It might be Ramadan, but it doesn’t mean you can’t eat around us!

We’re in the midst of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which started on Thursday 23rd March and is set to end on Thursday 20th April (subject to moon sighting). For many Muslims, Ramadan is a period of religious observance, which includes fasting from dawn until sunset.  

The celebration remembers the month the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The actual night that the Qur'an was revealed is a night known as ‘Lailut ul-Qadr' ('The Night of Power'). This night falls in the final 10 days of Ramadan, on an odd night, however the exact date is not known. 

Ramadan isn’t just about fasting, but that is an important element that can really impact working life, so we’re aiming to dispel some commonly held myths and to help colleagues understand their peers’ during this month.  
 

What are the policies around fasting at Ramadan? 

 The act of fasting exists in many faith communities and is also part of contemporary culture. Fasting starts from dawn and ends at sunset. It’s common to have one meal (known as ‘suhoor’), just before dawn and another (known as ‘iftar’), directly after sunset. During Ramadan, a fasting person abstains from: 

• Food 
• Water 
• Intimate relations 
• Arguments 
• Swearing  

 Refraining from all of the above throughout the month helps to bring focus to enable greater reflection, which helps the fasting person to become more mindful of God. See below a typical weekday for those fasting: 

Fasting can impact people in a number of ways, which might be different from person to person. Some people can seem quieter and less energetic than they might typically be, and they might simply be more tired, particularly at the start of Ramadan, as their bodies adjust to the sudden change in behaviour. 
 

What can I do to support my colleagues/team members? 

With a typical weekday during the month of Ramadan being more demanding than a standard weekday, there are a number of things you can do, where suitable, to support the wellbeing and productivity of those fasting and increase awareness of Ramadan. 

• We don’t mind being around people eating/drinking so don’t apologise! 
• Our sleeping hours change, so we might seem tired. We don’t expect any special treatment while fasting, but it would we would really appreciate if others checked our preferences for meeting hours. 
• Managers – Where possible having some flexibility around start and finish times and allowing regular breaks can ensure that energy levels don’t drop too much, and productivity is kept up. 
• Be sensitive, be kind, be patient. 
• It means a lot to us when you wish us a “Happy Ramadan/Ramadan Mubarak”. 

 
Exemptions for fasting during Ramadan 

Although most Muslims will be fasting during Ramadan, there are a few people who will fall under the five main exemptions that mean that they do not need to fulfil this obligation. Therefore, if you see someone eating during the day, who you know is a practicing Muslim, it’s important not to judge or make any negative comments.  

Why not start your own 30-day challenge? 

Commit to a personal challenge or self-improvement idea and stick to it for 30 days. Some examples might be: 

• Giving up chocolate or caffeine 
• Making a conscious effort to be kind each day 
• Abstaining from swearing 
• Reading 5-10 pages of a book each day 

Ramadan Mubarak!