Day 21 of 30

By Karamat from the Mahabba team

Inspired by today's entry in the 30 Days of Prayer booklet, but with a UK twist!

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Daily verse

Thought for the day

Kashmiri Muslims in the UK

There is evidence of Kashmiri presence in the UK as far back as the 1920s. However, this grew exponentially after World War II. The 1948 British Nationality Act facilitated large numbers of Kashmiris to arrive on these shores. They came to help rebuild our nation after its destruction by the Germans. The 1962 Commonwealth Immigration Act also led to large numbers of Kashmiris arriving here. The building of the Mangla Dam displaced tens of thousands of Kashmiris, especially from Mirpur, many of whom settled in the UK. It is estimated that of the million plus Pakistanis in the UK, around 750,000 are from Kashmir.

The UK Kashmiris are a very deprived community. As well as suffering from social class, race and religion discrimination, many also suffer from prejudice from fellow Pakistanis. It is conceivable that if Jesus was explaining who one’s neighbour is then he might possibly describe the good deeds of a Kashmiri.

It is encouraging to see a number of Kashmiris who have come into Christ’s family. Its also encouraging that there is now a growing presence of Christians in places such as Mirpur and other districts within Kashmir

Prayer for the day

Lord, we thank you for bringing the Kashmiris to our shores in large numbers. Please help us to understand their needs so that we can love them appropriately. Help us also Lord, to support the new Kashmiri believers in our churches and develop links with the church in Kashmir.

Daily action

Please note: actions were written before the COVID-19 pandemic. Please consult the latest advice from your local public health authority or government and adhere to any current restrictions on travel or social situations.

Find out who the Muslims are in your area. If they are from Pakistan, then find out whether any come from Kashmir. What are their particular needs and how can you support them, including through bridge-building with other communities? And why not watch an episode of Citizen Khan - a comedy - there're plenty of episodes on YouTube.

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment on our online community platform, Discourse, or tag us on social media with the #lovefast hashtag on social media.

Resources

Guidance on hosting iftars

A reminder of some some helpful guidance and food for thought from the Church of England in light of past media coverage of churches hosting iftar meals.

Also, please consult the latest advice from Public Health England or your relevant authority for guidance on travel and social situations.

You can read and discuss the guidance and recent events on Mahabba's online community area, Discourse.

Alternatively, a PDF version is available here. If you've not registered for Discourse, you can do so quickly here.

Prayer materials

Do you want to involve your church in blessing Muslim people through prayer and friendship?

There are new 30 Days of Prayer church resources available for you:

• Pray Together as a Congregation

• Small Group Session

• Night of Power Prayer Meeting

• Prayer Walk Guide

What’s your next step after 30 Days? There are loads of resources to help you on your journey.

Partners of 30 Days of Prayer

Please see the footer on the 30 Days of Prayer website