You may be thinking… Why is an IT company educating people about Ramadan?
Simply put, we care about people and not just the technology. We value learning about our colleagues’ and customers’ cultures and beliefs.
Almost 2 billion people worldwide celebrate Ramadan every year and over 2 million in Canada!
When is Ramadan?
Ramadan varies each year because it follows the lunar calendar. It commences and concludes with the sighting of the crescent moon (roughly March 11 – April 9 this year). Interestingly, Christians also use the lunar calendar for Easter, celebrating the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox.
Self-Restraint and the Five Pillars
Ramadan extends beyond abstaining from food between dusk and dawn. It is one of the five pillars of Islam. Fasting involves not only refraining from eating and drinking but also avoiding sexual activity and all forms of immoral behaviour. False words, evil deeds, or impure thoughts are equally detrimental to the fast.
Daily Routines During Ramadan
- Suhoor: Muslims who fast begin their day with a pre-dawn meal called suhoor.
- No Consumption Until Sunset: Throughout the day, they refrain from eating, drinking, or chewing gum until the sun sets.
- Iftar: At sunset, Muslims gather in their homes or mosques to break their fast with a meal called iftar, often shared with friends and extended family.
Additionally, during Ramadan, people exchange greeting cards like you might at Christmas, and the most common greeting is “Ramadan Mubarak” (meaning “blessed Ramadan” or “happy Ramadan”). The fasting period concludes with Eid al-Fitr, the “festival of breaking the fast,” where you can wish someone “Eid Mubarak” (signifying “blessed feast”).
Now you’ve learned what Ramadan is. Stay tuned tomorrow to learn how to support your friends and colleagues during Ramadan.
