Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is the most important month of the year for Muslims around the world. It is a time of fasting, prayer, charity, and deep reflection.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. The other pillars consist of believing in God and that Mohammed was the last prophet, praying five times a day, giving to charity, and undertaking the pilgrimage to Mecca once in your lifetime.
Fasting is found in several religions, including, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity. The whole purpose of fasting is to become more conscious of God, yourself and everyone around you.
This year, Ramadan begins in March and ends in April. While fasting, Muslims abstain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. This means that this year the fasts will last about 12 hours, from about 6am in the morning to about 6pm in the evening.
Fasting is much easier this year compared to the past seven years, when the month of Ramadan was during the summer months, resulting in fasts that were about 18 hours long.
Observed by millions of people globally, this holy month is not just about abstaining from food and drink; it is a time for spiritual purification, personal growth and strengthening faith.
The Significance of Ramadan
Ramadan is considered the holiest month in Islam, primarily because it is during this month that the Quran, the holy book of Islam, was revealed to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH).
As such, it is a time to commemorate this divine revelation and to draw closer to God through worship, reflection and self-discipline.
It is also an opportune time for families and communities to unite and reinforce their bonds. Regardless of any other time of the year, during Ramadan, families make it a point to eat together. The breaking of the fast is a communal event where everyone participates in the meal.
Requests for Holidays/shorter days from Muslim colleagues
The last 10 days and nights are particularly important, as Muslims believe that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during one of these nights.
It is said that this night is better than a thousand months and Muslims believe that prayers and good deeds performed on this night are magnified. Therefore, there may be requests from Muslims to take time off during the last 10 days, as they may spend the nights in worship.
At work, you may find that Muslim colleagues in their lunch hour are reciting the Quran and praying. All good deeds carried out in Ramadan are believed to multiply 70 times, hence you will see Muslims doing a lot more charity work, using their time to worship and participate in community work.
Employers should consider the potential increase in requests for time off from Muslims during the latter part of Ramadan, and incorporate this into work schedules and forecasts. Some optometrists and dispensing opticians may request a shorter lunch break to leave earlier.
The Practice of Fasting
Fasting during Ramadan requires Muslims to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, negative behaviours like gossiping and arguing, and practising patience from dawn until sunset. The fast is broken with a meal called iftar, traditionally dates and water, followed by a larger meal that varies from culture to culture.
The pre-dawn meal, known as suhoor, is taken before the fajr (dawn) prayer and provides sustenance for the day ahead. This means you may have colleagues eating very early in the morning.
Charity and Generosity
Charity is another essential aspect of Ramadan. Muslims are encouraged to give generously to those in need and many choose to pay their zakat (obligatory charity) during this month.
This equates to about 2.5% of savings. As a result, you may have colleagues that are actively involved in fundraising and charity dinners. Giving to others fosters a sense of community, empathy and gratitude for the blessings one has in life.
Ramadan inspires acts of kindness and support, with individuals and communities coming together either at the mosque or through iftar get-togethers. We have a variety of dishes made at home during Ramadan and the amount of food that is exchanged between neighbours/friends/relatives is substantial, but this allows us to taste different cuisines.
Muslims will proactively assist those who are less fortunate. This may be through providing meals to the hungry, volunteering for homeless charities or offering emotional support to others; the spirit of giving is central to the essence of Ramadan.
Eid al-Fitr: The Celebration of Gratitude
The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid al-Fitr, a joyous festival that celebrates the completion of fasting. It is a time for family gatherings, community celebrations, and expressing gratitude to God for the strength and patience shown during the month.
Muslims gather for a special prayer at the mosque, followed by family meals and exchange of gifts to loved ones.
Because Eid is determined by Moon sighting, there may be a discrepancy between Muslims in terms of which day Eid is celebrated. It depends on when their local mosque decides on the method of Moon sighting as to what day Eid is celebrated.
I think it is important to recognise the diversity in beliefs and plan accordingly. For this reason, you may find that Muslim colleagues request a few more extra days off as they are unsure when Eid will fall.
Many non-Muslims may not know what to ask, do or say to fasting colleagues. So, here is a list of my personal tips:
Do:
- Please feel free to eat and drink as you normally would in front of Muslim colleagues. We have been doing this from a young age and have developed resilience and so it will not affect or offend us if you eat.
- Ask about Islam, the importance of fasting and why we do this.
- Participate in any invitations or get-togethers your Muslim colleagues may invite you to. It will give you an opportunity to understand first hand what Ramadan is about.
- Provide space for Muslims wanting to pray/contemplate.
- Take into account any special requests in terms of time off if it is feasible for the business. Try to be flexible.
- Mark Ramadan in an appropriate way. Muslim colleagues are more comfortable talking about fasting, especially among patients, as Ramadan has become a lot more commercialised in recent times. Optical practices could celebrate this through window displays and other means.
- Help Muslim colleagues to become better versions of themselves by avoiding unnecessary confrontation or arguments.
Don’t
- Don’t ask why a Muslim is not fasting. There are exemptions to fasting such as those with chronic illness, or those not feeling well, pregnant women, menstruating women, the elderly, small children and people with mental health issues.
- Don’t say something like: ‘Not even water?’ ‘How do you do this?’ ‘I could never survive,’ ‘Surely that isn’t healthy?’ I have had many people say this to me. It is all about perspective. If you have an athlete training, or someone trying to lose weight and make a complete lifestyle change, we respect what they are doing. We would not question how often they are eating or why, so this should be the same for Muslims fasting. Recent science has shown that fasting can benefit the body and more and more people are participating in intermittent fasting.
- Do not hold continuing education events, major conferences and events during Ramadan. The turnout will be low among Muslim as it is difficult to attend in the evenings.
My personal reflections
Ramadan provides me with an opportunity for self-reflection, deepens my faith and allows me to establish goals for personal development. It serves as a compelling reminder of the significance of patience, compassion and gratitude in all aspects of life.
As the founder of Optom Academy and an educator, I can adjust my work schedule, allowing time for evaluating my actions, intentions and work/personal relationships.
During this month, we distribute dates to all our examiners as gifts, which fosters conversations about Ramadan. This period promotes introspection and facilitates growth in my spiritual journey, enhancing my religious practice and daily professional life.
Islamic principles closely align with the GOC’s standards of practice. This year, with the new GOC standards of practice releasing closely to Ramadan, it serves as a timely reminder of why, as Muslims, we should provide excellence in eye care through our work.
Ramadan is much more than a month of fasting. It is a time for Muslims to renew their faith, practise self-discipline, strengthen bonds of community and it fosters empathy for others at work and in their personal lives.
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Shamina Asif is an optometrist in an independent practice, founder of Optom Academy, and chair of Dudley LOC.
