Ramadan Reflections: 30 days of healing from the past, journeying with presence and looking ahead to an akhirah-focused future

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During Ramadan, you feel tiredness when you’re busy at work due to waiting up in the night to eat or drink before fasting begins. When it’s warm weather and the heating’s on at work, that makes it harder but this all reminds me of difficulties other people are going through every day and that’s important to me. For me, Ramadan is a month for God – 11 months for me and one month dedicated to God. During Ramadan, I appreciate all I have – freedom, food, a drink at the end of the day. I come away feeling very humbled and grateful. I self-reflect and endeavour to make positive changes moving forward, this might be about self-control on portion sizes or the amount I time I spend on social media. It is written in 3 parts, with different energy levels and 10 chapters (days) in each part. Each chapter is on the important issues that affect us daily such as forgiving others, responsibility, love, life auditing, difficulties, hope and private deeds. The parts and chapters of the book cover our past, present and future and I found this to be very comforting and helpful. I appreciate that my team members respect what I’m doing and try to be mindful. They keep an eye on me and encourage me to take a break for a minute or go to a cooler area, no-one judges. They try to avoid asking me if I want tea or coffee and apologise if they forget. We have Cake Wednesday and save me a piece for the evening.

Fasting allows the individual to understand the pain and suffering of millions around the world, who live their lives in poverty and famine, leaving the participant feeling more grounded and grateful for their privileged lives and what we take for granted every day. This would usually encourage actions of generosity and charity. Charitable donation is a huge thing during the month of Ramadan. Charity, compassion and generosity should be something which is a part of our lives and not just a one-off action. Islam recognises and places a great deal of emphasis on being compassionate and caring and helping those in our communities who have less than us. This is the word that comes to mind when I think about Aliyah Umm Raiyaan's Ramadan Reflections. With her earnest, and at many times vulnerable, voice at the centre it's intertwined with the classical wisdom of old as well as the wisdom of recent. She's written it in such an intimate way that you almost think she's penning down your own thoughts. SubhanAllah. It's this layering of voice and experience that makes this a timeless piece- that of course I pray continues to earn her ajr until the end of time. Naheed Ahmed, Senior Specialist Major Trauma Physiotherapist for Clinical and Scientific Services, based at MRI.

Gaza: Arab, Muslim nations strongly condemn Israeli ‘crime’ committed of killing 500 at Gaza hospital On the day of Eid, the whole family will go to the mosque for the Eid prayer. This usually gives us the chance to meet and greet family and friends. We also asked Naheed and Mai for their own personal reflections on Ramadan and Edi Ul Fitr, which is expected to fall on Monday, May 2 nd, including what it’s like to work and how colleagues can best provide support to colleagues observing Ramadan and Eid. I wanted to share my experience, so my first vlogs were born! I have been overwhelmed by the responses I have received on social media to this challenge. Not just my posts, but Stephen Griggs’ posts too, as well as those we shared via @DeloitteUK. Thank you to everyone who took the time to read, watch, learn and join our #RamadanAtDeloitte conversation. To the outside world, the rituals and rigor of Ramadan may seem somewhat Romulan. However, those acquainted with the diverse cultural phenomena of the Star Trek universe may be surprised to learn of the many spiritual parallels that exist between the franchises and the Islamic tradition.

Here are some lessons we can learn from the her life: Absolute Tawakkul (trust and reliance) in Allah As Chief Executive of Barnardo’s, I’m especially concerned about the long-term impact of this loss on children and young people. This is not just a read for Ramadan, but a resource you can turn to at any time in life and some particular times in life when you need that special reminder of your own goals and prayers that have been forgotten and waiting to be actioned. Ramadan Reflections will slow you down in this fast-paced world of ours and Aliyah does this through connecting to Allah (SWT) and being very real with what she reveals. Last but not least, I feel there is a place for everyone in this book simply because it’s a journey of the soul – for Muslims, non-Muslims, for people of no faith – it will move you in some way and just connect with yourself. The book truly is healing and spiritual- I found myself crying and reflecting often- and the slowing down and really reflecting on powerful parts of our deen was so warming to my heart and so powerful in inspiring me to feel spiritual. UK: Faith leaders condemn rise in antisemitism but not Islamophobia, call for unity between faith communitiesThe introduction alone, had me bracing myself. The quote Aliyah used to end the introduction, allured me to surrender my heart & mind- to accept her invitation, and embark on a soul searching journey. Ramadan, one of the months in the Islamic calendar, was also part of ancient Arabs’ calendars. The naming of Ramadan stems from the Arabic root “ar-ramad,” which means scorching heat. Muslims believe that in A.D. 610, the angel Gabriel appeared to Prophet Muhammad and revealed to him the Quran, the Islamic holy book. That revelation, Laylat Al Qadar—or the “Night of Power”—is believed to have occurred during Ramadan. Muslims fast during that month as a way to commemorate the revelation of the Quran. ( Read how Muslims, although often misunderstood, are thriving in America.) After the passing of the Prophet ﷺ Aisha assumed the role of a teacher and imparted the valuable knowledge she collected from her time with the Prophet ﷺ to students. Her home became a centre of learning for men and women alike. We have all heard much about people struggling and relying on food banks and I have been involved with my family in giving food to food banks and helping those less fortunate. Faith should not divide us but be a glue that brings us together, albeit from different directions. Unity through peace is at the heart of Islam and for me, it is a faith that must be lived through my actions. The Quran emphasises self-discipline through restraint of anger, acts of compassion and acts of charity and this is for me what Ramadan is all about. Eid which marks the end of the month, requires all Muslims to donate to feed the poor and again all Muslims use this month to step up and increase those donations and assistance. I have recently attended Islamic Relief events with my family and my 14 year old daughter is a volunteer with the organisation - they can see the difference it makes. My youngest son (9 year old) has recently donated money from his own piggy bank savings - he personally wanted to contribute to the charity.

Sunset - My ‘Fast and the Curious’ fasting challenge ended somewhere over the Irish Sea as I returned home to Belfast. I thoroughly enjoyed my Iftar - the meal to break the fast with my family that evening. Meanwhile our Deloitte Muslim Network connected all our people doing the fasting challenge with an Iftar Zoom session allowing people to share their experiences.

Maybe celebrating Ramadan here is not as easy as it would be in a Muslim country. However, I would argue that it is more meaningful. We as a Muslim community must work that much harder to implement and institute our religious traditions in a non-Muslim country. In making space for ourselves now, we are also making space for others that come behind us. If that is not in the spirit of Ramadan than I don’t know what else is.

Just before Ramadan, Aliyah Umm Rayyan released a book called Ramadan Reflections: A guided journal. The book contains 30 chapters, one for each day of Ramadan. It is also divided into 3 sections; Part 1: Healing and taking lessons from the past, Part 2: Journeying to Allah with presence, and Part 3: Planning and moving into an akhirah-focused future. When Eid arrives, it’s lovely to celebrate with family and work colleagues and it’s nice to suggest a celebration to colleagues who has been fasting. After Eid, I really appreciate that cup of tea in the morning and enjoy the novelty of being able to eat during the day. Secondly, we see at the very heart of fasting in the Islamic tradition is the idea of a shared heritage. Muslims fast, the Qur’an tells us, just like the peoples of the past. Fasting, in some form or another, is a feature of every major faith on Earth and unsurprisingly, every major faith outside of Earth too. Thirty days without food and drink (not even water) from dawn to dusk in Ramadan may seem quite the challenge for the average human but it’s got nothing on Kahs-wan, the test of maturity for young Vulcans who must survive ten days without food, water, or weapons in Vulcan's Forge. Likewise, in Deep Space Nine we get to witness the fright of Worf’s Kal'Hyah, the four-day Klingon bachelor party that consists of fasting while facing trials of deprivation, blood, pain, sacrifice, anguish, and death. Fasting is also common practice in Bajor, they even have a month-long fast during the Bajoran Time of Cleansing — sound familiar? You need to be patient with yourself. Some days, despite your efforts, will not go to plan. You need to trust when Allah intervenes and turns your plans upside down, placing you on a different path. You need to be patient for the answer to your du’a. You need to be patient when you feel you are doing this alone, unsupported. You need to choose patience because patience is always needed on any journey and this journey of God-consciousness is the most intense, most surprising, most beautiful and yet testing journey of them all. Know when you choose patience, really choose it from deep within, know “Allah is with the patient” (Surah Anfal 8:46)”It’s clear there is a growing need for this work. We’ve even had calls from Muslim single mothers who couldn’t afford to buy their children winter clothes.