Ramadan Kareem! You can express well-wishes for Ramadan by saying ‘Ramadan Kareem’ (‘Have a generous Ramadan’) or ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ (which can translate as ‘Happy Ramadan’). The month of Ramadan is here, where Muslims will be fasting from sunrise to sunset. Before dawn, people eat a meal called ‘suhoor’. The dusk meal is called ‘iftar’. This is also, a time for deep reflection, community, charity, and overall gratitude.
Fasting during Ramadan is a way to reflect on life and find gratitude for our experiences. Fasting allows us to think about those, who may be less fortunate than us, such as people who live in poverty. It is often also a community affair, with more people attending mosque in the evenings and coming together with friends and family for iftar.
This month is all about looking after our communities and finding ways to give back. This may be through community programs for homeless people or people who need a little extra help. Many will also try to donate money, clothes, and food to charity to help those in need. Of course, charity is all year round, as charity is an important part of the Islamic religion, but during Ramadan, it is an opportunity to make even more of an effort, to offer our time and resources to those in need.
Ramadan is also one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The five pillars help to guide Muslims on how to live their lives and be good Muslims. Thus, why Muslims consider fasting in Ramadan a core part of their religious beliefs.
Supporting colleagues during Ramadan is part of building a workplace where everyone is respected and valued. The combination of long hours can be challenging for many Muslims at work. So, there are a few practical steps colleagues and employers can take to support their Muslim co-workers and friends. Fasting should not interfere with everyday tasks at work. But during Ramadan, fasting co-workers may be tired or lacking energy during the day.
If you have colleagues who will be fasting, ask them if changing some aspects of work can make it easier for them. Ramadan isn’t only about not eating or drinking during daylight. It usually means rising early and eating late with family and friends and may mean taking part in charitable activities or late-night prayers.
Encourage teams and managers to try to avoid holding compulsory team lunches. Also, make allowances for Muslims to take a few minutes break to pray their daytime prayer. Especially in the last ten days of Ramadan, as these are considered especially holy.
Muslims celebrate the end of fasting during the month of Ramadan through Eid al-Fitr, which means ‘festival of the breaking of the fast’. Eid al-Fitr is the day when Muslims can resume eating and drinking during daylight hours again. It's a day for family and community; Muslims get together and have big parties to celebrate Eid, with lots of food and presents! There is often some uncertainty about which day Eid al-Fitr will fall, because it depends on moon sightings. Be prepared for your Muslim colleagues not always to know the exact date, which may have an impact on when they can work and how much notice they can give you. Eid can last up to three days.