As more people who practice the Islamic faith continue to immigrate to the United States, the number of practicing Muslims in the workforce grows as well. Understanding the concept and practices around Ramadan, which is one of the most important times of the year in Islam, can help employers provide a more inclusive workplace.
Ramadan is more than fasting from dawn until sunset. It’s a time of serious spiritual devotion and introspection. It also provides Islamic adherents a chance to learn to control desires and practice self-discipline.
Learning the basics about the Islamic faith and Ramadan – as well as all the major faiths and cultures – should become a priority in modern, diverse workplaces.
Subscribe to Fair360 Enterprise to read through these Ramadan resources:
- Meeting in a Box: Exploring Interfaith Inclusion as Part of Company Culture
- Ramadan: Creating an Inclusive Workplace
Misconceptions About Common Terms Related to Islam
The place for employers and coworkers to start is by understanding some basic terms, the meaning of which can become confusing from misuse in the media and on social media.
For example, Islam is the name of the religion, while Muslim refers to a follower of Islam. The two terms are the equivalent of Christianity and Christian or Judaism and Jewish.
Another common misunderstanding is thinking of the term Arab as synonymous with Muslim. Arab describes a member of a group of people united by a common language who first emerged from the geographic area known as the Arabian peninsula and neighboring countries.
Many Arabs are Muslims, but others are not. Similarly, many Muslims live in Arabian countries, but many others live far outside of Arab countries. That includes millions of Americans.
Islam Is the Second Largest Religion in the World
Islam is now the second-largest religion in the world behind only Christianity. An estimated 1.8 billion people worldwide consider themselves Muslims, with about 3.5 million living in the U.S. That number is only expected to grow, with Islam eventually becoming the second-largest religion in the U.S. by 2040.
Islam is a monotheistic faith that worships one all-powerful, merciful God (Allah) and adheres to the teachings of his prophet Muhammad. The faith started in the city of Mecca (now part of Saudi Arabia), Muhammad’s birthplace and home Kaaba, a stone temple located in the center of the Great Mosque. It is considered to be the most sacred spot on earth and is the destination for Muslims performing the Hajj pilgrimage.
The most important religious book in Islam is the Quran, which dates back to the year 610 AD.
Approximately 80% of all Muslims are Sunni, with roughly 15% practicing another denomination known as Shi’a.
The Importance of Ramadan in Islam
For practicing members of the Islamic faith, Ramadan is a month of fasting each day between sunrise and sunset. Fasting includes all food and drink, including water. Muslims also abstain from sexual activity during the day.
Other practices during Ramadan include visiting mosques, giving to charity, doing good deeds and introspection. In addition to the five daily prayers Muslims practice throughout the year, there also is a special night prayer during Ramadan called the Tarawih.
Ramadan marks the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which follows the lunar cycle. Because of this, the dates for Ramadan change every year. For 2024, the dates are from March 10 (after the moon is sighted over Mecca) to April 9. The celebration called Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan.
During Eid al-Fitr, it’s common practice for Muslim friends and family to gather together for a special prayer. Additionally, they celebrate a successful month of fasting with a feast. It’s common to hear (and read on social media) “Eid Mubarak,” a term Muslims exchange during this celebration. Essentially, it means “blessed feast/festival” in the Arabic language.
Another significant day during Ramadan is Laylat al-Qadr. This occurs near the end of Ramadan and marks the night Muslims believe that the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Ramadan is considered one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith. They include:
- Shahadah: Affirmation that there is only one God and Mohammed is his messenger
- Salat: Praying five times each day
- Zakat: Charitable giving
- Sawm: Fasting during Ramadan
- Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims make at least once in a lifetime
How Employers Can Support Muslim Employees During Ramadan
The first and best step employers can take is to educate people within the organization about the basics of Islam and Ramadan. As with employees of any faith, a respectful understanding of the faith and practices of Muslim employees will be appreciated by employees and also boost morale and productivity.
“We’ve got to have a workplace where every story matters and where every person has a sense of belonging,” Nouman Ashraf, an assistant professor at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, told CBC.
Wishing a Muslim co-worker a “happy, blessed and successful Ramadan” acknowledges an understanding and appreciation of Ramadan. On a practical note, managers can also assign more demanding tasks in the morning when Muslim employees typically have more energy.
The Issue of Fasting
When it comes to Ramadan at a non-Muslim office, most of the issues revolve around the fasting that the month requires.
Essentially, managers and coworkers need to understand that Muslim employees and coworkers cannot participate in eating or drinking at work as they do the other 11 months of the year. No coffee breaks or runs to the local diner for lunch – even when everyone else is doing it or “no one is watching.”
Coworkers can help in this area by not having a big event involving food. Managers can do the same by not scheduling a “working lunch” for teams that have Muslim members. However, if these events happen, it’s OK to eat around Muslims (most do not mind) but don’t offer them food, according to Edward Ahmed Mitchell, Deputy Executive Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C.
