2 days ago
Outdoor Eid prayers in Ipswich 'bring the community together'
Prayers marking the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha have been held in front of a historical Tudor event was organised by volunteers from the four mosques and prayer rooms in Ipswich, with more than 200 people gathering in Christchurch Park despite rain Ali, one of the volunteers, said: "It's about bringing the community together, all our brothers and sisters, even though it's raining!" The festival remembers the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to, a story also recounted in the Bible's Old Testament.
Abdulkadir Osman is originally from Sudan and has been in Ipswich for about five said: "I'm here with everyone, different backgrounds, different cultures."It's not like the big cities like London or Birmingham, but there is a good community here."Adam Omer, also from Sudan, said: "We are joined with our Muslim ummah around the world, and I want to say Eid Mubarak to those in Sudan, you know the situation there, and also in Gaza."
The prayers and a short address started at 10:00 BST and lasted about 30 ceremony was led by Shaykh Masum Shaheed, who spoke about the meaning of the said: "I ask you to pause and ask, 'What does love really mean to you? What does it mean in the eyes of our faith?'"Tanisha, 14, said: "I love that it is outdoors. Other people walking by can see us, because I know some people are confused about what Eid is and why we celebrate it."I love telling people [about my faith] as it is something I'm really proud of."
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