Posted by Umm Sahl in Featured, Ramadan | 14 Comments
10 Ideas for Ramadan at your workplace
If work is simply the place you earn your bread and punch in your hours, why not redefine it this Ramadan? Make your workplace the scenario for Dawa, especially in the current tension-filled atmosphere of misunderstandings about Islam and Muslims.
Here are some ideas that can help you share Ramadan with your boss and coworkers this year.
1. Begin informing people about it as soon as possible
Start telling bosses, supervisors and coworkers about Ramadan now. Bring it up in the course of conversation casually.
In terms of when Ramadan starts and ends, just give the projected date (i.e. for Ramadan this year, it’s August 11). Don’t get non-Muslims involved in the technicalities of finding out the correct date. Do the same for Eid. You can decide for yourself which date to start and stop fasting on.
2. Post it up
On your office or department bulletin board, put up a factsheet on Ramadan, with a short introduction of yourself and which department you are from. Don’t just give the facts, but also include a few sentences about what this blessed month means to you (i.e. spiritual growth, closeness to God, being more generous, etc.).
3. Get an article printed in your local newspaper and circulate copies
This will not only be good Dawa – it may even promote department/company pride (i..e. one of our employees is a writer too!). Post it up with the masthead of the newspaper on top.
4. Negotiate your lunch hour with the boss
This is another task that needs to be done as soon as possible. Explain that you will need a short break for prayer and then you will take lunch break at Iftar time.
5. Talk to the office cafeteria people about your Iftar needs
If you normally buy lunch at the cafeteria, explain to the cafeteria staff that you would like to arrange to have your lunch saved for Iftar time. Ask them to keep one serving of lunch in the fridge so you can pick it up at Iftar time.
6. Create a “Ramadan corner” at your desk
If you have your own desk at work, dedicate a corner of it that is accessible to passersby the “Ramadan corner”. Put a basket of dates, sweets, written information on Ramadan and maybe a small frame of eye-catching Islamic calligraphy on it. Post a note inviting coworkers to the free sweets and information.
7. Have a small Iftar gathering at your desk
Invite coworkers to a snack of dates and fresh fruits during Iftar time. At least once, have a more formal meal ready for everyone (check with your boss before you do this).
8. Distribute written material on Ramadan
If you’ve got a central location in your workplace where people can pick up free newspapers, get permission to stack a factsheet and pamphlets on Ramadan.
You can also leave the sheets on the Ramadan corner of your desk.
9. Get a Ramadan greeting from your boss
Have your boss, commanding officer or head of the department issue a public notification that Ramadan is coming up or is here and they and the company congratulates all Muslim employees on this occasion.
10. Put an article about Ramadan in the office newsletter
If you have a company or department newsletter, write up a personal article about why you are looking forward to Ramadan and what Ramadan is. Then arrange for them to publish it.
All praises and thanks be to Allah, Lord of everything that exists.The most Gracious, the Most Merciful.Master of the Day of Judgment You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help.Guide us to the Straight Way The Way of of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor those who went astray. Ameen
Source: Email
Umm Sahl, your sister in Islam, a wife and mother of 3 beautiful blessed babies
Masha Allah..this is a very interesting article.. Different compared to those what I have read so far..
Subhan Allah…
Yes very good tips…
very good article for people working.By this they will also encourage many people to fast.
Great one… Perfect for the American/Europe work culture. Building an environment for Daawa thru Ramadan – Masha Allah..
hmm…interesting…mashAllah
InshAllah, we will make some fliers abt Ramadan to keep in the desk corner…
Very useful article, mashaAllah!
mashallah…this is koool!!!
new type..new 1!!
Asslamalikum to all!!
Mashallah !!! very Nice tips
thanx
Walaiakum Assalam sister Fozia
JazakAllahu Khiaran
I am proud to know that we have such a beautiful individual writing interesting articles for the Muslim community. I wish my workplace was better so that I could implement some of the tips given by you.
In an overall your article is just fantastic – mashAllah. Keep up the good work.
Assalam-Walaikum- Wa Rehmatullahi Wa BArkatahu,
I came across this post today. Our office timings are 2pm to 11pm and we are 3 Muslims. Our office management has allowed us to pray 3 times Asr, Maghrib and Ishaan plus the iftaar time. Not only that they have allotted us a dedicated room where we offer Salaah.
We had to stretch our work for some time but that is acceptable. I am thankful to these people for giving us this opportunity.
Zoheb
walaiakum assalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu
@Zoheb: Masha Allah that is such a wonderful thing for your management to do something like that for you all.
It would be a nice idea if you could invite your colleagues one day for iftar to show them how we break our fast and tell them why we break our fast with dates and water and give them the benefits of dates: http://areweprepared.ca/post/2011/08/03/Benefits-of-Dates.aspx
Even for Eid, maybe you could give chocolates:)
Assalamualikumwarahmathullah,
Dear sister great work. Really proud to see this, you put all these ideas in a article.
I remember, some of these idea when I was working. Most of the Bosses are flexible and they respect our believes. I enjoyed working here than in India during Ramadan time Alhumdulillah.
May Allah accept all our good deeds and guide us through the right path and join all of us and our families in Jennathul Firdhous Ameen
Walaiakum Assalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu
Ameen