- Organized by Islamic not-for-profit group As-Siraat, the event will be held on September 23.
- Volunteers will answer questions about Islam and present gifts to people from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
For people willing to know more about Islam, the Derby’s annual Mawlid in the City event is a great opportunity not to miss.
The event, organized by Islamic not-for-profit group As-Siraat, is scheduled to hold at St Peter’s Street, Derby, on Saturday, September 23.
It’s part of a national initiative that takes place every year in September/October. The aim is to educate people on the religion of Islam.
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Last year’s event, held on October 8, was the first since the Covid-19 pandemic led to canceling events in 2020 and 2021.
“It was brilliant last year. We had a lot of really good conversations, and it was a really positive response. We always look forward to it,” organizer Shazad Riaz told Derby Telegraph.
Asking Questions
Volunteers with the group will present gifts to people, answering their questions about Islam at their table from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
“There aren’t usually many instances, but every year we do get one or two people who have this perception of Islam that’s maybe fueled by the media or what they’ve heard, and they’ll try and get into a debate with us and tell us how wrong Islam is. We don’t want to get into a debate though, we just want to share the message,” Riaz said.
“If someone is expressing those views, we’ll listen to them, acknowledge them, and tell them we appreciate their opinion, which has been formed through their experiences, before letting them get on their way. We’ll explain that the interactions or experiences they might’ve had might not be necessarily representative of the faith.
“We can give examples from the faith as to what kind of character the faith promotes. We will say that it’s unfair to use those experiences to judge the whole faith.”
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The event comes a few days before the Mawlid, believed to be on Wednesday, September 27.
Many Muslims see the Prophet’s birthday as an important time to learn about and reflect on the life of Muhammad.
Around the world, celebrations of the Prophet’s birthday include stalls selling Islamic books, leaflets, clothing, prayer mats, and other gifts.