Towie marks the end of Ramadan with Eid celebration as muslim star Junaid Ahmed opens up on faith
TOWIE marked the end of Ramadan with an Eid Celebration for Junaid Ahmed after he opened up about his faith.
The 27-year-old was surprised with a gathering with his Towie co-stars and close friends.
Junaid posted a snap with the Towie cast and captioned it: “Happy Eid From me and my @towie family.”
In the picture was Diags, Joe Blackman, Harry Derbidge, Lauren Goodger, Saffron Lempriere, Ella Rae Wise, Dani Imbert and Jodie Wells.
Fans rushed to the comments to express their excitement about the stars being together, with one fan stating: “So everyone is friends at the moment, that’s good to see.”
And another added: “Love this, we are one big family xx.”
In another snap, Junaid told fans: “Eid Mubarak my darlings. Wishing you all the most amazing day, I’m off to filming, cant wait to show you’s my outfit.”
Junaid wore a traditional shalwar kameez dress in the colour brown.
The house was decorated with gold, blue, and white balloons, as well as Eid-style decorations and signs throughout. There was also an array of food available.
Junaid took a snap and captioned it: “Thank you so much my Towie family for doing an Eid gathering for me and my close ones.”
The star also posted an Instagram story where he opened up about his faith.
Junaid said: “I always get so many questions regarding my religion etc – I am a very proud Muslim. I love my religion, I love my faith, I’m not one to flaunt it all over as it’s a very personal thing between me and God.
“Since becoming close to my family, it’s really made me go back within my faith and try to practice more. I totally respect that fact that I don’t follow every thing within my religion but I’ve made conscious life changes to try and better myself and everyday is a lesson.
“As Ramadan comes to an end, I’ve felt the most peace in my life more than ever this month. I’ve been praying everyday and feel so calm and happy from within.
“I wish you all the most amazing Eid with your loved ones and I cant wait to celebrate with my family this weekend.”
The star previously talked about being disowned by his parents after coming out as a gay as a teenager.
He also opened up his brother’s death a year after being chucked out his family home.
His claims his parents kept his sibling’s passing secret from him – and he was banished from attending the funeral to pay his respects.
On the On The Record with Chloe B podcast, Junaid said: “After moving to Essex and having no communication with my family, I was getting my life back on track.
“I had been sofa surfing because I had no money and got a message from a girl I went to school with.
“She said ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, but your brother’s passed away’.”
Junaid started to cry as memories of the family tragedy washed over him.
“I thought ‘I don’t know where I’m going wrong with everything'”
“I’ve come out as gay, I’ve lost my family, I’ve moved to a new place and now my brother’s passed away.
“It’s like, how can someone actually handle all of this?”
He said his past experience of rejection and abandonment has had a huge impact on him.
“People don’t get it,” he adds.
“They say ‘we don’t understand why you are the way you are’.
“Please just live a day in my life and what I’ve been through because it’s not been easy.”
Junaid went back home for his brother’s funeral – but was told he wasn’t welcome.
It was the first time he had returned to his hometown of Peterborough since being told to leave the family home when he told his parents he was gay.