SCOTLAND’S First Minister has sent a message to Scotland’s Muslim community as Ramadan begins.

The festival involves a month of fasting and prayer, with Muslims participating not eating or drinking anything during daylight hours.

It is the second Ramadan to be celebrated during the Covid-19 pandemic, so traditional practices will differ due to current restrictions.

Many Muslims would typically enjoy iftar – a meal after sunset – with family and friends. In Scotland household visiting is not permitted, though four adults from two households can meet in a private garden.

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Unlike last year, however, mosques are open for the festival. Currently up to 50 people are allowed to gather at a place of worship with social distancing and mask wearing in place.

Nicola Sturgeon wished a happy Ramadan to those participating and recognised the challenges facing the Muslim community this year.

She also called on people to receive their coronavirus vaccine when offered it, in order to allow future Ramadan celebrations to be more like normal in the future.

Read the First Minister’s full message below.

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To all in the Muslim community in Scotland and around the world, I wish you a very happy Ramadan.

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and it is a time which is traditionally observed through fasting, prayer and contemplation, and spending time with friends and family.

I recognise though that this year’s Ramadan will be exceptionally difficult for so many of you. It will be really tough not to be able to host people in your home or visit friends and family.

Even though many of you will not be able to gather in your local mosque as you would normally, I hope the relaxations on communal worship can provide at least some comfort to you.

The past year has been incredibly difficult for all of us and the time for prayer and reflection you have will provide an opportunity to remember those we have tragically lost to this dreadful virus.

I hope you have still been able to connect with your loved ones, friends and community throughout the past year using video and telephone calls and perhaps even letters.

One thing that the pandemic has highlighted and will continue to highlight is the incredible commitment to charity and neighbourhood spirit that characterises our Muslim community - whether that is providing food parcels or going for shopping for the most vulnerable in our society, or offering your places of worship to be used for Covid testing and vaccination.

It is through that community spirit that we have been able to vaccinate so many adults in Scotland already, a great tool in our armoury against Covid. I would urge anyone who is offered the vaccine to please take it.

That hope that is presented by our vaccine rollout means that you can now look forward to marking Ramadan more normally in future. 

However, let me wish all of you Ramadan Mubarak.