Ramadan Far from Home
As a church, the discussion around asylum seekers and our role as a place of welcome is not a new one for us. Yet, as we enter the second week of Ramadan, it does bring up some points for reflection.
Try to imagine for a moment that you are far away from home, from your family, and from your community on one of the most significant holidays in your faith. For us as Christians, it would be the equivalent of being displaced on Christmas or even Easter. Imagine the pain and loneliness as you might reflect on the holiday season of your childhood and the stark contrast to your reality now.
Currently, some of the most common countries of origin for asylum seekers in the UK are Albania, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. These are, of course, Muslim majority nations where observing Ramadan and sharing an Iftar meal in community would be a normal practice. It is a time of seeking to grow closer to Allah, increased prayer, and time spent with family and friends. However, being in a season of displacement, asylum seekers cannot observe this season in their usual way. Spending most of the day in their small, shared hotel room, they almost certainly don’t have the money or freedom to do these things.
You might remember a few weeks back when Filipe shared in a Sunday service about the work Hope Church is doing with refugees and asylum seekers. He also shared about the effects this has on mental health. While it is my first Ramadan in the UK, I have seen first hand in Greece and Cyprus how saddening this season can be for asylum seekers. Not being able to gather with family or cook a traditional meal for Iftar brings up feelings of loss again and again. I imagine it is the same for Muslim asylum seekers in the UK.
In thinking about writing this blog, I was reflecting on the significance of having Easter, the marker of the most significant event in Christianity, in the middle of the month of Ramadan this year. I know that asylum and the effect it has had on Luton is a complicated issue and that people might have different opinions on government immigration policy. As we reflect on Easter and the absolute extravagance of the Father’s heart and what Jesus has done for us, how does that shape how we care for, pray for, and love asylum seekers, particularly during Ramadan? I think it is a call to deeper compassion and greater welcome. In this season, let us look on our asylum seeker neighbours with the same compassion that Jesus had for us. Let us meet them with the love of Jesus and act as light in what otherwise is probably quite a dark and painful season.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” – Matthew 25:35
Danielle Aguilar