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RAMADAN THE LOWDOWN DURING LOCKDOWN
WELCOME TO THE
LOWDOWN DURING
LOCKDOWN -
THE RAMADAN EDITION.
A holy month of fasting starts as the
lunar calendar lands on ‘Ramadan
1, 1441 AH’ (more on dates later). Muslims
around the world are gearing up to 30 days
of no food or drink (no, not even water)
during daylight hours. We’re about to
CONTENTS
witness the behaviour and consumption
patterns of 1.8 billion people worldwide
transform even more than they have
already during the pandemic.
Some 2.5 million of them will be in the What is Ramadan? 3
UK, under lockdown for the first time in
history and trying hard to make the holy
month more homely. ‘Mosques and Muslim When does Ramadan start this year? 4
organisations across the UK are working
to ensure a remote Ramadan can still be
spiritually uplifting’ according to Harun Wasn’t Ramadan later last year? 4
Khan, Secretary General of the Muslim
Council of Britain.
Ram-acular: the vernacular of Ramadan 5
Mosques and Muslim organisations
adapting makes sense, but what about
where you work? Don’t fret - we’ve made What happens at Eid-al-Fitr? 6
this handy guide to help you navigate the
month. If you’re Muslim then share it with
your colleagues, and if you’re not Muslim How do Muslims feel about
then feast your eyes (and nothing else - it’s Ramadan this year? 7
nil-by-mouth) on how to be a good ally this
month.
How can I make Ramadan more
Ramadan Mubarak! homely for my colleagues? 8
Is it okay to ask….? 9
Some practical resources 11WHAT
IS RAMADAN?
Although Ramadan is best known for a period of fasting, there is actually a lot more to it than
forgoing meals. Ramadan is observed by Muslims all over the world and is the month when the
‘Qur’an’, the Islamic holy book, was revealed to Prophet Muhammed by the angel Gabriel. This
occurred on one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar called Laylat al-Qadr, or the "Night of
Power", which is either observed on the 23rd night by Shia muslims, or the 27th night of Ramadan
by Sunni Muslims.
The month provides a time for Muslims to reflect on their faith, and have empathy for those who
are less fortunate than themselves. Fasting provides the opportunity to feel what it’s like, and in
addition to not eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset, Muslims spend the time praying and
doing charitable acts called “zakat.”
These all fall under the 5 pillars of Islam:
SHAHADA SAWM ZAKAT SALAT HAJJ
DECLARATION OF FASTING CHARITY PRAYER PILGRIMAGE
FAITH
3WHEN DOES
RAMADAN START
THIS YEAR?
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the
new moon which is declared globally by
Saudi Arabia. The month may start on
Thursday 23rd April, or it could be Friday
24th April - but what we do know is that
it will last for 29 or 30 days.
Image credit: Huda Fahmy
WASN’T RAMADAN
LATER LAST YEAR?
Every year we hear ‘gosh Ramadan has just crept up on us this year! Wasn’t it later last year?’
Well yes, it was. Muslims follow a specific lunar calendar called the ‘Hijiri year’. It is 10-11 days
shorter than the Gregorian calendar, meaning the dates of Ramadan shift forward slightly every
year. People in their 30s today will remember the time when fasts were short as Ramadan was in
Autumn.
The year we typically know as 2020 CE, is actually 1441 AH of the Islamic calendar. It is believed
that Ramadan began in the seventh century close to the beginning of the Islamic calendar in 622
CE, marking the year Prophet Muhammed migrated from Mecca to Medina - two places that are
considered the birthplace of Islam.
4RAM-ACULAR:
THE VERNACULAR OF
RAMADAN
Now that we have covered the basics of the
what and when of Ramadan, here are the
terminologies you need to know to navigate
the holy month.
Suhoor The meal prepared and eaten in the morning by Muslims ahead of a day of
fasting and the sunrise prayers (Fajr). Also known as ‘sehri’.
Iftar The fast opening meal prepared and eaten in time for sunset prayers
(Maghrib). Also known as ‘fatoor’.
Namaz The Arabic word for prayers. Muslims are called to prayer five times a day.
As well as sunrise and set, Muslims pray ‘Dhuhr’ (lunchtime prayer), ‘Asr’
(mid afternoon) and ‘Isha’ (night prayers).
Tarawih These are additional prayers that are performed at night after Isha prayer
at the mosque. The Qu’ran is read from start to finish (ending on Laylat-al-
Qadr), however this year mosques around the world have scrapped people
congregating for these prayers due to Covid-19.
Wudu The first step in prayer - wudu is the washing of the hands, mouth, nostrils,
arms, head and feet with water in preparation for namaz. You’re not
supposed to sing happy birthday while doing it though.
Dates Nothing to do with swiping right - dates (the fruit) are mentioned in the
Qu’ran and tradition has it that the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) opened his
fast with three dates and water.
Rooh Afza A syrupy neon red drink that has become a staple of breaking iftar for
Muslims. People serve it in milkshakes, ice-creams or with a dessert.
Pbuh If you noticed that above, it stands for ‘peace be upon him’ - when Muslims
refer to the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) they usually add that acronym at
the end out of respect.
Chand Don’t get this confused with ‘Chana Chaat,’ a spicy chickpea dish, it’s
the eve of Eid-al-Fitr celebrated on the sighting of the new moon. People
Raat celebrate this by buying new clothes for Eid, having a big iftar with loved
ones, or preparing henna patterns.
Eidi At the end of Ramadan comes Eid (more on that shortly) - Muslims give
gifts to each other. Parents (or other elders) will often give children money,
aka ‘Eidi’ (pronounced Ee-dee).
5WHAT HAPPENS AT
EID-AL-FITR?
Eid-al-Fitr - quite literally ‘the Festival of
Breaking the Fast’, will likely be celebrated
on the 23rd or 24th of May, for a period of
three days.
Muslims globally wait in apprehension
for Eid-al-Fitr to be declared by Saudi
Arabia to begin celebrating three days of
‘Small Eid.’ (Eid-al-Adha gets the crown
of ‘Big Eid’ as it lasts for four days). Just
as ‘BAME ain’t the same,’ Islam isn’t the
same everywhere, so Ramadan traditions
differ slightly globally and between
different sects of Islam.
Nonetheless, the first day usually begins
for most Muslims with morning prayers,
followed by celebration with friends and
family. Celebration lasts throughout the
three days and often involves gifting
traditional sweets like ‘Mithai’ or ‘Baklava,’
buying new clothes and feasting with
loved ones. Most importantly, ‘Zakat-
al-Fitr,’ or ‘Fitrana,’ is a donation given
specifically on Eid-al-Fitr by all self-
sufficient adults to those less fortunate
than themselves.
Muslims are waiting with baited breath to
see what lockdown restrictions will still
be in place by the time Eid comes around.
It’s expected that Covid-19 will have a
big impact on these communal, sociable
gatherings this year and you should stay
tuned to the Muslim Council of Britain
website for the latest.
6HOW DO MUSLIMS FEEL
ABOUT RAMADAN THIS
YEAR?
Part of the magic of Ramadan comes from socialising through
iftar meals and tarawih prayers. While this is going to be
prohibited this year, feelings remain mixed for Muslims.
We asked some to tell us how they’re feeling:
At Amaliah as part of our WFH standup we’ve started reading 6mins of Quran, just to start
getting into the flow for Ramadan where some of us try and read more Quran.
“The communal, offline aspect is pretty much being stripped away this Ramadan due
to lockdown. There are rituals like night prayers that are important in some people’s
Ramadan routines as well as food gatherings and late night dessert trips to fulfil cravings!”
- Nafisa Bakker, CEO of Amaliah - Media platform and agency
In all honesty, we’ve been too busy to even give Ramadan much thought. What we do know
is that it will be much quieter and less extravagant. Those after midnight meals won’t be
feasts - not that they should have ever been - but mums can’t help themselves. It’s a lot
more back and forth than it used to be. We have our huge bag of rice and a drum full of
atta (flour). That’s all we will need but we want to make sure others get their basics too.
It’s going to be an exhausting one this year for us”.
- Amna Saleem, screenwriter & broadcaster whose parents run Tollhouse Xtra Local in
Glasgow.
Ramadan for British Muslims will look markedly different this year with the current social
distancing measures in place, but mosques and Muslim organisations across the UK are
working to ensure a remote Ramadan can still be spiritually uplifting.
“While it is typical for families to stock up with products for meals during the month of
fasting, they should remain conscious of the difficult circumstances we all face now with
the pandemic and ensure that we only purchase in reasonable quantities which allows for
everyone to acquire what they need.
“Whilst Ramadan is usually spent with friends, families and communities, eating in the
mosques or out at restaurants, Muslims this year will be looking at how to make the most
of the holy month in their homes.”
- Harun Khan, Secretary General of the MCB
7HOW CAN I MAKE
RAMADAN MORE
HOMELY FOR MY
COLLEAGUES?
Many of the traditions associated with Ramadan, like family iftars, or visiting the mosque are
done with a whole community behind you. That means this time under lockdown may feel extra
isolating for Muslims as the UK enters another month of working from home.
To be receptive to this, here are some of our ‘rama-dos’ to make the holy month especially homely
for your colleagues and employees:
Flexibility Ramadan completely shifts your body clock. To be mindful of this, flexible
working hours will allow your Muslim employees to make time for prayers
and their new meal schedule during these longer spring days.
Privacy Unless video calls are a necessity, offering the option to switch off cameras
is a great way to not only be accessible to everyone’s needs, but also to
improve the quality of the call.
Wellbeing Build Ramadan into weekly check-in meetings to ensure that Muslim
colleagues’ wellbeing is being prioritised - monitoring energy levels
check ins throughout the day is a first step towards this too.
Mindfulness Encourage the team to be respectful of their Muslim peers; not eating lunch
on camera, or avoiding having their videos on if they are in the kitchen is an
easy way to adapt to colleagues needs.
Openness If you are unsure about an arabic pronunciation, or have a burning question
about certain practices - don’t be afraid to ask questions and acknowledge
this is not your forte, instead hand the mic over to your Muslim peers.
Challenging Working often makes fasting easier, since it gives you something to focus
on beside, well, eating. Use this time to give your Muslim employees some
brain occupying tasks to be creative and think differently.
8IS IT OKAY ? ? ?
? ? ?
TO ASK...? ? ? ? ?
? ??? ??? ??? ??
? ? ? ? ?
? ?
? ?
? ??? ?? ??? ?
?? ???? ???
If you’re not up for asking your colleagues
about Ramadan directly, we’ve done it
? ?
for you. We put a call out for the burning
questions people want answered in the run
up to Ramadan and pooled advice from our
network. Here are the best bits and top tips:
What’s the best way to Is there anything I shouldn’t
acknowledge the start of say / talk about?
Ramadan - can I say Happy Although most Muslims would be happy to
answer any questions you may have, there
Ramadan? are a couple of questions and topics that,
although not offensive, are ones your Muslim
The best way to start off the month of peers may be tired of hearing over and over
Ramadan is with “Ramadan Mubarak,” this again.
would loosely translate to ‘have a blessed
Ramadan.’ In response to someone saying We recommend being sensitive to questions
this, the typical reply would be “Khair surrounding eating and drinking, and along
Mubarak,” which means ‘to you too’ or ‘bless with that, commentary around exercise and
you too.’ weight gain/loss. Questions like “so you can’t
eat or drink for 30 days straight?” or “not
You may have also seen the term “Ramadan even water?” can definitely get tiring. So as
Kareem” used, however this directly means a reminder, Muslims stop eating or drinking
‘generous Ramadan,’ so if you want to use this from sunrise to sunset, and have a big meal,
term, we would recommend that you put it in a or iftar at the end of the day and often drink
sentence, like ‘Ramadan Kareem has arrived.’ their 2ls of water until that next sunrise.
If all else fails, ‘have a wonderful Ramadan’ Another area to be mindful of is asking why
works just as well too! certain Muslims may not be fasting, as this
may put them on the spot to explain why.
N
Muslims who have chronic health conditions,
M A D A concerns for their mental health, older or
R A
young people, as well as people during their
K
periods, do not have to fast. There are also
B A R A exceptions for people who are pregnant,
M U
ill or travelling, so it is best to avoid these
sensitive topics.
9Ramadan from home - is it
better or worse?
The answer to this question will differ
between Muslim households. On one hand,
it is definitely easier to work from home
without being packed into a crammed central
line train in the heat of summer. However, as
we know BAME people are disproportionately
represented on the frontlines, so many key
workers may be Muslim and working on the
frontlines whilst fasting - which would be
much harder.
The circumstances even of working
from home are so varied - you may have
colleagues living alone in a small studio
with no outdoor space, with a large multi-
generational family constantly making noise
or with small children who require extra
attention. To be mindful of supporting your
I want to acknowledge
Muslim employees, having 1 on 1 sessions
to check in, is a good idea rather than
and celebrate Eid with my
discussing their current situation openly with
the whole team in group meetings.
From a community perspective, Ramadan is colleague - how can I do it
during lockdown?
a time to be with others, especially extended
family and friends. In this respect, the
lockdown will be a difficult time to navigate.
From visits to the mosque, 3am suhoor Starting off with a congratulatory “Eid
breakfasts with cousins or late iftar trips to Mubarak” is a great first start!
dessert bars with friends, this Ramadan will
require some ritual breaking and cultural Showing your employees that Ramadan
shifts. Whether that’s for the better or worse is important could be as small or big as
is yet to be decided... you want. In general, make sure to confirm
holiday requests early for Eid or offer an
extended paid leave to celebrate the holiday.
This year however, Eid falls on the weekend
and also into the spring bank holiday, so
Muslims should have three days off to
celebrate over the long weekend!
Ramadan is also the time of giving, so talk
to your CSR team to see if there is a way
to work with Muslim colleagues to embed
culture nuances into upcoming charity
initiatives or simply donate to a cause they
care about. (See next page for resources)
10SOME PRACTICAL
RESOURCES
Before we bid you farewell, here are some
resources that we think are worth shouting
about! Ramadan is not just for Muslims -
non-Muslims are encouraged to take part in
a fast or two to see what it is about. Some
resources to help everyone are:
For people fasting: For people who want food for thought:
My Open Iftar has shared a pack to We wrote for The Drum on how
give you all the tools you need to brands should prepare for Ramadan
create an iftar at home. in the year of Covid-19.
Ramadan Legacy has an app with a Get the results from our survey on
30 day interactive Ramadan planner, a how Muslims really feel about their
content feed and live social stream to identity in the UK and how that affects
guide your fasting. your organisation in our Stereotypes
Study.
The London Central Mosque has a
list of resources and information Read the Muslim Council of Britain’s
especially for people new to Islam, advice for this year over on the BBC
as well as printable timetable for news website.
Ramadan this year.
Here’s an article from us on PR
Young minds and the NHS have some Week about the Rama-do’s and
guidance and tips on navigating don’ts for organisations who want to
Ramadan with a mental illness or understand Muslims.
health condition.
And finally, you can read Reuters
Authors Idli & Rahma Rodaah have report on how Muslims globally are
worked together to create a Mindful affected under the new curfews and
Ramadan and Productive Ramadan conditions of life under quarantine
guide. You can download their free here.
week iftar plan here.
11RAMADAN
MUBARAK
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