European Muslims welcome Ramadan with first Tarawih prayers across continent

Muslims throughout Europe welcomed the holy month of Ramadan Wednesday evening, gathering in mosques across the continent to perform the first Tarawih prayers and maintain traditions spanning generations. From Scandinavia to the Balkans, worshippers filled Islamic centers despite cold weather, offering supplications for peace and stability in conflict-affected regions worldwide.

Nordic and Central European Gatherings

In Sweden's capital Stockholm, worshippers congregated at the Fittja Ulu Mosque for the special nightly prayers following the obligatory Isha prayer. Vienna's ATIB Central Mosque, affiliated with the Turkish-Islamic Union in Austria, saw Muslims of all ages standing shoulder to shoulder, with sermons highlighting Ramadan's spiritual significance. The gatherings reflect the vibrant presence of Muslim communities in Central European capitals.

Balkan Traditions and Communal Spirit

Western Thrace welcomed Ramadan with a centuries-old tradition as children in the village of Sahin near Xanthi dressed in Ottoman-era attire and paraded through streets beating drums to announce the holy month's arrival. Prayers at the village mosque carried wishes for peace and prosperity for the Islamic world and the region's Muslim Turkish minority. In North Macedonia's capital Skopje, thousands gathered at the Skopje Mosque, forming rows outside despite cold weather. Albania's Namazgah Mosque, the largest in the Balkans, hosted worshippers in Tirana, while Kosovo's faithful filled the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Mosque in Pristina and Sinan Pasha Mosque in Prizren.

Southeastern European Observances

Bulgarian Muslims convened at Sofia's Banya Bashi Mosque, the capital's sole mosque, while Sarajevo's historic Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque drew worshippers across Bosnia. Belgrade's Bayrakli Mosque and mosques throughout Serbia's Bosniak-majority Sandzak region held Tarawih prayers, as did communities in Montenegro and Croatia. The continent-wide observances underscore the shared spiritual atmosphere as Ramadan begins, connecting European Muslims across national boundaries through common faith and tradition.