allyship during Ramadan

Aug 28

published 5.20.20

The first few weeks of Ramadan this year were formative; my energy and attention were not on par and I was incredibly hard on myself because of it. It is very easy to become emotional or frail without food, not giving into your "hangriness" is part of the struggle (Jihad) Muslims are expected to fight during this time. The honest truth however is this:

No matter how much spiritual growth I experience at this time and how rewarding this may feel, I can not expect to operate as if nothing has changed.

So, I had to have an honest conversation with myself. For the first time, I asked myself: do I give up fasting to be able to maintain the same pace?

The month of Ramadan is without question the most important period of my year. It's my opportunity to get back to myself and God; it is a time I have never taken lightly nor do I ever want to squander. Having to contemplate such a decision struck at the core of my being and caused quite a bit of internal conflict.

I work to create a workspace that allows folx to practice their spiritual beliefs while still maintaining standards for excellence. So I felt the need to embody those things myself. Two weeks in to Ramadan, I decided to implement a new cadence.

here are my [ramadan hours]:

Fasting occurs from sunrise to sunset. Conventionally, we wake up each day around 4:30 am to drink water and have a bit of sustenance to get us through the day and go back to sleep for a few hours before beginning our work day. By 3 pm each day I had no gas left in the tank and was feeling perpetually drained.

Although I sit in San Francisco, I decided to working more or less on east coast time; beginning my work day at 5 am PCT and ending around 3 PM PCT.

I asked my team to:

Refrain from scheduling any meetings before 10 am or after 3. My peak energy that I need to reserve for independent work is in that 5 am to 10 am window so I'd like to capitalize on that time.
Check in on your fellow Muslim peers. I cant speak for everyone but folx may be feeling similarly, wanting to operate in different working hours but be fearful of appearing not committed to their work if they ask for such accommodations.

If you’re curious what your Muslim colleagues are going through during this time, here’s my Ramadan 101:

It’s a time for observant Muslims to become closer to God through fasting, prayer, and charitable actions
Fasting is a pillar of the Islamic faith and apart from being a religious ritual it’s a way to build empathy for those in need
Muslims who are physically healthy and able will fast from dawn until dusk (no food or drink for varying times depending on the timezone)
Ramadan fasts culminate each day in a meal after sunset (“Iftar”), which is usually enjoyed in a communal setting with family and friends
If you would like to wish a Happy Ramadan to your Muslim colleagues you can say: “Ramadan Kareem”!

Please reach out if you're curious, even if you aren't sure how to word it. I’m very hard to offend.

Holidays are a great opportunity to signal inclusion at your organization. If you’d like support bringing these behaviors and practices to your workplace let’s find a time to chat!