For the first time ever Ealing Council briefly paused a meeting to enable fellow Muslim councillors to break their fast on Tuesday 19 April 2022.

Ealing Council leader Peter Mason said "Really proud that for the first time ever during Ramadan, we’ve paused our council meeting briefly tonight to enable our Muslim colleagues to break their fast with a communal Iftar."

"Thanks to our Mayor Councillor Munir Ahmed for donating the meal. What a blessing to share the moment."

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Fasting (sawm) is the Fourth Pillar of Islam. Muslims fast every day during the Holy month of Ramadan. They must refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk.

The time of starting the fast, after pr-dawn, is referred to as Sehri.

The evening meal that breaks the fast is referred to as Iftar. Muslims also offer extra special night prayer (taraweeh) every day.

In Southall the fast on Tuesday 19 April 2022 lasted for 16 hours, from 4.06 am to 8:05 pm.

Ealing Labour Party said "A historic first for Ealing Council as we paused our Full Council meeting to join our Muslim councillor colleagues and break the fast together."

Cllr Praveen Anand said "Thank you Mayor Munir Ahmed for gracious iftar dinner & refreshment following meeting our first Ealing Council full council in chamber in 2 years."

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On the same an Iftar event was taking place in Parliament.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said "A truly special evening at the heart of our democracy - with people and politicians of all faiths, parties and backgrounds coming together to break our Ramadan fast in Parliament."

The first Muslim Mayor of Ealing was Councillor Mohammad Aslam for the municipal year 2012/2013.

He was first elected as a councillor in 1998 for the Dormers wells ward and currently serves the Norwood Green ward.

The deputy Mayor for 2012/2013 Councillor Shahbaz Ahmed. The normal practise for a very long time had been that the deputy mayor, spent the year learning the protocol of Mayor’s office, and became the Mayor in the next year. A week before the official appointment, he was informed that he won’t become the Mayor. A last minute kick in the teeth for the deputy Mayor by the Labour Party for no valid reason.