Network Rail has launched an urgent investigation into how a Ramadan message, including one about ‘sinners,’ was shown on a board at King’s Cross train station.
On Tuesday, railway passengers at King’s Cross in London station were shown an ‘Hadith of the day’ next to train times which read: ‘The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) [Peace Be Upon Him] said: All the sons of Adam are sinners but the best of the sinners are those who repent often.’
The message was shown on the ninth day of Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims.
Hadith’s are collections of traditions containing sayings of the Prophet Muhammad which constitute the major source of guidance for Muslims apart from the Quran.
The departure board also showed times for ‘fajr’ and ‘maghrib’ which are the Islamic sunrise and sunset prayer times.
A hadith saying ‘All the sons of Adam are sinners’ was displayed on a board at King’s Cross. The departure board also showed times for ‘fajr’ and ‘maghrib’ which are the Islamic sunrise and sunset prayer times
King’s Cross station where passengers were shown a ‘Hadith of the day’ on the departure board on Tuesday. Network Rail has now launched a full investigation into why it was shown in the station (stock image)
Network Rail, who are the owner and infrastructure manager of most of Britain’s railway network, have now deleted the message and launched a full investigation into why it was shown in the station.
A spokesperson for Network Rail told the Daily Telegraph: ‘We celebrate all the big religious festivals from Christmas to Ramadan at King’s Cross to reflect our diverse passenger and employee base.
‘However, our main departure board should be reserved for train information and our general Ramadan celebratory messages weren’t used for some reason, which we’re looking into. All has now been corrected.’
The Telegraph reports that the investigation will likely last several days as multiple members of staff have access to the departure board.
Humanists UK said Network Rail should not be ‘urging ‘sinners’ to repent’ at public train stations
One X/Twitter user applauded the display at Kings Cross Station
The message sparked social media debate about whether public information boards should display religious messages.
On X, formerly Twitter, Humanists UK – a charity which advocates for secularism responded to the religious message.
They wrote: ‘Public train stations should not be urging ‘sinners’ to repent. It is obviously inappropriate and profoundly misjudged to broadcast hadiths or any religious scripture at passengers. We will be writing to the Transport Secretary to outline our concerns.’
But many applauded the display. On X/Twitter user wrote: ‘People being like ‘where’s the bible verses?’ there usually is in train stations and all over the country during Christmas, and sometimes other Christian holidays too. It’s Ramadan right now, of course there is going to be a hadith. Ramadan Mubarak.’
have approached Network Rail for a comment.