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Outdoor Eid prayers 'bring the community together'

Jon Wright
BBC News, Suffolk
Reporting fromChristchurch Park
Jon Wright/BBC Rezna Begum and Moirum Ali, wearing head scarves - one purple and one black - stand smiling on the grass in front of Christchurch mansion. The women are in focus while the historical red brick building behind them is out of focus.Jon Wright/BBC
Rezna Begum and Moirum Ali both caught up with friends from Suffolk who came to the event

Prayers marking the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha have been held in front of a historical Tudor mansion.

The event was organised by volunteers from the four mosques and prayer rooms in Ipswich, with more than 200 people gathering in Christchurch Park despite rain showers.

Moirum Ali, one of the volunteers, said: "It's about bringing the community together, all our brothers and sisters, even though it's raining!"

The festival remembers the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to, a story also recounted in the Bible's Old Testament.

Jon Wright/BBC Rows of men kneeling on mats on the grass in front of a Tudor mansion. There is a collection of shoes on the grass in front of the mats. The Muslim men appear to be praying and some wear caps while others do not.Jon Wright/BBC
More than 200 people attended the event in Christchurch Park, with the rain holding off for most of the time

Abdulkadir Osman is originally from Sudan and has been in Ipswich for about five years.

He said: "I'm here with everyone, different backgrounds, different cultures.

"It's not like the big cities like London or Birmingham, but there is a good community here."

Adam Omer, also from Sudan, said: "We are joined with our Muslim ummah around the world, and I want to say Eid Mubarak to those in Sudan, you know the situation there, and also in Gaza."

Jon Wright/BBC Two men in formal clothes, one with a white headscarf and tunic, smile at the camera with trees and grass behind.Jon Wright/BBC
Adam Omer and Abdulkadir Osman, both originally from Sudan, said the event helped them feel connected to friends and family

The prayers and a short address started at 10:00 BST and lasted about 30 minutes.

The ceremony was led by Shaykh Masum Shaheed, who spoke about the meaning of the festival.

He said: "I ask you to pause and ask, 'What does love really mean to you? What does it mean in the eyes of our faith?'"

Tanisha, 14, said: "I love that it is outdoors. Other people walking by can see us, because I know some people are confused about what Eid is and why we celebrate it.

"I love telling people [about my faith] as it is something I'm really proud of."

Jon Wright/BBC 12 women wearing traditional Muslim dress with headscarves stand in front of Christchurch mansion in Ipswich. Some wear all black clothes, while others wear outfits that are blue, green, purple, and brown. They are all smiling at the camera.Jon Wright/BBC
Volunteers from the four mosques or prayer rooms in Ipswich worked together on staging the event

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