The month of Ramadan is a happy occasion; it is the month that the
Muslim holy book, the Koran, was revealed to our Prophet Muhammad.
Muslims are called by their religion to celebrate the month by coming
together in worship, fasting each day for thirty days from dawn until
sunset.
While this may seem like a tremendous feat, consider this: Fasting
while working is an even greater endeavor. Make it a little easier on
your Muslim colleague by following a couple of simple rules:
The Greeting
The next time you find yourself in line for the copier with your
Muslim colleague, feel free to wish him or her “Ramadan Mubarak” or
“Ramadan Kareem” or simply “Happy Ramadan.” We absolutely love it when
people acknowledge Ramadan and are happy about it.
Positive Reinforcement
Keep in mind that we’re fasting voluntarily and, actually, pretty
joyously (despite the tired, sad look on our face). We’re not forced to
fast. In fact, we wait for this month the whole year, so you don’t have
to feel sorry for us. We are not trying to be rescued (other than by
that ticking clock taking us closer to sunset!).
The Lunch Meeting
Most of us understand that life goes on, and so do lunch meetings,
and if we are participating in them while fasting, don’t worry about
eating in front of us. This is just part of the test. We appreciate your
acknowledging our fast, but don’t feel the need to discuss it every
time you show up in our line of sight holding food.
Just try not to eat smelly foods. . . and please ignore our stomach when it growls at your sandwich.
No Water
It’s true — we can’t drink water either. Again, this is part of the
Ramadan test and our exercise of spiritual discipline. This is probably
why you may not find your friend at the water cooler. Try switching the
break time conversation to another location in the office. You should
probably also let them skip their turn for the coffee run this time.
Halitosis
While God may tell us that the breath of the one fasting is like
“fragrant musk” to Him, we know that you might not experience the same.
Understand why we’re standing a good foot away from you when speaking or
simply using sign language to communicate.
Iftar Dinner
Consider holding a Ramadan Iftar dinner . Iftar is the Arabic word
for the meal served at sunset when we break the fast (it’s literally our
‘breakfast’). This will be a nice gesture for Muslim coworkers and will
give others the opportunity to learn about and partake in Ramadan
festivities. Although there is no specific type of meal designated for
iftars, it is is tradition to break the fast with a sweet and refreshing
date before moving to a full-on dinner
Fasting is not an excuse
Although energy levels might be low, the point of fasting is not to
slack off from our other duties and responsibilities. We believe that we
are rewarded for continuing to work and produce during our fasts.
Fasting is not a reason to push meetings, clear schedules, or take a
lighter load on projects.
That said – we don’t mind if you help work in a nap time for us!
Ramadan is a time for community and charity. There are iftar dinners
held at mosques every night (you are welcome to join the fun – even if
you’re not fasting!) and night time prayer vigils throughout the month.
We give charity in abundance and make an extra effort to partake in
community service. Throughout it all, we maintain an ambiance of joy and
gratitude for all that God has blessed us with, and reflect on those in
this world who have been given much less. This is a time for all of
us–not just Muslims–to renew our spiritual intentions, increase our
knowledge, and change ourselves for the better.
Hope this helps.
Adapted by Asma Uddin
