Title: CHURCHES GATHER TO WISH ‘EID MUBARAK’ TO ALL BRITISH MUSLIMS
Description: LONDON — Representatives of several of the UK’s largest Christian denominations today symbolically delivered Eid greetings (marking the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan) to the entire British Muslim community.
A “first” of its kind, the handover of the printed and framed “Eid Mubarak” message took place at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel, east London. It was witnessed by the director of the adjacent East London Mosque, Dilowar Khan and was organised by the Christian Muslim Forum (the UK’s largest network of Christians and Muslims), whose patron is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Mar Thoma community in the UK (under the authority of the Diocesan Episcopa) was delighted to join with other Christians in giving greetings to the Muslim Community on the feast of Id ul-Fitr (Eid). They together with other Christian leaders formally met with the Muslim community on Friday at 12 noon at the East London Mosque and presented the following greetings. Muslim Community greatly appreciated this gesture. The following is the text of the greetings.
Id Greetings
9 August 2013
The Christian churches send greetings of peace and prayers for God s blessing on our Muslim neighbours on the occasion of Id ul-Fitr (Eid). We recognise this as a day of good news and celebration – the fast has been completed and the feast begins!
We have been encouraged by two key initiatives this Ramadan – the Big Iftar and Channel 4 s Ramadan Season. These have enabled many people to experience the hospitality of UK Muslims in mosques around the country as well as raising awareness positively of the meaning of Ramadan.
As representatives of the main Christian traditions in the UK we assure you of our goodwill towards you, and our commitment to peace and justice in the society that we share together. Aware of the recent attacks on mosques and Muslims, we want to stand with you against any discrimination or violence targeting any community or person because of their faith. Instead, we want to work for more positive interaction between Christians and Muslims, demonstrating the love for God and neighbour to which we are called. Id Mubarak!”
List of signatories:
- Baptist Union of Great Britain; Church of England
- Mar Thoma Church; Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales
- Quakers in Britain; The Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain (of the Oecumenical Patriarchate); The Church in Wales; The Church of Scotland
- The Council of African and Caribbean Churches; The Methodist Church
- The Moravian Church in Great Britain; The Salvation Army; The United Reformed Church
This greeting was supported by the Christian Muslim Forum and had been facilitated by Churches Together in Britain & Ireland and Churches Together in England.