Birmingham mosque to host mega Eid events in Small Heath Park and Edgbaston Stadium

A Birmingham mosque is getting ready to host two mega Eid al-Fitr celebrations as the Muslim community prepares to mark the end of Ramadan in May.

Small Heath Park and Edgbaston Stadium are the locations selected by organisers Green Lane Masjid for the two Eid al-Fitr events. 

As Birmingham’s Muslim community braces itself for the end of the month of fasting – known as Ramadan – and looking ahead to Eid al-Fitr on either Sunday 1 May or Monday 2 May, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, preparations are underway to host prayers at two locations to usher in a community day of celebrations and fun.

Green Lane Masjid, in the Small Heath area of Birmingham, is organising the two huge Eid al-Fitr events in Birmingham.

The organisers said the celebration events are open to all communities and everyone is welcome to attend and take part, observe, or enjoy the festivities.

Small Heath Park has been selected for one of the Eid al-Fitr events, and its a location that will be familiar to Birmingham Muslims as it hosted one of the largest Eid prayer gatherings in the country with over 100,000 people in attendance in 2019.

Event organisers have issued some details about the timings and have requested worshippers to start arriving from 8am to allow for plenty of time to find a comfortable space in the grounds of Small Heath Park.

The speeches by community leaders and guests will be followed by the prayers which will commence at 9:30am with a further translated prayer pencilled in for 11:30am.

A wet weather contingency plan is also in operation and indoor prayers at Green Lane Masjid will be organised in the event of rain. Attendees are asked to check the Green Lane Masjid website for updates regarding any last minute changes.

The inner-city park will be prepared ahead of the Eid al-Fitr prayer for all-day celebrations including the family popular Robert Wilkinson funfair, stalls, speeches and special children’s activities.

Local people are requested to attend the event on foot to ease traffic congestion and parking issues around the area.

Saleem Ahmed, from Green Lane Masjid, said: “Eid is a joyous occasion, where Muslims come together to celebrate, spend time with family and worship as a community.”

Worshippers can also choose to offer up prayers at Edgbaston Stadium where space has been organised for prayers and fun activities, including cricket coaching for children.

People are advised to arrive from 7:45am to the stadium and prayers are expected to start at 8:30am. The stadium will also be hosting stalls, including street food, which will be open to all once the prayer is over.

Stuart Cain, from Edgbaston Stadium, said: “We want to be a hub for the local community. We’re committed to developing the (Eid) event each year and ensuring that Edgbaston truly reflects the communities we serve.”

The Edgbaston Eid al-Fitr event will also host a special Eid Lunch celebration for new Muslims.

Adil Saleem, a Chaplain at the University of Birmingham, said: “Eid can be a lonely time for some, particularly those who don’t have a wide Muslim family network. This will be a wonderful event, giving them a greater sense of community and belonging.”

To mark the end of Ramadan, and in keeping with the theme of charity – which is a key pillar of the Islamic faith –  Green Lane Masjid will be delivering food parcels to poor and vulnerable people on Saturday 30 April.