Ramadan is a Holy month eagerly anticipated by many Muslims throughout the year. It is a period where Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn till dusk. Fasting is a fundamental pillar of Islam and is seen as an act of worship which holds profound significance.  

Ramadan goes beyond just abstaining from food and drink; it is a time of deepening our connection with Allah the Almighty, time of spiritual renewal, self-improvement, and deep reflection. During this sacred month, the rewards for acts of worship and goodness, regardless of their scale, are magnified immensely, which inspires Muslims to increase their worship.  

Through acts of worship and reflection, Ramadan becomes a transformative journey towards spiritual and personal growth in various aspects of our life. Muslims endeavour to strengthen their spiritual connection while actively striving to remove negative habits and build positive habits which we would like to implement throughout the year. We use this month to reset and reboot ourselves, refocusing ourselves on the things that nourish our soul. 

Ramadan is known as the month of the Holy Quran since the first revelation was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Hence, Muslims make extra efforts to build a deeper connection with the Holy Quran to honor the gift we have been granted and to gain reward. By acting on the guidance of the Holy Quran, it teaches Muslims to be kind, compassionate, disciplined and play an active role in the betterment of their communities and gives us guidance on how to navigate various challenges in life.  

Ramadan is also the month of giving back to the community. Giving in charity is an emphasised act for Muslims throughout the year, but especially during Ramadan, Muslims extend their generosity by helping those in need. It is also a way to gives thanks to Allah the Almighty for the blessings we have been blessed with. 

The moments that I cherish during Ramadan: 

For me, Ramadan is a period of healing, where I seek to strengthen my connection with Allah the Almighty and the Holy Quran. It presents an opportunity to devote more time to studying Islam and gives me a chance to slow down and bring my focus back to the things that matter to me the most. One of my most cherished moments during Ramadan is going to Taraweeh pray (late night pray in Ramadan) at the mosque. During the Taraweeh prayer, we pray while listening to beautiful recitation of the Quran which feels incredibly peaceful and healing. 

Other moments that matter to me are family time. The early morning banter and chats while we are all making our suhoor (essentially breakfast but at around 3am/4am) and having Iftar (breaking my fast) with loved ones in the evenings. Seeing my little cousins excited about Ramadan and Eid is heartwarming. During this period, we make extra efforts to spend more time together with our family, friends, and community for Iftar. The communal spirit, family time, and joyous atmosphere are blessings and among my highlights during the month, for which I am grateful, especially knowing that there are Muslims who are not able to experience that due to various circumstances. 

The month of Ramadan is about showing compassion and generosity. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the struggle and challenges of Muslims who have eagerly waited for Ramadan throughout the year but will be spending Ramadan displaced from their homes, grieving the loss of their loved ones, and will be spending Ramadan without them, unsure when their next meal will be. As a community and as humans, it is our responsibility to keep them in our prayers and to also extend our help in any way we can. 

How can we support Muslim colleagues during Ramadan:

• Remote, flexible work schedules during the month to accommodate the needs of Muslim employees who will have needed to wake up in the early hours of the day to begin their fast and those who would have dedicated their time for extra prayers. 
• Avanade Eemployees in the U.K. will be able to alternate up to 4 of their annual bank holidays to celebrate the day and observances that are central to their religion, ethnicity, cultural heritage or other parts of their identity. 
• Anticipate holiday requests around the final 10 days of Ramadan and Eid as they are quite important. 
• For teams to have an open conversation with their Muslim colleagues and clients about what their specific individual needs might be during this month so that they can balance work and fasting. 
• Be mindful that they might need more breaks and may take longer to finish some tasks especially later in the day where their energy levels might be lower. 
• Wish Muslim colleagues “Ramadan Mubarak” (meaning “Have a blessed Ramadan”) and do not be hesitant to ask questions about our experiences, being curious and asking any questions you may have.