Zaheer Khan Human Appeal

Call for Help

BT’s Muslim network partnered with the charity Human Appeal.

While introducing their Syria appeal, one of their fundraisers, Zaheer Khan shared, “When I wake up in the morning I ask my children, what would you like for breakfast. I ask them, and they say, that cereal, that cereal, that cereal. It’s amazing that there are some families (in Syria), they don’t pick which cereals their children eat, but they pick which child is going to eat that day.”

“Four years ago, imams were telling us that people in these war-torn areas were asking that if they do not eat suhoor (pre-dawn meal) or do not eat iftar (the evening meal), can I still fast?”

As the fundraising – which raised thousands of pounds – came to an end, the lead for BT’s Muslim network, Imran Patel spoke about the importance of giving.

“If you cannot donate, make dua, as that is completely free,” he told the audience.

This reassuring statement was important to make as not everyone is in a position to give. And it is a friendly reminder to do something, no matter how small, for those less fortunate than us.

While the realities and hardships faced by many around the world are real, the evening came to a close on a lighter note with British Muslim standup comedian Aatif Nawaz.

“Ramadan is a time where sometimes your patience is tested a little. The weather is hot. The days are long. You’re trying to focus on the positive things. It’s very hard as everyday stress doesn’t go away so you can get into a very negative way of thinking. I try and break this if I can,” Nawaz said.

“I was invited to an audition at a Pakistani TV show. This was fun for me as I don’t get to do acting that often. It was a really fun part. It was me opposite this female actress and the role was that we were having a kind of dispute over our relationship.

“So there I was with this actress and my line was, I cannot marry you. And she replied, why, why can’t you marry me? I replied, my family won’t accept you. She said, why, who is your family? I said my wife and two kids. (audience laughter)

“I want to promote something positive. You have to be careful about the situations you sometimes put yourself in. It is very difficult in the world that we live in. But it’s very important to always extend that olive branch. I always do this. Every time I meet somebody who is skeptical about my faith, who doesn’t understand it. I try and show them the loving side of it.”