Europe’s Muslims welcome Ramadan as mosques fill for first tarawih prayers
From Western Thrace to the Balkans and across Northern Europe, mosques filled to capacity as communities revived long-standing traditions and ushered in a month of fasting, reflection, and prayer.
Tarawih are special nightly prayers performed during Ramadan after the obligatory Isha prayer and are widely regarded as a central part of the month’s spiritual routine.
Western Thrace and the Balkans
In Western Thrace, Ramadan’s arrival was marked with a centuries-old drumming tradition. In the village of Şahin near İskeçe, children dressed in Ottoman-era attire walked through the streets beating drums to announce the start of the month, creating a festive atmosphere. Evening prayers were held at the local mosques, with wishes for peace and prosperity for Muslim communities.
In North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, thousands gathered at the Skopje Mosque despite cold weather, with worshippers forming prayer rows outside.
In Albania, large crowds attended the first Tarawih at the Namazgah Mosque in Tirana, described as the Balkans’ largest mosque, while other mosques nationwide also reported high turnout.
Kosovo saw similar scenes, including at the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Mosque in Pristina and the Sinan Pasha Mosque in Prizren. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo’s historic Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque was among the mosques that filled for the first night of prayer.
Muslims in Montenegro and Croatia also gathered in mosques to mark the beginning of Ramadan, reflecting a shared spiritual atmosphere across the region.
Northern and Central Europe
In Sweden, worshippers gathered at mosques nationwide. At the Fittja Ulu Mosque in Stockholm, congregants performed the first Tarawih and offered prayers for peace and stability in conflict-affected regions.
In Austria, strong attendance was reported in Vienna. At the ATIB Central Mosque, affiliated with the Turkish-Islamic Union for Cultural and Social Cooperation in Austria (ATIB), sermons highlighted the spiritual significance of Ramadan as worshippers of all ages stood side by side in prayer.
In Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, the faithful gathered at the Banya Bashi Mosque, the city’s only functioning mosque. In Serbia, Tarawih prayers were held at Belgrade’s Bayrakli Mosque and in mosques across the Bosniak-majority Sandzak region.
AA
