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Ramadan: Asian Network Good Deed Feed ends with 2,743 acts of kindness

BBC Asian Network's Haroon Rashid - a bald man with dark beard - stands in a busy High Street wearing a chalk board with a list of good deeds on it. They are "Want Flowers? Want a Drink? Need a Seat? Want a Party? Need a Brolly? Hear a Joke? Want a Selfie? Want a Hug?" Shabaz Says sits next to him, holding flowers in one hand and a megaphone in the other. He's pulling a mock-surprised/shocked expression.BBC
Asian Network's Haroon Rashid and influencer Shabaz Says were giving out good deeds on the streets of Birmingham

Almost four million Muslims in the UK will be celebrating Eid this week to mark the end of Ramadan.

And, during the holy month, acts of kindness can take on extra significance.

In Islam, it's said that for every good deed carried out during Ramadan, the rewards are greatly amplified.

BBC Asian Network has spent a month getting as many people as possible, regardless of their background, to join in with the goodwill.

And listeners from across the UK have been getting in touch with their stories, with them all being added to the station's Good Deed Feed.

When the final total was counted, Asian Network presenter Haroon Rashid said 2,743 good deeds had been recorded.

Announcing the final tally on his show, he said "every single one has helped to improve another person's day, another person's week, another person's life".

"We did this in the spirit of Ramadan but I know your good deeds will continue all year round," he said.

Haroon said one of the highlights of the month had been presenters across the BBC, including Radio 1's Greg James, Radio 5 Live's Drive show and Radio 2's Zoe Ball, encouraging their listeners to take part.

Shabaz Says taking a selfie with passers by on the streets of Birmingham.
Shabaz Says took part in the Good Deed Feed by giving out selfies and helping passers by with anything they needed

A number of well-known names also got involved.

Record producer Manj Musik from Bradford, who now lives in Dubai, gave out 150 meals to workers.

Actor and comedian Humza Arshad MBE is donating money to Pakistani schools to help with children's education, and he says he hopes all the good deeds "can continue for the next 11 months" beyond Ramadan.

Author and social media influencer Shabaz Ali joined Asian Network in Birmingham to do good deeds in public.

He says taking part was "really rewarding" and a helpful reminder as "I think you forget in your day-to-day just to do something nice".

Shabaz handed out flowers, took selfies, gave people a hand with carrying their shopping and even created a party atmosphere on the streets to brighten people's days.

He feels carrying out good deeds over 30 days of Ramadan is about making those actions become a habit.

"Being kind, not swearing, doing all the good that you do should be used as habit-forming for the future, because if you do it for 30 days it's going to become a habit."

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Listen to Haroon Rashid's show on BBC Asian Network to hear the final tally of the Good Deed Feed.