The holy month of Ramadan begins this week and will be observed by millions of Muslims around the world including here in Northern Ireland through a month of fasting.
For many Muslims around the world it is the most anticipated time of year. The exact dates of Ramadan change every year as the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles.
This year in the UK, Ramadan will start this Wednesday evening, March 22 and end 30 days later on Friday, April 21, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
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During this time, Muslims all over the world will fast during daylight hours and come together for prayer and reflection in mosques.
This fasting during the ninth month of the Muslim year is known as the fourth pillar of Islam.
Here Ramadan is being marked at the Belfast Islamic Centre (BIC), based in the south of the city and the biggest of the nine mosques in Northern Ireland.
At present, over 40 nationalities use the centre, which acts as both a place of worship and a community hub.
The BIC delivers services and support right across the Muslim community, from young families and individuals to its elderly members.
It was first established in Belfast more than 40 years ago to promote the benefit of the Muslim community in Northern Ireland through education and resources including prayer facilities.
The 2021 census recorded around 12,000 Muslims in Northern Ireland, although actual numbers are likely to be higher.
Last October, history was made with the launch of Northern Ireland’s first ever Muslim Scout group for girls and boys. The 117th Belfast Islamic Centre Scout Group was set up with the help of Scouts NI..
There are currently around 12,000 Scout members and leaders in Northern Ireland and more than 70 Muslim Scout groups in the UK, who are part of the wider-UK Scout organisation.
The beginning of Ramadan comes as construction work continues on Belfast's new Islamic Cultural Centre. It will be located on University Avenue in the south of the city and close to BIC's current base at Wellington Park.
The £1.676m redevelopment of the building at Aldersgate House is set to be completed later this year after multiple delays. The Department for Communities (DfC) is contributing £500,000 towards the works.
When completed, the new centre will provide a modern dedicated space to support activities such as fitness classes, health and wellbeing programmes, parents and tots sessions, a youth club, language classes and a food bank.
One floor will be fitted out as a prayer room, which will be funded by Belfast Islamic Centre.
Dr Saleem Tareen, Trustee Chair, said: “We are certain that once the building is operational next year, it will be a vibrant hub for the Muslim Community and will also present a positive picture of Belfast and Northern Ireland around the world as a tolerant multicultural society.”
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