Ramadan in the Workplace
Each year, Muslims around the world await the sighting of the new crescent moon that represents the first official day of Ramadan, occurring on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year in Islamic culture, and is celebrated as the month during which the prophet Muhammad received the initial revelations of the Quran, a holy book for Muslims, from God.
During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims pray and fast daily from dawn to sunset as a way to show their spiritual discipline and increased religious devotion. Muslims follow a lunar calendar, which is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.
As a result, Ramadan doesn’t start on the same date each year and may pass through all seasons as the date moves backward by about 11 days.
Additionally, since the new moon is not in the same state globally, the beginning and end of Ramadan depend on global location, but this usually does not vary more than a day.
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Recognize Ramadan and Inclusive Workplaces this year.
Origin of Ramadan
Ramadan was known to be the month of acknowledgment starting around 610 AD when an Arabic Prophet named Muhammad started receiving revelations from God, or Allah, by the angel Gabriel.
The revelations were documented in an Islamic holy book known as the Quran, which Muslims believe contains the exact words of Allah. It is during the same month of this revelation that Muslims celebrate Ramadan.
Muhammad is, according to Muslims, the prophet who was chosen by Allah to be the recipient and messenger and to teach mankind. He was a religious, social, and political leader and was named the founder of the religion of Islam, and Muslims from all groups strive to follow his example.
Muslims believe there is one God, and people can gain redemption and forgiveness by following Muhammad’s commandments.
Since Ramadan’s origin in the 7th century, this holiday is meant to be a time for growing a deeper connection with Allah. During Ramadan, Muslims fast, self-reflect, recite the Quran, and do charity work.
By fasting, Muslims prove that they are devoted to their faith and show their dedication and respect to Allah.
How Ramadan is Observed
During Ramadan, Muslims aim to grow spiritually and build stronger relationships with Allah. They do this by praying and reciting the Quran, making their actions intentional and selfless.
Muslims go about their typical lifestyles during Ramadan; however, some also read the entire Quran, say special prayers and attend mosques more often than usual.
The act of fasting is seen as a way to cleanse the soul and show empathy and is meant to remind Muslims of all they should be thankful for. Each day during Ramadan, Muslims are obligated to fast from dawn to dusk, except for those who are ill, pregnant, travelling, elderly, or menstruating.
While fasting, they are supposed to avoid eating, drinking, smoking and sexual activity, and also abstain from reprehensible actions such as lying, fighting, cursing, sexual relations, and bad intentions. Days missed fasting can be made up throughout the rest of the year, either all at once or sporadically.
Meals are opportunities for Muslims to gather with loved ones and break their fast together.
During Ramadan, there are two main meals eaten, called iftar and suhoor:
Suhoor is the pre-dawn breakfast eaten before sunrise and usually occurs around 4:00am, before the first prayer of the day.
Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset, and occurs around 7:30pm when the sunset prayer is complete. Iftars are often elaborate feasts celebrated with family and friends, and the types of foods served vary according to culture.
Since the Prophet Mohammad broke his fast with dates and a glass of water, Muslims commonly eat dates at both suhoor and iftar as part of their meal.
Eid al-Fitr
Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr, the “festival of breaking the fast”. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, which is the tenth month in the Muslim lunar calendar.
Eid al-Fitr starts at different times since it does not occur until the new moon is seen. It is the first time Muslims can eat during daylight hours after fasting during Ramadan.
Celebrations during Eid al-Fitr vary worldwide but include visiting family and friends, exchanging gifts, enjoying elaborate feasts, wearing new clothes, and honoring deceased relatives.
Through these festivities, Muslims show their respect to Allah after reflecting and fasting during Ramadan. This holiday is also a reminder for Muslims to be grateful for what they have as well as to help the less fortunate.
Interesting Facts
Islam is the world’s second-largest religion after Christianity, with more than 1 billion adherents. Islam originated in Arabia and has spread all over the world.
In Arabic, Islam means “submission” or “surrender” (to God).
Countries with the largest Muslim populations include Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey and Iran.
There are an estimated 3.5 million Muslims in the USA and 1 million Muslims in Canada.
The naming of Ramadan stems from the Arabic root “ar-ramad,” which means scorching heat or dryness.
A common greeting during Eid al-Fitr is “Eid Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Eid.” This greeting is used to wish other Muslims peace and blessings during Eid.
How to Support Ramadan in the Workplace
It is important to be aware of the personal and religious sensitivities of Muslim employees during this holy period.
Here are different tips that leaders and employees can consider to accommodate the needs of your colleagues during Ramadan:
Be Flexible: Flexible working hours can be a good way of allowing employees to work when they will be most productive. If you have colleagues who will be fasting, ask them if they need accommodation for meeting times or lunch breaks. For example, some Muslim employees might feel less productive later in the afternoon during this time if they have been fasting all day. Some employees may ask to change their working shift times, to take a shorter/longer lunch break, or to work from home. They may want to make sure they finish on time to be able to break their fast with their family or friends. Make allowances for Muslim colleagues to take a break at sunset if still on shift, to break their fast, pray and eat.
Recognize Everyone Celebrates Differently: People feel varying emotions during the holidays, and not everybody who observes Ramadan will do so in the same way. There may be some employees who will take time off or want to have open conversations about the month with their colleagues, while others may prefer to stay quiet and not discuss their religious practices.
Avoid Hosting Evening Events: Try to avoid evening events or meetings that may interfere with Iftar. If events need to happen in the evenings, be mindful that Muslim employees may not be able to attend.
Provide Space: Many Muslims pray multiple times a day, and some of these periods may fall during work hours. Providing a prayer space, such as an empty conference room, helps Muslim employees feel included and welcomed in the workplace.
Provide Resources: Honoring Ramadan in the workplace is an important way to show appreciation. Send out an email or provide accessible resources in the office that include information about Ramadan so everyone can learn more about the significance of this month.
Allow for Paid Time Off: Accommodate requests off for Ramadan. An employer should present options to any employee who celebrates religious holidays outside of the statutory calendar to take time off without losing wages or having to use their vacation time.
Be Mindful of Events Involving Food: Be mindful of hosting events around food, such as a birthday, team lunch or coffee chat during Ramadan. Some employees celebrating Ramadan may have no problem being around food, while others might prefer to avoid it. You can always ask your employees in 1:1s if they have a preference.
Be Aware: Muslims around the world do not know when exactly Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr will start as it depends on moon sightings. Be prepared for your Muslim employees to not always know the exact date, which may have an impact on when they can work and how much notice they can give you.
Summary and Further Resources
Ramadan is a time for family and friends to come together to worship, reflect, and pay homage. Recognizing those who celebrate Ramadan in your organization is a way to promote a sense of belonging among colleagues.
When celebrating Ramadan in the workplace, it is important to be respectful of all Muslim employees and accommodate them for their particular needs.
Taking the time to learn about the significance of this holiday will not only build inclusion within the company but will also lead to mutual trust, better morale, higher staff retention, and greater productivity throughout the workplace.
