Equality in the City

“The promotion of equal opportunities has an important part to play in the City of London as a business City.

It is important both in helping individuals to achieve their potential and in contributing to productive business environments.

We very much welcome The Business of Faith project as part of a programme of initiatives to achieve our goal of an inclusive and outward looking City.”

Michael Snyder Chairman of Policy and Resources Committee Corporation of London

Further copies of this leaflet can be obtained from:

The Business of Faith 78 Bishopsgate

London EC2N 4AG

T: 020 7496 1610 F: 020 7638 1440

info@thebusinessoffaith.org www.thebusinessoffaith.org

Project co-ordinators:

Justine Huxley and Salim A. Nakhjavani

Saeed AbdulRahim is an educator dedicated to raising awareness about Is-lamic issues and addressing misconceptions. He has given presentations at the US Embassy in London, the London School of Theology and Southwark Cathedral, as well as well as speaking on national TV and radio. He is involved in inter-faith events and conferences and served as a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Reference Group on Muslim-Christian dialogue. He can be contacted at:

Islamic Wisdom, P.O. Box 45030, London N4 3WY islamic_wisdom@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: 020 7263 1966 / 07960 110425

Produced by the Business of Faith project City Inter-Faith Partnership www.thebusinessoffaith.org

Ramadan 2005: Briefing notes for managers The Business of Faith in collaboration with Saeed AbdulRahim

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims are obliged to fast from dawn until dusk. Ramadan is the holiest month of the Islamic year and is the period during which the Qur’an was revealed. Observant Muslims may gather in the evening to break the fast together and perform extra congregational prayers after sunset (known as Tarawih).

Fasting

Fasting, in various different forms, is a practice common to many faiths, including Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism. The Islamic practice is to abstain from food, liquids, smoking and physical intimacy between dawn and dusk. In common with other faiths, those fasting also endeavour to avoid idleness, gossip and back-biting. As the Islamic calendar is based on lunar months, exact dates depend on moon sightings and therefore can only be estimated in advance. In 2005 Ramadan is likely to start around Tuesday 4th October and likely to end around Wednesday 2nd November. Dawn and dusk times change gradually as the month progresses. This year, at the beginning of the month fasting starts at around 05:25 and ends at 18:10. At the end of the month, fasting begins at 04:50 and ends at 16:30 (see enclosed calendar).

Breaking Fast It is traditional to break the fast with some water and a few dates or a small snack. This is followed by after-dusk prayers, known as Maghrib, and then a main meal is shared. This is called Iftar. Ramadan is a time of strengthening community bonds. Most Muslims will want to break their fast and perform evening prayers with others.

Web Resources

Islamic Society of Britain www.isb.org.uk

Muslim Educational Trust www.muslim-ed-trust.org.uk London Central Mosque www.iccuk.org Q News: The Muslim Magazine www.q-news.com St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation & Peace www.stethelburgas.org The Business of Faith www.businessoffaith.org

Creating a supportive atmosphere Non-Muslim staff can show their consideration for fasting colleagues in a number of ways: ♦ Showing awareness and sensitivity around mealtimes. ♦ Being prepared for fasting colleagues to work slightly different

hours. ♦ Remembering that fasting is not easy. It takes considerable disci-

pline and commitment and may begin to affect concentration, mood and energy levels towards the end of the day.

♦ Being sensitive to the very real fears that some may have around

harassment and Islamaphobic attitudes.

Day Date Ram- adan

Imsak Fast begins Fajr

Sun-rise

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Fast ends

Isha Jama’at

Tue Oct 4 1 5:06 5:16 7:04 12:51 3:54 6:34 8:00

Wed Oct 5 2 5:07 5:17 7:05 12:51 3:52 6:32 8:00

Thu Oct 6 3 5:09 5:19 7:07 12:51 3:50 6:30 8:00

Fri Oct 7 4 5:11 5:21 7:09 12:51 3.49 6:27 8:00

Sat Oct 8 5 5:12 5:22 7:10 12:50 3:47 6:25 8:00

Sun Oct 9 6 5:14 5:24 7:12 12:50 3:45 6:23 8:00

Mon Oct 10 7 5:16 5:26 7:14 12.50 3.44 6:21 8:00

Tue Oct 11 8 5:18 5:28 7:15 12:49 3:42 6:19 8:00

Wed Oct 12 9 5.19 5:29 7:17 12:49 3:40 6:16 8:00

Thu Oct 13 10 5:21 5:31 7.19 12:49 3:38 6:14 8:00

Fri Oct 14 11 5:23 5:33 7:20 12:49 3:37 6:12 8:00

Sat Oct 15 12 5:24 5:34 7:22 12:48 3:35 6:10 8:00

Sun Oct 16 13 5:26 5:36 7:24 12:48 3:33 6:08 8:00

Mon Oct 17 14 5:28 5:38 7:26 12 48 3:32 6:06 8:00

Tue Oct 18 15 5:29 5:39 7:27 12.48 3:30 6:04 8:00

Wed Oct 19 16 5:31 5:41 7:29 12:48 3:29 6:01 8:00

Thu Oct 20 17 5:32 5:42 7-31 12:47 3:27 5:59 8:00

Fri Oct 21 18 5:34 5:44 7.32 12:47 3.25 5:57 8:00

Sat Oct 22 19 5:36 5:46 7:34 12:47 3:24 5:55 8:00

Sun Oct 23 20 5:37 5.47 7:36 12:47 3:22 5:53 8:00

Mon Oct 24 21 5:39 5:49 7:38 12:47 3:21 5:51 8:00

Tue Oct 25 22 5:41 5:51 7:39 12:47 3:19 5:49 8:00

Wed Oct 26 23 5 42 5:52 7:41 12:47 3:17 5:47 8:00

Thu Oct 27 24 5:44 5:54 7:43 12.47 3:16 5:45 8:00

Fri Oct 28 25 5:45 5:55 7:45 12:46 3:15 5:43 8:00

Sat Oct 29 26 5:47 5:57 7:46 1246 3:13 5:42 8:00

Sun Oct 30 27 4:48 4:58 6:48 11:46 2:12 4:40 7:00

Mon Oct 31 28 4:50 5:00 6:50 11:46 2:10 4:38 7:00

Tue Nov 1 29 4:52 5:02 6:52 11:46 2:09 4:36 7:00

Wed Nov 2 30 4:03 5:03 6:53 11:46 2:07 4:34 7:00

Ramadan Timetable London 2005 C.E. 1426 A.H.

Eid-al Fitr The end of the month of fasting is celebrated with a festival known as Eid-al Fitr. Usually this involves congregational prayers in a mosque, followed by a day of visiting friends and family, sharing food and giving presents. Like the start of Ramadan, the end of the fast is dependent on the sighting of the moon. The most likely date for Eid-al Fitr in 2005 is 3rd November.

“Diverse and engaged staff drive the creativity and profitability of any firm. It makes good business sense, and of course good com-mon sense, to make provision for religious requirements that will affect the working day. Accom-modating the fast during Rama-dan demonstrates that manag-ers are genuinely committed to work-life balance.”

Asim Siddiqui Chairman

The City Circle

Lailat-al Qadr Lailat al-Qadr (the Night of Power) is the holiest night of Ramadan during which it is traditional to spend the whole night in prayer and worship. Lailat-al Qadr can occur on any of the odd nights during the last 10 days of Ramadan (i.e. the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th). The precise date is not fixed, but many Muslims favour the 27th (i.e. the night following the 26th of Ramadan).

"We believe the world is a rich and diverse place in which cul-tures and peoples should be treated with respect. This proposition is fundamental to our business strategy.”

Tony Ramos Head of Diversity

HSBC Bank plc

Prayer

Many Muslims will be more regular with their prayers during the month of Ramadan. Of the five obligatory prayers in the Islamic day, the midday and afternoon prayers (Dhuhr and Asr ) are most likely to fall within normal business hours. These take about 10-15 minutes to perform and this year will fall around 12.45 and 15.30. The prayers at noon on Fridays have a special significance and are performed where possible in congregation with others and preceded by a short sermon.

Flexible working hours

Those fasting during Ramadan will have a slightly different daily routine from usual. The most likely need Muslim staff may present to managers during this period is for flexibility around working hours and break times. Of course this should be by prior arrangement with managers and their ability to accommodate requests should be balanced against business needs. It is useful for HR departments and Diversity teams to brief managers in advance so they are prepared for the kind of requests they might receive. Since observant Muslims may rise very early to eat and drink before the fast begins, those whose work environment allows it, may wish to set out for work earlier than usual, and finish their working day correspondingly early. They may also wish to pray at lunchtimes, particularly on a Friday, or to forgo the usual meal break in order to finish work in time to break the fast and pray with others at dusk.

Annual leave

Many Muslim staff will want to take Eid-al Fitr as annual leave (or in lieu of a Christian or public holiday). Eid-al Fitr is a three day festival although many Muslims only take the first day as holiday. Until the new moon has been sighted, the date can only be estimated. Some may also wish to take additional days in the last week of Ramadan or following Lailat-al Qadr.

Prayer space

Employers may wish to consider offering a space in which prayers can take place. If it is not possible to do this all year round, it may be worth considering a temporary space made available for the duration of Ramadan. From an Islamic perspective, such a space needs only to be clean and free from religious symbols or images representing human or animal forms. Staff can provide their own prayer mats. With negotiation about prayer times, the room can easily be shared with those of other faiths or used for business purposes. In some cases, depending on the views of those using the room, it may be necessary to provide a screen in order to create a separate space for female members of staff to pray. Since Maghrib prayers (post-dusk) take place late in the day immediately after the breaking of the fast, some businesses may feel able to offer their staff restaurant or canteen for this purpose. Other offices may have a meeting room they could free up for an hour or two a day, for the afternoon and early evening prayers, for breaking fast, or once a week on a Friday.

Faith networks

Larger businesses may want to consider setting up faith networks within their company. Such networks can communicate by means of an email newsgroup and can arrange social events or prayer meetings. These net-works can help foster a sense of support and inclusion for members of staff of different religious and cultural backgrounds. Ramadan is an ideal time for HR departments to explore creating faith-based community groups within their business. For more detailed advice about the creation of prayer spaces and faith networks, or for publications and resources, please contact the Business of Faith.

Resources

Employers may wish to consider providing a notice board or resource table in a common area which can display relevant information.