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An evening with the Muslim Facebook crew

Sarfraz Manzoor

Wednesday, 8th October 2008

Sarfraz Manzoor celebrates an iftar meal with homeless people and his fellow Muslims, a web-generated ‘flashmob’ observing an Islamic tradition of generosity to the needy

The flashmob iftars in London and Manchester offer fascinating glimpses into a new British Muslim identity. Traditionally, British Muslims have been accused of being insular and only caring about other Muslims, in this country and abroad. It is also generally thought that the third generation are the most vulnerable to radicalisation. This is a legitimate concern but it is not the only story, and the hundreds who turned up laden with food are evidence of a more encouraging development. ‘For my generation most of us feel completely British,’ Farah told me. ‘That’s why I want to help the homeless — they are our people too.’

Young Muslims like Farah are tiring of how the media demonises them and impatient with the leaders who claim to speak for them. Now, through small but significant acts of charity, they are beginning to find their own voice.

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