The Prophet’s Birthday – in Walthamstow  

Today I was greatly honoured to be invited to a celebration in London of Eid al Milad-e-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. I am told it was the first time a British Foreign Secretary has addressed such an event. Around 20,000 Muslims from across the UK and Europe gathered together to celebrate their faith and the message of peace it embodies for them. Such scenes were replicated all over the world- the Mawlid is an official holiday in over 50 countries. The fact that such a large event was taking place on the streets of London speaks to the interconnectedness of of modern global society, and to the rich diversity of Britain in particular.During my speech I spoke about the values of Islam as reflected in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Themes such as compassion, charity and understanding are relevant to all of us, Muslim and non-Muslim alike....