and Celle to help us get rid of all kinds of troubles and, especially the pandemic.

Hüseyin Hashim Bakayi Mustafa

 Cyprus Islamic Association Chair 

Ramadan is the holy month of worship which is a time of spiritual reflection and devotion. Devout  Muslims all over the world will begin abstaining from food and water from dawn to dusk , which is a fast that starts with a Sahur Breakfast and ends at iftar at sunset. Worshippers pray five times a day and do not eat or drink during the course of the day.

Ramadan takes place for four weeks and two days. It is mandatory for adult Muslims to fast, but there are a few exceptions. Those who are travelling, are very ill, elderly, pregnant, menstruating or have diabetes do not need to fast. The spiritual rewards of fasting are known as ‘sevap’ and Muslims believe that these rewards are multiplied during Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims stay away from smoking, food and drink, sex and any sort of sinful behaviour. They use their time to pray , do charity and taqwa, which is the heightened awareness of Allah.