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A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with novelist and poet Zahid Hussain.

Good Morning,

All over the world, millions of Muslims have been honouring the great month of Ramadan. We are now in the final few days of the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and soon we will celebrate Eid, which means ‘feast’ in Arabic.

Up and down Britain, fellow Muslims have actively participated in a cause which comes into stark focus during Ramadan – the plight of the homeless. I have lost count of the number of ‘iftars with the homeless’ – iftar is the Arabic term for the opening of a fast.

I believe like many people of faith and none that it is imperative to feed and clothe and support those who have less, those who are suffering, those who need our help.
However, my great fear is that after this time of plenty when there is a glut of food and drink our homeless brothers and sister will return to the streets empty handed to await the coming of another Ramadan.

For me as a Muslim man, that part of the fasting, the not eating and the not drinking is the least of it. I can return to the comfort of my warm bed, the stocked fridge, the embrace of loved ones. We can return to our privileged lives…

But what about those for whom a roof over their head is a luxury, a hot meal every day is a rarity, and who constantly fear being asked to move on?
Lord, you are the All-Merciful, the All-Seeing, the All-Hearing. I am grateful for all that you have given and for all that you will give. Strengthen our hand to continue giving to those who have less than us in all the days that will follow, Amen.