10 February 2025

The East London Mosque (ELM) held its annual Ramadan Launch event in preparation for the blessed month, calling on the community to embrace the ‘Be A Khadim’ (Guardian) campaign. The event brought together trustees, staff and volunteers in preparation for the biggest month in the Mosque’s calendar.

ELM CEO Junaid Ahmed addressed the gathering, emphasising the enormous scale of the Mosque’s Ramadan operations and the vital role of volunteers and staff in ensuring everything runs smoothly.

With the near completion of our Phase 3 expansion, we are honoured to be opening two brand-new extension halls just in time for Ramadan. This is a testament to the dedication of our congregation, and now we ask the community to step forward in service – to ‘Be A Khadim’ of this mosque.

During the evening, key announcements were made regarding the Mosque’s extensive Ramadan preparations. As always, volunteers and ELM staff will play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of all major activities throughout the month. From assisting worshippers during Taraweeh and Eid prayers to managing charity collections, coordinating iftar services, and overseeing Itikaf logistics, their dedication will be essential in maintaining an organised and welcoming environment for the tens of thousands of worshippers that will visit the Mosque during the blessed month.

Key Announcements from the Ramadan Launch Event:

1. Phase 3 Prayer Halls Expansion – Ready for Ramadan

The Mosque has completed its much-anticipated Phase 3 expansion, with the two newly extended halls for men and women set to open before Ramadan begins. The final building works will be completed by 18 February, followed by the installation of brand-new carpets between 21–26 February.

This expansion significantly increases ELM’s prayer capacity, allowing more worshippers to attend Ramadan prayers, Taraweeh, and Eid congregations.

2. Be A Khadim (Guardian) Campaign:

The Be A Khadim (Guardian) initiative launched during the event, encouraging everyone to pledge to raise £500 individually. This campaign is open to only 1,000 people exclusively from Ramadan to Ramadan, to take a share in the responsibility to support the vital services of the Mosque for an entire year.

A special edition coin and limited incentives will be available for donors contributing towards this initiative.

3. The Big Clean – Saturday 22nd February

In preparation for Ramadan, ELM has organised a massive cleaning operation on Saturday 22nd February.

• Professional cleaners will conduct deep cleaning across the Mosque, including thorough sanitisation of wudu and toilet areas.
• Volunteers and community members are invited to participate by assisting with dusting, and general beautification.
• New fragrance diffusers will be installed to enhance the atmosphere of the Mosque. 

This collective effort ensures that the Mosque is clean, fresh, and welcoming for the thousands of worshippers expected in Ramadan.

4. Taraweeh & Tahajjud Prayers

ELM has confirmed its Taraweeh prayer line-up for Ramadan 2025:

• Imam Syed Anis (UK)
• Shaykh Abdurrahman (UK)
• Shaykh Mu’taz Al-Ghannam (Egypt)
• Shaykh Hazem Seif (Egypt)

For the last ten nights of Ramadan, Tahajjud prayers will take place as usual, including short reminders and Qur’an recitations. 

5. Iftar Services – Feeding 1,000 People Daily

The Mosque has made significant enhancements to its Iftar programme, increasing capacity to serve 1,000 people per day.

• Men’s Iftar will be hosted on the ground floor of the London Muslim Centre (LMC).
• Women’s Iftar will take place on the first floor of the LMC.
• Sustainability focus: ELM continues its eco-friendly approach by using metal plates and cutlery instead of disposable plastics.

The Iftar Fund will go live from 17 February, with £3 per person helping to feed the community throughout Ramadan.

6.The ELM Shop – Official Launch

For the first time, East London Mosque is launching an official shop, allowing visitors to own a piece of its heritage. Available items include:

• Giftable Zamzam water
• Organic honey & fine loose-leaf tea
• Exclusive greeting and Eid cards
• Scented candles
• A special edition hardback coffee table book on the history of ELM
• First products available during Ramadan

7. Charity Collections & Fundraising

ELM is set to host 50 charity collections during Zuhr and Taraweeh prayers, with nine dedicated to the Mosque’s own projects.

ELM fundraising collections will take place every Friday night and during an appeal on community channels.

8. Itikaf Registration & Selection

Itikaf spaces will be limited to 60 worshippers, who will be accommodated in ELM’s Basement Hall.

• Deadline for Itikaf applications: 3rd March
• Selection process: A draw will be conducted on 7th March after Taraweeh to fairly allocate the spaces. 

This system ensures fair access to one of the most spiritually rewarding acts in Ramadan.

9. Eid Prayers – Four Jama‘ahs Scheduled

To accommodate large numbers, four Eid prayer congregations will be held at ELM:

• 7:30 AM
• 8:30 AM
• 9:30 AM
• 10:30 AM (with British Sign Language interpretation for the deaf community).

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A Month of Worship, Community & Giving

With the completion of Phase 3, the mosque is better prepared than ever to welcome thousands of worshippers for Ramadan.

As the Countdown to Ramadan begins, the ELM is set to offer an unparalleled spiritual experience, ensuring the community can worship, give, and grow together in this most blessed of months.

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Get Involved:

• Volunteer for Ramadan: Sign up to help with cleaning, organising, and guiding worshippers.
• Donate to ELM: Support the mosque’s operations by creating a fundraising page and joining the Be A Khadim campaign.
• Attend the Big Clean on Saturday, February 22nd and help prepare the mosque for the month ahead.

For more information, visit www.eastlondonmosque.org.uk or follow ELM on social media.