London Mosques Say Thank You NHS!

It seems as if overnight mosques up and down the country have hoisted the same blue banner on their front entrances. 

The banners read “THANK YOU! To all the dedicated frontline staff & key workers for your service!” followed by verse 32 from chapter 5 of the Qur’an “Whosoever saves the life of one, it will be as if he has saved the life of all mankind….”

The NHS have always been our heroes along with other key workers but only in the last 4 weeks have we truly come to appreciate them. The mosques may be closed for worship but the hearts of the Muslim community remain open and these banners of appreciation only scratch the surface when observing what the Muslim community have been doing to support the NHS. 

A survey carried out in September 2019 found 42,202 Muslims were employed and utilised in NHS trusts. This number was sadly reduced by five with the first few deaths of NHS staff from COVID-19. Dr Habib Zaidi a 76-year-old GP from Essex, Dr Adil El-Tayar a 63-year-old surgeon from London, Dr Amged El-Hawrani a 55-year-old ENT consultant from the Midlands, 68-year-old Dr Alfa Sa’adu who was an NHS doctor for nearly forty-years and nurse Areema Nasreen who was just 36-years-old.

MEND volunteers from across the capital banded together to create NHS wellness boxes. The initiative was born from the desire to boost the morale of doctors and nurses whilst they tirelessly save lives. Items included: toiletries, treats, mints, coffee water and a thank you note. 

Ilford Muslim Society delivered a truck load of snacks and refreshments to NHS staff at the Whitechapel Royal London Hospital as a gesutre of kindness for those working on the frontlines. 

MEND volunteer Adam Hussain is whipping up over 100 meals a week in his award winning restaurant Basil Spice to cater for the staff at Basildon Hospital. 

The team at Eman Channel, media broadcaster for Islamic content, delivered over 1200 food packs to 13 hospitals and 150 households across London.

Nadi Centre, a mosque and community centre based in Park Royal, London is sourcing and delivering PPE equipment to hospitals in dire need to ensure all of our NHS staff have the adequate protection when fighting on the frontlines for us. 

Abdullah Rawat Imam of Musalla An Noor who flew the banner high over Stoke Newington High Street said “We are all one community with one voice showing our appreciation to our hidden Heroes, many of whom who have already given their lives”

We can’t forget that in the midst of the lockdown Muslims observed their holiest month of the year, Ramadan. The month that teaches us to strive to serve God, to give in charity, to count the blessings we have been given and quite sadly often fail to acknowledge or be thankful for. The truth is that many Muslims across the country have embodied the very heart of Ramadan itself and spent it serving God through serving humanity. 

We leave you with a saying of Prophet Mohammed who said “He who does not thank people, has not thanked God”.

Mosques in the picture:

• West London Islamic Centre
• Hendon Mosque 
• Markuz Ud Dawat Wal Irshad East Ham
• Jamia Masjid Islamic Centre Slough
• Leabridge Road Mosque Walthamstow
• Kokni Masjid Luton
• Yeovil Islamic Centre Somerset
  South Woodford Mosque
• Azhar Masjid
• Masjid Ibrahim East Ham 
• Quwwat Ul Islam Newham 
• Musalla An Noor Hackney 
• Chingford Mosque 
• Faizan Islam Walthamstow
• Leyton Jamiat Masjid
• Leytonstone Islamic Association
• Masjid Tawhid Leyton
• Masjid Abu Bakr Walthamstow
• Masjid e Umer Walthamstow
• Noor Ul Islam Walthamstow
• Waltham Forest Islamic Association