Glasgow Muslims celebrate Eid in lockdown this week

But for Ibrahim Younis, a 23-year-old Law student from Glasgow's West End, this is just par for the course of following a Muslim faith.

He said: "The easiest way to describe Eid to a non-Muslim person is it's basically Christmas for Muslims - we share gifts, go to the Mosque in the morning and have a really nice meal with our loved ones in the evening, getting all dressed up and having a party.

"The lockdown has changed that this year.

"I will still celebrate Eid with my family, but at home with my mum, three sisters and brother, as our Dad got stuck in Turkey when lockdown started.

"We are going to get dressed up, have a mocktail party and a barbecue in the back garden. We can't see others or go to the Mosque.

"Our Christmas as we know it is cancelled... but that means that we are saving people's lives, and if it meant we never had Eid again but saved the lives of hundreds of people, I'd do that because that's what being a Muslim is about."

Ramadan is one of the Muslim practices that make up the Five Pillars of Islam - along with the belief in only one God, praying five times a day, giving part of your income to charity, and making a pilgrimage to Mecca.

It commemorates the month when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Read more: Central Mosque prepares for Ramadan in lockdown

This year it began on Thursday 23rd April and ends today, to be celebrated by Eid.

During Ramadan, people who practise a Muslim faith fast from dawn until dusk, meaning no food, no water and no cigarettes.

Before the day’s fasting begins at dawn, Muslim people eat a meal in the morning known as sehri or suhoor and the fast is broken in the evening with a meal known as iftar.

As well as fasting, Muslims use this time for reading, prayer, charitable deeds and getting closer to God.

Ibrahim has said celebrating Ramadan during lockdown has made a small difference.

He said: "Usually you start the day with a walk during Ramadan, and you pray in the Mosque every night but you can't do that now.

"Ramadan is already difficult because you don't have that much energy from fasting and not eating, but on lockdown there isn't that much to do so that's one good thing about it".

Although thousands of Muslim people across Glasgow will have spent the last month fasting, food and its distribution has been a strong point of action for the Glasgow Central Mosque.

The Mosque usually feeds hundreds of vulnerable people every night, but since closing, bosses had to figure out a way to keep those people supported.

Irfan Razzaq, General Secretary of Glasgow Central Mosque, said during Ramadan the most sees about 1000 visitors per night, and would feed about 350 iftar meals every night.

Although closed, the Glasgow Central Mosque is still distributing hot meals and food parcels to thousands across the city every day.

Irfan said: "This is the first time the Glasgow Central Mosque has been closed in 35 years and the impact is unprecedented.

"The affect it has had on everyone is different for everyone.

"We have made 10,400 hot food packs since the start of Ramadan and the demand grows every day.

"We won't restrict our numbers and our deliveries are to everyone, across a multi-faith range.

"People need a hot meal and so many are hit with the loss of jobs and incomes. The need still grows.

"During Ramadan we give enough in our parcels for a weekly shop, with dry goods and hot foods. We do collection and delivery to vulnerable groups."

Irfan thinks the pandemic has brought the community closer, and made Glasgow a calmer place.

He said: I think in the long term this will affect all communities, not just the Muslim community.

Read more: Mental Health Awareness Week: how kindness has helped the people of Glasgow

"We have all come together and it feels a bit like the rat race of daily life has come to an end.

"I think that everyone will come out much stronger, more caring and more understanding.

"We are a more caring and unified community and I think we are taking the NHS less for granted because we know how lucky we are, compared to other countries that do not have equivalents to the NHS."

This year, Ibrahim's family are donating money directly to charities to help people suffering directly because of Covid-19, including sufferers of domestic abuse and those who have lost their homes due to the pandemic.

He said: "I think we have to hear something positive in all this.

"Times have changed and I would describe myself as a modern day Muslim. I don't drink but I work in a nightclub, which just shows you how we live in different world's now as I'd never have been able to do that in previous years.

"I love Glasgow and it is my home. Through this I think people will understand communities better and our culture. The Muslim faith is actually so peaceful, and while there are some extremists it is not representative of our community at all.

"What represents our community is the sacrifice of the lockdown - giving up something for your faith and for those you love.

"I'd sacrifice Eid again and again if it meant people stayed healthy and we saved more lives."