All praise be to Allah, we praise him, thank him , seek his guidance and forgiveness.
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
We all believe that the wisdom of Allah has encompassed and embraced everything; including tribulations and calamities, and one of the main wisdoms behind tribulations is for people to return back to their Lord and have a stronger connection with him.
This Ramadan is a golden opportunity, to turn this calamity into a great opportunity to establish a stronger connection with Allah SWT.
It is a chance for us to revive the Quran in our houses, to revive the salah in our houses, to have a stronger connection with the Quran, and to strengthen our bonds with our children and our family.
One of the main objectives of Islam is to save the lives of people, so as we move into Ramadan I urge you all to keep safe and to continue to observe the Government’s advice on protecting yourself, your family, your friends and your neighbours from the spread of the coronavirus.
This means you should stay at home. Only go outside for food, medicines, exercise or work, but only if you can’t work from home. When you are outside make sure you stay at least 2 metres away from other people at all times and wash your hands thoroughly as soon as you get home. Do not meet others, even family and friends, unless they live with you. This is for their interest and your own interest too and it is the guidance of our beloved Prophet to minimise inter-actions, so the pandemic remains confined.
Sadly, this Ramadan our masaajids are closed therefore there will be no Tarawih prayers. However, I ask you all to continue this sunnah and perform Tarawih salah at home with your family. It is quite likely that restrictions on social gatherings might still be in place at Eid al-Fitr, which could restrict our celebrations with friends and family at the end of Ramadan. Please observe any ongoing Government guidance at that time.
West London Islamic Centre is offering many educational and counselling programs online, so feel free to visit our website WLICC.org for more information.
On the other hand, Hammersmith & Fulham Council has put in place a Community Aid Network to provide support and assistance to all of its residents during this difficult time. If you need urgent help with food, or you are lonely and need to talk to someone, there is freephone number you can call from 9am to 7pm on weekdays and 9am to 2pm at weekends. The number is 0800 145 6095, that is 0800 145 6095. If you need help then please call that number.
Please keep safe during Ramadan.