Norwich Central Mosque is inviting the wider community to join them to celebrate the most important month in the Islamic calendar.

Sirajul Islam, 53, from Norwich, is currently helping to provide Iftar – the meal which breaks the dawn-until-dusk fast during Ramadan – for 50 Muslims.

Every day they join fellow believers at the Aylsham Road mosque to pray and break their fast with a meal.

Sirajul said: "Ramadan is a really spiritual journey and an important part of our beliefs.

"It’s a good opportunity to build bridges in the community and we make a lot of friends through it."

This year, Ramadan is running from the evening of March 22 until the evening of Friday, April 21 in the UK.

Fasting during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar is one of the five pillars of Islam, bringing worshippers closer to God and encouraging patience.

Norwich Evening News: Norwich Central Mosque holds regular events to welcome the wider community into their Aylsham Road place of worshipNorwich Central Mosque holds regular events to welcome the wider community into their Aylsham Road place of worship (Image: Norwich Central Mosque)

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As well as abstaining from eating and drinking during daylight hours, adults also do not smoke or engage in sexual intercourse.

Sirajul added: “Fasting has lots of health benefits. It can lower cholesterol, improve digestion, reduce stress and enhance our willpower.”

Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, which means “festival of the breaking of the fast”. It begins the day after the sighting of the new crescent moon and is the second most important festival for Muslims.  

“All the family come and pray in the garden or the park,” Sirajul said. “We exchange gifts with each other and eat together.”

Norwich Evening News: Norwich Central Mosque holds regular events to welcome the wider community into their Aylsham Road place of worshipNorwich Central Mosque holds regular events to welcome the wider community into their Aylsham Road place of worship (Image: Norwich Central Mosque)

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The Norwich Central Mosque is extending an invitation to all Norwich folk to join them on Sunday April 16, when they will be hosting an Iftar dinner at 6.30pm.

Sirajul concluded: "Although we’re quite new to the community, we always see smiley faces. We’re getting along nicely."

To book for the open Iftar, contact details are at norwich-central-mosque.co.uk.