From Cake to Dates: British Boy Spreads Message of Love and Unity in Madinah

LONDON: A 12-year-old British boy who is autistic and non-verbal has taken a message of unity and compassion from the UK to the holy city of Madinah. Joshua Harris, popularly known on social media as “The Joshie-Man,” has been visiting mosques across Britain and distributing homemade cakes to promote solidarity, particularly amid a rise in far-right sentiment in the country. Over recent months, he has shared hundreds of baked goods with worshippers in major British cities. The initiative, titled “Cake Not Hate,” began following an Islamophobic attack on a mosque in Harris’s hometown of Peterborough in October 2025. Shortly after the incident, Joshua and his father visited the targeted Masjid Darassalaam, where the boy distributed cakes he had baked to members of the congregation as a gesture of peace and support. Since then, Harris has visited dozens of mosques across the UK, continuing his campaign to spread kindness and understanding. During a recent visit to the Middle East, Joshua and his father travelled to Madinah. Adapting his campaign to the local culture, Joshua distributed dates—rather than cakes—to people in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque. The initiative was temporarily renamed “Dates Not Hate,” in tribute to Madinah’s renowned date varieties, including ajwa and ambar. The young campaigner’s actions have drawn widespread appreciation for their simple yet powerful message of love and inclusivity.