ROGER WATSON
This year, Ramadan and Lent are going head to head, with the start of Ramadan falling on Shrove Tuesday – the day right before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. So they’re off, heading down the back straight as it were, competing for attention.
Obviously, our leaders at Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster heard the outcry last year, when the spotlight was turned on Ramadan with the Grand Mufti of Highgrove packing Iftar dates, and the Great Hall at Westminster hosting an Iftar binge. Mention of Lent was completely absent at Westminster and, if the King mentioned it, he did so very quietly. So quietly that nobody noticed.
Many warn of an Islamic Caliphate taking over the UK. But, this time last year, one could have been forgiven for thinking it was already upon us.
As I say, both seats of power appear to have listened as both King Charles, clearly taking a break from lecturing us on climate change and the need for ‘harmony’, and Sir Keir Starmer, taking a break from driving this country into oblivion, issued Lenten wishes alongside their Ramadan wishes. Quite why either feel the need to extend Ramadan wishes to our Muslim ‘communities’ is uncertain to say the least. This is a time of self-imposed starvation and dehydration during the day followed by an all-night binge.
I’ve been in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan and the same people who were stuffing their faces the evening before, were still at the same tables stuffing their faces in the morning when I came down for breakfast (served only before sunrise). The penalties for not observing Ramadan – even among visiting non-Muslims – in Saudi are severe. The ‘religion of peace’ can be remarkably severe on occasion. In Bahrain, where I have also had the misfortune to be during Ramadan, the penalties are less severe, but nevertheless present. Thankfully, somebody smuggled in a bottle of wine to my hotel for me.
But here in the UK nobody is forcing our Muslims to undergo this damaging four week, or so, cycle of intermittent bingeing and fasting. Unless, that is, there are other forces at work within our society to ensure that they do follow the precepts of Ramadan. It appears that illegal Sharia courts are operating in the UK to which Mr Plod turns a blind eye.
Turning to the actual Lenten and Ramadan messages from Charles and Keir, it is instructive to consider the details. Charles, with an image of a crescent moon and a star and the words ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ said: ‘Wishing all Muslims in the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world a blessed and peaceful Ramadan.’
For Ash Wednesday, with an image of a cross composed of ashes and ‘Ash Wednesday’, beginning the message with an emoji cross, Charles said: ‘Today marks Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent – a season of reflection, prayer and service. May this Lent be a time of renewal for all who observe it.’
Bearing in mind that this man is the head of the Church of England, let’s reflect on what is wrong with this message. For starters, Lent is a time of prayer, abstinence and almsgiving, not ‘reflection, prayer and service’. I may be straining at gnats here, admittedly, but it is not so much what is said, it is what is not said, again bearing in mind that this man is the head of the Church of England.
The words Christian or Christ do not appear; it is a message to those ‘who observe it’ which rather suggests that he doesn’t, and that it is something for other people who don’t know any better to do. On the other hand, he clearly specified Muslims in his Ramadan message. Is he embarrassed by his Christian heritage? His obsession with Islam, exemplified on many occasions, rather suggests that he is.
Remarkably, Keir did better than Charles as, at least, he managed to get the word ‘Christians’ and ‘Christ’ in there: ‘Today, as Lent begins, I’m sending my best wishes to Christians in the UK and around the world. As you follow Christ’s example or sacrifice and renewal, you embody the spirit of public service that strengthens our communities.’ As someone with no professed religious beliefs I wouldn’t have expected him to get it spot on. There is always that tendency to treat Jesus as the Honourable Member for Galilee South, but it was a good try.
Keir’s Ramadan message was quite straightforward and unadorned with any images – as was his Lenten message – simply ‘Wishing Muslim communities in the UK and across the world a peaceful and blessed holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak’.
Lent and Ramadan coinciding this year offers an instructive contrast. One is the penitential season of the faith that shaped Britain’s laws, institutions and calendar; the other is increasingly celebrated by the same political and cultural establishment that seems reluctant even to name the first. Fasting, prayer and charity may be common elements, but the public response could hardly be more different. I was glad to see messages – however imperfect – on Lent from the King and Prime Minister, but in today’s Britain the ancient Christian observance passes almost unnoticed, while Ramadan attracts statements, receptions and carefully worded endorsements from politicians who rarely acknowledge the faith that once defined the country they govern.
Roger Watson is a retired academic, editor and writer. He writes regularly for a range of conservative journals including The Salisbury Review and The European Conservative. He has travelled and worked extensively in the Far East and the Middle East. He lives in Kingston upon Hull, UK.
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Pure theatre. Insulting at so many levels.