Soul

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The Pope to join Muslims in fast and prayer for humankind to overcome the coronavirus pandemic

Pope Francis has called on “believers of all faiths” to unite in a day of fasting, prayer and acts of charity on a single day during the holy month of Ramadan (Ramazan in Turkish), when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. On Thursday, 14 May, the Pope wants the world to come together through the “u...

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Why are dates always on the iftar table at Ramazan? 

The month of Ramadan, or Ramazan in Turkish, has started. The holiest of months for Muslims, Ramazan commemorates the time when the Ku’ran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammed. For the next thirty days, all healthy Muslims will fast during daylight hours. This means not eating or drinking a...

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Hoş geldin Ramazan: London Ramadan 2020 prayer and iftar times

This weekend marks the start of the holiest month for Muslims worldwide. Ramadan, or Ramazan in Turkish, is the month when the Ku’ran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammed. For the next thirty days, all healthy Muslims will fast during daylight hours. This means not eating or drinking anythi...

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Cyprus Imam Şakir Alemdar urges Muslims to stay at home for Ramazan and “pray for humanity to recover from pandemic”

Şakir Alemdar, the Imam of Hala Sultan Tekke – one of the Islamic world’s holiest sites – has issued a short video clip in English urging Muslims to stay at home for Ramadan, which this year starts on Thursday evening, 23 April. Posting on his personal Facebook page, Imam Alemdar reflected on the...

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A guide to bereavement and the five stages of grieving

Unfortunately, when it comes to losing people that we love, our emotions are usually uncontrollable for a long time afterwards. There is never a good time to lose the people we love most, but in this period of great uncertainty and fear, somehow the loss of a loved one seems more amplified becaus...

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Reviving an old tradition: paying our respects when a funeral procession passes

On Easter Sunday, the number of deaths from the coronavirus in Britain passed the 10,000 mark. The impact of this deadly disease has hit every corner of the country, and affected every community. Every day, hundreds of funerals are taking place for the deceased, which are being performed under se...

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Husayn Hoca to hold online Mevlit for UK Turkish Cypriot coronavirus victims

Updated, 16.52, 4 April 2020 Husayn Hashim El Bakayi – the UK’s foremost pastor (‘hoca’) for Turkish Cypriots – will be streaming a Mevlit (traditional prayers) to commemorate the 33 Turkish Cypriots who have lost their lives to the coronavirus. The hour-long Mevlit will be broadcast live from Shack...

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Burials: North Cyprus vs the UK 

Few of us want to talk about death much less plan for it, and yet its inevitability means at some point in our lives we are all likely to have to deal with the funeral arrangements for a loved one. For Muslims, the Islamic code requires a whole burial. However, the rising cost of buying a plot in...

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Yonja Ali: The Life of a Psychic Medium

The world of a psychic medium is intense and, to those of us on the outside, insane. Apparently gifted with paranormal senses, psychics serve as a link between the dead and the living, carrying messages from our deceased relatives and other guides, while their magical hands appear to detect and cure...

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All welcome to Cyprus Islamic Association’s annual lokma and prayer night in North London

On Thursday evening, the Cyprus Islamic Association of Britain will be hosting its annual prayer night to usher in the three sacred months of Islam (‘Üç Aylar’). The prayer night takes place on Regaip Kandili (the conception of the Prophet Muhammed), which is one of four ‘kandil’ nights that occu...

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