​#TeamGuidant celebrates Ramadan: Fatima’s story

By Fatima Matin, Recruitment Business Partner

Ramadan last year was unlike anything many Muslims would have known. Some chose not to fast in fear of the pandemic, while others experienced a quieter, solitary holy month. #TeamGuidant’s Fatima shares some humbling moments from last Ramadan and being open about fasting adjustments with work.

This Ramadan will be my third with Guidant.
I’ve been working with Guidant for about two years and am currently a Recruitment Business Partner.

During Ramadan, my family and I would stay up until sunrise to eat and pray before gaining a few hours of precious sleep before work. This would mean requesting a later start time for the month of Ramadan, which Guidant graciously accommodates. I usually take a few days off at the start of Ramadan to adjust to the fasting routine.

Fasting happens from sunrise to sunset.
Last year we fasted up to 20 hours a day. Coupled with the heat and lockdown (I live with 11 siblings!), it was challenging, but it did have some memorable moments too.

My team was smaller than usual last year, so I decided against taking a few days off to adjust to my Ramadan routine. It was a learning curve for me and I now know to be more organised for 2021!

Observing Ramadan while working from home is a lot easier than in the office.
That’s mostly because I don’t get to see or smell the lunches of my fellow colleagues! The most challenging part of observing fast during lockdown is that the family is together all the time – and as I have a large family, we all get in each other’s way.

That being said, it does have its benefits too – everyone is home to help make iftar (the name of the meal that we break our fast with). Before the pandemic, I used to take responsibility for iftar, as my family had a longer commute to work than I did. However, with lockdown, everyone chipped in.

Even though 2020 was tough, I had the best Ramadan.
Being in lockdown whilst observing Ramadan has taught me a great deal. We usually get caught up with everything else that is going on in the world, but with lockdown, everything came to a pause and it opened up more time for spiritual reflection, devotion and worship.

Even though last year was tough, I had the best Ramadan. One of the more challenging aspects of it was not being able to see my wider family and friends and giving them a hug.

This year, we’re out of lockdown when Ramadan begins!
Even though rules are easing, my father is classed as high-risk, so we wouldn’t be having extended family and friends over any time soon for iftar. However, my immediate family and I will be sending out gift hampers over Ramadan to let them know we are thinking of them.

If you’re not able to see friends and family, do give them a ring. Not everyone lives with a big family and I know it can get lonely for some.

Be open about your needs during Ramadan.
For anyone observing Ramadan, I would advise you to be open with your manager about what adjustments you need during this period. Make it known to your team that Ramadan is coming up and take a few days off at the beginning of Ramadan to adjust to the fasting schedule.

Guidant have been very supportive of accommodating late starts and early finishes for the month of Ramadan. I also had frequent one-on-ones with my manager last year to make sure that I was coping well. That helped me so much as I was able to check in and manage workload expectations.

Those who are fasting typically stay up until after sunrise.
So, my advice to fellow colleagues is to be patient with those that are observing Ramadan. While a huge part of Ramadan is the fasting, we are also devoted in prayer and self-reflection throughout the day.

Enjoy each day that comes.
We have lost so many people over the past year, who will never experience Ramadan again. I’m personally going to work on being content with the simple things in life, and strive for inner peace especially during Ramadan.

It’s the perfect time to do so since Ramadan is more than just praying and fasting, but also improving yourself and your relationship with your religion.

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#TeamGuidant wishes all Muslims Ramadan Mubarak! Happy Ramadan to all!