AN award-winning Bradford DJ has volunteered over a thousand hours helping out at Muslim burials during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aftab Iqbal, who is also known as award-winning DJ Bally, has worked long hours over the past six to 12 months helping Janaza Announcements with Muslim burials at Scholemoor Cemetery.

"I've done it as a thank-you gesture," said Mr Iqbal. "It's been a tough one for people through the pandemic."

"Aftab is one of a kind," said Adil Shaan, head of bereavement services at Janaza Announcements. "He's one of the hidden gems of Bradford."

Mr Shaan said that Mr Iqbal's duties have included helping and assisting with services and burials at Scholemoor Cemetery.

Mr Shaan said: "He's volunteered over 1,000 hours free at the graveyard and he's not got paid for a single minute of it.

"Aftab has done this because of the current situation," said Mr Shaan. "He wants to give something back to the community.

"If only everyone dedicated just of a few hours of their time.

"Aftab does a fantastic job," added Mr Shaan. "No-one does this for a hobby and not many people would give this amount of their time.

"He does us and has done Bradford proud."

Mr Shaan also said that because of the pandemic there have been more funeral and burials as the number of deaths have increased due to Covid-19.

"It's bit challenging because sometimes he's been handling seven to eight burials a day. Some days Aftab will start in the morning and he will be there until 8pm or 9pm in the evening.

"His duties include assisting families and guiding them step by step through a death in a family.

"He's very sensitive with families, well spoken, composed and knows how to handle the situation.

"He leads them through the process. This has been been particularly tough for families.

"Prior to the pandemic, Janaza Announcements used to get 360 deaths a year from the Muslim community in Bradford. But March 2020 to March 2021, we had 700 deaths and more were related to Covid rather than non-Covid.

Mr Shaan explained that Janaza Announcements is a notification service that works with Muslim communities in major cities across the UK.

And according to a message posted on the Janaza Announcements Facebook page, Mr Iqbal has been praised for his service.

The Facebook post reads: "A certain individual goes by the name of Aftab (Bally) who has assisted with every funeral and burial that has taken place at Scholemoor Cemetery Fiiisabi Lillah (Free) for the past six months or so.

"He did this with the intention that Allah Almighty blesses, forgives and has mercy upon him during this current pandemic.

"May Allah Almighty honour his family who have passed and grant them the most beautiful of abodes in Paradise. Ameen"

Mr Iqbal said that even lockdown restrictions are starting to lift and his work as DJ is starting to resume, he said he will still continue his volunteer work at Scholemoor Cemetery.

Mr Iqbal, who runs DJ Bally Entertainment, usually DJs for weddings, birthday parties, Muslim gatherings and charity events.

In 2019, DJ Bally was crowned the best male DJ in Yorkshire at an Oracle Awards event.

He has since been nominated as the best male Asian DJ at the Oracle Awards for 2021, which winners being announced in August.