Hello everyone, my name is Farida Daud, and I am the Orthotics and Dietetics Admin Lead at ELHT. I am also the Chair of the Muslim colleague network and today I have the pleasure in being this week’s guest blogger.
I think it is important to learn about each other and equally to feel like we can bring our whole selves to work. At ELHT inclusivity is something that is encouraged and embraced. I hope sharing my experience will be educational to others and inspire discussion around what is important to each of us.
So today, I will start by saying Ramadan Mubarak (this means, happy or blessed Ramadan) to all of those observing Ramadan and fasting.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. As the Islamic calendar is based around the lunar cycle, Ramadan rotates by approximately ten days each year. This year Ramadan began in the evening of Wednesday 22 March and will last for 29 and 30 days depending on the sighting of the moon. Eid is expected to fall on either Friday 21st or Saturday 22nd depending on moon sightings.
Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a time of spiritual reflection, of self-improvement, and worship, as well as the most known action – fasting from sunrise to sunset. Not everyone fasts during Ramadan, there are people who are exempt. This includes the elderly, children, pregnant women and those who are too unwell.
I often get asked about Ramadan, mainly why do I stop eating and drinking and how do I do it! But in truth, there is so much more to Ramadan than refraining from eating and drinking, which feels much easier to do than the much larger challenge of refining and refreshing ourselves both physically and mentally.
Not being able to walk to the hospital restaurant when at work, or fridge when I am home, to eat whatever I’d like and not being able to turn on the tap for a drink of water, reminds me of all the many people across the world who may have to walk for miles in search of food or to access a clean water supply. It helps me to develop a greater understanding, and to be more appreciative of the things I normally take for granted.
Fasting isn’t only about withholding food and water but also about abstaining from using bad language, smoking or any other bad habits and behaviours. Ramadan provides me with the time to reflect on how I live my life, what I have done since last year and what positive changes I can make to strengthen my spiritual belief and practice. Ramadan is the month the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed Peace be upon him. As Muslims we believe that the Quran is the word of Allah and therefore Ramadan becomes a great opportunity to reconnect and converse with Allah directly, spending time in prayer and reflection makes Ramadan more meaningful. For me it’s about strengthening my spirituality to last me for the next 12 months until I am blessed with another month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a time of coming together, sharing between friends, family and neighbours who gather to open fasts, share food and make happy memories. Ramadan is also the month where blessings are increased and good actioned rewarded. For many it is a time to engage or increase charitable work by making donations, feeding the less fortunate and performing acts of kindness.
As the sun sets fasts are broken with a special prayer and iftar, a meal which usually starts with dates and Zam Zam water (water from the well in Mecca) or milk to emulate the way the prophet Mohammed broke his fast.
Ramadan ends with the sighting of the new moon and the start of the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”, Eid al-Fitr.
In celebration Muslims often put mehndi (henna) on and wear new or their very best clothes to attend the mosque for a special prayer service called salat al-eid. Eid can last up to three days and is filled with delicious homemade food, exchanging gifts and spending quality time with family and friends.
For everyone observing Ramadan, I hope the month is a great journey of spiritual development and may your hopes and prayers be answered. Please remember our ELHT family and the unfortunate ones in your blessed prayers.
Thank you.