To mark this Ramadan, we at Social wanted to open a dialogue about the significance of this sacred month for the 1.6 billion Muslims around the world. As the second-largest religious group in the UK, fostering understanding and inclusivity for Muslims in the workplace is essential. To support this, Leeds account executive, Anna, spoke with Manchester account executive, Sairah, about her experiences as a Pakistani Muslim navigating her first full-time job.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar and holds profound significance for Muslims worldwide as the month that the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). The month is observed as a time of fasting, reflection, prayer, and community.
With the belief that Satan is locked up during this period1, Muslims view Ramadan as an opportunity to nourish the soul through enhanced devotion, often demonstrating the potential of what Muslims can achieve without the influence of worldly desires.
This is why many Muslims find it easier to practice during this period – with the opportunity to focus more closely on their faith, this time can also mark a beginning – a moment to set good habits for prayer, the reading of the Qur’an and community engagement, with the vision to continue this moving forward.
More than just fasting?
The process of fasting is a physical way of practicing self-control and discipline, while allowing Muslims to develop a stronger sense of empathy for those who are less fortunate and all while fostering traits of good character. From dawn to sunset, most Muslims will refrain from eating and drinking anything, something which is more widely known by those outside of the community, but the fasting process also includes refraining from certain behaviours, such as swearing or gossiping.
Too often, non-Muslims associate the focus of this period too heavily on the idea of restriction – but Sairah wants to change that narrative. Since childhood, for herself and for those around her, the fasting process is massively looked forward to throughout each year.
“I feel a strong physical difference during Ramadan – so much closer to my religion and able to find time to prioritise this, where life often gets in the way, and I love that. I connect more strongly to my community, to my family and to what matters the most to me – my faith.”
Fasting in the workplace
That isn’t to say that fasting doesn’t come without its challenges. During the fasting period, life, and all of its responsibilities, continue on – which is why it’s important to be considerate of your Muslim peers and colleagues within this time. Being flexible where possible to accommodate prayer is important, but beyond that, it is important not to make presumptions – each Muslim is unique in their relationship to their faith, and to this time, so be guided by them.
The word that continues to be prevalent in this conversation for those non-Muslim colleagues who want to be more supportive, is to be “mindful.” Learning more about Ramadan, and about what this means for those around you is a fantastic first step – remember that this period is a celebration, a fulfilling time with a focus on building good character, that we can all learn something from.
1 “When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1899, Sahih Muslim 1079)
Sairah’s first Ramadan in the workplace
Having grown up in largely white and non-Muslim peer groups, Sairah describes how the perspective and learnings that she has gained through her engagement and relationships with other Muslims whether that be family, friends, peers, and now colleagues, have helped to carve out her own sense of identity as a Muslim and share the importance of Ramadan with others.
Now in her first full time role since completing her degree, Sairah continues to build new and meaningful connections within the workplace. One relationship which has been particularly significant to her is between herself and her line manager Salma, who is also Muslim and has helped her to open up more about her faith in the workplace.
Like Sairah, this Ramadan also marks a special milestone for Salma – as the first she has shared with another Muslim in the workplace in over 17 years. Sairah shares her excitement:
“I feel so grateful to have someone to share this experience with in my first year of working full-time, especially after learning that Salma had never been able to celebrate this time with a Muslim colleague before.
“To have that in my first workplace is a testament to the growth and the importance of ED&I. I joined Social through a programme with the Taylor Bennett Foundation, a charity which supports black and minority ethnic people into PR. There is still underrepresentation, but there are ongoing initiatives to improve this.
“Being able to share this Ramadan with Salma is a huge marker of this progress and will be hugely special to the both of us.”
Take a leaf out of Sairah’s book. In her short time at Social, she has begun to spearhead new ED&I initiatives and better educate those around her; she is a mentor and figure of support across the business and continues to advocate for change both in and outside of the workplace.
In her own words:
“Not all workplaces are made equal, and I recognise that, but you are never too small to make an impact on those around you.”
A very Social Ramadan
To observe Ramadan with colleagues, Sairah organised a team fast for those who wished to show support during this month or were curious about the experience of fasting.
On Tuesday, March 18th, seventeen colleagues from Social’s Manchester, Leeds, and London offices joined Sairah and Salma in a day of fasting, culminating in an Iftari meal to break the fast together.
“Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority. So, whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then let them fast an equal number of days after Ramadan.
Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.”
By Sairah Butt and Anna Harman, Account Executives