Luton Town hosts Iftar event for Muslim community

Members of Luton's Muslim community were invited to Kenilworth Road for the Iftar event

Luton Town Football Club invited Muslims from a neighbouring mosque to an Iftar event in their stadium.

Members of the Madinah Mosque, located next door to Kenilworth Road, attended the event, which sees the breaking of the fast during Ramadan.

Manager Rob Edwards said he was inspired after seeing how supportive the Muslim community had been after the club earned promotion in May.

"We're such a diverse town but to see everybody coming together at that time was really really special and that will always live with me," said Edwards.

"Seeing how much it meant to our local community really brought it home."

Manager Rob Edwards praised local Muslims for their support since Luton's promotion to the Premier League

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is meant to encourage spiritual reflection.

Those who fast are not supposed to eat or drink anything - including water - until after sunset, when they break their fast with an evening meal, called Iftar.

The event at Kenilworth Road included a recital from the Quran and a trivia quiz, before Edwards took to the stage with club chairman David Wilkinson to talk about the club's history.

Maqsood Anwar, from Madinah Mosque, said "football brings us all closer together"

Maqsood Anwar, from Madinah Mosque, said that being based "across the road" from the stadium made for a "close knit" community.

Mr Anwar said events like the one at Kenilworth Road could help prevent Islamaphobia.

He explained: "It's very important that we get all the community together so people know about Iftar and learn about Islam and that builds cohesion in the community."

"Football brings us all closer together."