Smoke Free Ramadan Campaign 2007

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint, The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful.
(The Qur’an, Surah Baqarah 2:183/185)


The blessed month is approaching, following the welcomed ban on smoking in public places watershed of 1st July, the Muslim Health Network is in a buoyant and determined mood to get as many Muslims as possible to relinquish this unpleasant, unhealthy and smelly habit once and for all, this Ramadan! Working in association with the National Health Service, the British Heart Foundation, the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Executive, this years project aims to improve on last years impressive and successful campaign which saw over 120,000 free Healthy Eating Guide & Ramadan timetables distributed in 120 Mosques across the UK.

Ramadan which will fall between 14th September and 12th October this year, is a time when Muslims abstain from food, drink and for those who smoke, cigarettes, during daylight hours. Hence it is the ideal time to help the large number of Muslim smokers in the UK, to give up smoking. The Muslim Health Network is currently approaching PCT's, Health Authorities and Smoking Cessation Departments throughout the UK to offer a service that can disseminate important, dedicated and directed smoking cessation information to the Muslim community and help people kick the habit!

MHN offers the liaison, design, print, collation and distribution of Ramadan (Fasting) Timetables to Mosques within your area for the Ramadan period. A period when large numbers of Muslims attend the Mosque for worship and are guaranteed to collect and use the Ramadan/prayer timetable on a daily basis.

The comments below are just a sample of some of the mail the MHN Smoke Free Ramadan team have received over the last few years:

Thanks for the timetable, I pestered my dad to call the number shown, which he eventually did. I hope the support he gets helps him kick this dirty habit for good!
Zainab - N. London

Just had to write and say thank you, the Smoke Free Timetable encouraged me to cut down on my cigarette intake during the month of Ramadan and I am hoping to quit soon. Keep up the good work!
Farooq - Birmingham

I liked your Ramadan timetable very much, it made me want to give up smoking everyday in the month of Ramadan. I am happy to say that I actually gave up for the first time in the last week of Ramadan, pray that I can keep it up. Thanks for your support, it was an excellent idea.
Sulayman - Cardiff

A great idea and good to see the Scottish Executive playing a part in helping Scottish Muslims get healthier!
Khalid - Pollokshaws, Glasgow

The cut-off date for ordering timetables is Friday 3rd August 2007.

For further details, please contact this years project co-ordinators Bilal Ahmed or Nadir Syed on 020 8799 4475 or email info@muslimhealthnetwork.org