Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. It’s considered one of the most spiritual times of the year and signifies the time during which the Qur’an was revealed.

Different people will be celebrating Ramadan in various ways. Many Muslims find Ramadan is a time where their usual spiritual practice increases, whilst other Muslims find Ramadan is a time to connect more with their faith than they do at other times of the year. This is part of each individuals’ journey.

This year, Ramadan is predicted to take place on Friday 28 February and last until approximately Sunday 30 March. Fasting Muslims will refrain from food and water from sunrise to sunset throughout this time. Eid-Al-Fitr (day of celebration) will be held on Monday 31 March.

Join our iftars in the Faith & Reflection Centre

Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast during Ramadan and is the meal Muslims have once the sun sets. It typically starts with eating dates and drinking water, followed by a larger meal with various dishes.

If you’re observing Ramadan, you’re welcome to join us at one of the iftars we’re hosting in March. The details of this will be shared shortly, so please keep checking the staff intranet and BU This Week.

Our Faith & Reflection Centre will be open until 8pm on weekdays during Ramadan for our Muslim students and staff to be able to break their prayers and fast.

How to support Muslims at work during Ramadan

Supporting Muslims at work goes beyond thinking about what to say to someone fasting for Ramadan; it’s about showing an understanding and considering how you can support them during this time. Here are some ways for supporting Muslims at work during Ramadan:

Be flexible with working arrangements and time off for Ramadan:

Where possible, options for flexible working and time off are key to supporting Muslims at work. Fasting will likely have an impact on energy levels, coupled with longer nights spent in community and worship. Colleagues can be supported with more frequent rest breaks and more inclusive meeting hours. This could include earlier starts and earlier finishes, forgoing lunch breaks for an earlier finish and having meetings during more core working hours.

Be prepared for annual leave requests for Eid celebrations:

Eid is the festival which marks the end of Ramadan. It’s a happy occasion and a day of true thanksgiving for Muslims. The day begins with giving to charity and prayers in the Mosque, and then Muslims share celebratory meals with family and friends and exchange gifts.

As with the start of Ramadan, the exact date of Eid also depends on the sighting of the moon. This means many people may need to request time off at relatively short notice and others may request a range of two to three days off to make sure they will be off work at the right time. A pragmatic approach and open dialogue with employees is the best way forward.

Be mindful of planned coffee or cake sessions: 

If you have any informal coffee and cake sessions or team drinks planned over the next month, perhaps consider changing it up with another activity like a game or quiz instead to make it more inclusive. Also, if someone in the team is kind enough to bring in cakes or other tasty treats for colleagues, do ensure that these are left in a kitchenette or break area for grazing rather than an adjacent desk.

Discuss with your staff how to best support them:

Everyone will have a different relationship and approach to their faith. Be mindful not to assume your staff members needs.

If you teach students who are observing Ramadan:

If you’re teaching students who are fasting, please be mindful that they will need to break their fast at sunset. If this clashes with your class please be mindful that they may need a few minutes to have a drink or something to eat.

Snacks in the library at sunset:

Snacks such as dates will be provided in the entranceways to both our libraries at sunset for anyone observing Ramadan: The Sir Michael Cobham Library on Talbot Campus and the Weston Library in Bournemouth Gateway Building on Lansdowne Campus. Please help yourselves!

Further resources: 

Our Islamic Faith Adviser Sister Tama has put together this information to help our Muslim colleagues, such as what’s going on in the local community and information about a hadith project running throughout Ramadan.

You can also take a look at this video which answers lots of useful questions such as:

• What is Ramadan?
• Which mosque can I go to to break my fast?
• Are there facilities on campus to break my fast?
• Which mosques provide taraweeh and iftah facilities?

Oxford Brookes University has also compiled this guide on how to create an inclusive approach to teaching and learning during Ramadan, which you might find useful.

While festivities are a happy time for most, it can be also be difficult for those who have lost loved ones or are unable to be with their families during the celebrations. This is a timely reminder that the BU Faith & Reflection Centre is here to support staff and students of all faiths – and none – who may find the opportunity for listening, connection and encounter with an adviser helpful in this time.

The Faith & Reflection Centre, which can be found in Talbot House on Talbot Campus, also has an Islamic prayer room, which colleagues can use throughout the week.

Do wish any colleagues that you know are celebrating and observing Ramadan “Ramadan Mubarak!” (“Rah-mah-dahn Moo-bah-rahk!”) and if you have any questions about how to apply reasonable adjustments to individual cases, please email HRAdvisors@bournemouth.ac.uk.