City stores are linking up with Birmingham Muslims this month to celebrate the Islamic festival of Ramadhan. Selfridges and Asda are producing end-of-fast suppers for worshippers and special Ramadhan calendars for children. Birmingham Central Mosque launched its holy month celebrations with a timetable of activities. Ramadhan is due to begin either tomorrow or on Friday, subject to sighting of the moon. Selfridges and Asda in Small Heath will both be providing festive food for colleagues and members of the public who are in the area when the time to break their fast occurs. Azam Hussain, aged 35, who has worked at Asda in Small Heath for the past five years, welcomed the provisions. He said: "Colleagues are being provided with a multi-faith prayer room for Muslim colleagues to go to pray and there is a basin there as well to wash. It's very good, you don't get disturbed. "Dates and bananas are provided on a table at the foyer which are kept in different fridges, to break your fast. "When you are about to break your fast they are the things you need, just something sweet. You only have five minutes before you go to pray and that is what is customary." Calendars and cards for Ramadhan are also on sale. Selfridges is also providing evening meals for Muslim customers and staff who will break their fast in the Bullring during Ramadhan. Dr Mohammed Naseem, chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque, said their activities would be based around prayer. An entire reading of the Quran will go ahead at the mosque during Ramadhan. "This is a month of self-development and learning how to control yourself," said Dr Naseem. "Putting your mind in control of your thoughts and actions, stressing what is good and avoiding what is wrong." | 
