Hartlepool Muslim community marks New Year with neighbourhood clean up
Members of Hartlepool’s mosque started the New Year with an annual community clean up.
Over 75 men, women and children attended the Nasir Mosque, in Brougham Terrace, for pre-dawn prayers to see in the New Year.
Mosque elders made breakfast whilst the youngsters picked up rubbish in the surrounding area with their annual Community Clean Up.
Eeqan Khan, youth leader for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said: “This is a reflection of the true spirit of Islam, through prayer, service and positive action, we serve humanity for the sake of the One God.”
Over the holidays, groups of mosque elders, young men and women visited various care homes in Hartlepool meeting residents, exchanging gifts and sharing messages of peace.
Tahir Selby, Imam of the Nasir Mosque, said: “It was lovely to see so many people coming to the mosque for the pre-dawn prayers, especially the young children and then for them to be able to go out and clean the streets.
"Cleanliness is part of our faith and we want to instill this into the youth, who are our future.
"We hope that we can continue serving the lovely people of Hartlepool in this New Year and pray that everyone has a peaceful and joyous New Year.”
Throughout the year, the local Muslim community has continued to prepare and serve up meals for people in need through their work with St Aidan’s Church and Dyke House’s The Annexe centre
Over 37,500 meals and other food have been given out since the start of the service during the Covid-19 pandemic.