Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. It is a month of spiritual reflection and increased devotion and worship. Fasting helps Muslims gain self-discipline and draw closer to God through abstaining from food, drink, and intimacy during daylight hours. The fast is broken with a meal called iftar at sunset. Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, a celebration that marks the end of fasting.

1. Arabic text translates as: In the Name of Allâh,
the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Ramadan ‫رمضان‬
September 1 3th – October 1 2th 2007
Pre p a re d b y
She ll Middle East & North Africa Ne twork
Diversity & Inclusivne ss

2. R adan
am
• What is R adan?
am
• T s
he ignific e of R adan?
anc am
• Fasting: What is it? Who fas ? Why?
ts
• Typic R adan Ac
al am tivities.
• Eid- Fitr: Marking the End of R adan.
ul- am
• Working w Mus Colleagues
ith lim .
• Travelling to Mus Countries
lim .
• Conc ions
lus .
Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 2

3. What is R adan?
am
• Ninth month of the Hijri calendar (Lunar calendar)
• R adan is an Arabic w
am ord; its root “ R ad”m
Ar- am eans
“drynes / heat.”
s
R adan begins at
am
sighting of new
m oon
Ne w Waxing cre sce nt First quarte r Waxing gibbous
R adan
am
Ends
Full
Waning gibbous Third quarte r Waning cre sce nt
• T L
he unar calendar is 1 1 - 2 days s
1 horter than Gregorian
calendar… therefore, R adan is 1 0- 1 days earlier every
am 1
year. Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 3

4. Can You Spot the New Moon?
Start of R adan c
am ould differ fromlocation to another depending on ability to sight the moon.
New moon is 30 min. old
New moon is 90 min. old
Fo lso m, CA Esfa ha n, Ira n
Muhammad Nadim
Efa ha n, Ira n New moon is 50 min. old
KL, M a la y sia New moon is 24 hrs old
Alireza Mehrani
Ammar Tahir
Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 4

5. T Signific e of R adan
he anc am Indeed, the month of Ramadan is when the Qura’n has
been revealed, a guidance for mankind and a reference to
R adan is the 4th of the 5 pillars of Is
am lam the way and righteousness
• Sha ha d a h - Declaration of faith
• Sa la h - Daily (5) prayers
• Za ka t - Purification of wealth (2.5% of
annual s avings go to the poor) Zakah is an
Arabic w ord, root “ zaka”m eans to grow,
to increas or to be pure in heart.
e,
• Siy a m - Fasting during R adan is
am
obligatory to all adult Mus s exc
lim ept those
w are exem
ho pt.
• Ha jj- Pilgrimage to Makkah - obligatory
Ramadan evening prayer at the Holy
onc in a lifetim for thos w are
e e e ho Mosque, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
phys ally and financ
ic ially able.
Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 5

6. T Signific e of
he anc
R adan
am
• Month in w h the Qur’ (the holy book of Is )
hic an lam
w revealed.
as
• Spec m
ial onth of: Fasting, Repentanc Inc
e, reased
prayer, Increas c
ed harity.
• Ends w the fes
ith tival of Eid- Fitr: Day of
ul-
celebration and gratitude.
Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 6

7. Fasting - Why?
P ary objec
rim tive:
• T attain ta q w a “
o God c c
ons ious s / s dis ipline Taqwa is an
nes “ elf- c
Arabic w ord that c es fromthe root “ iqaya”w h m
om w hic eans
prevention/ protection
Spiritual objectives benefits
/ :
5. Helps Mus s draw c er to God through inc
lim los reas rec
ed itation
and reflection of the Qur’ and additional prayers w hip.
an / ors
6. Aids in inc reas of ima n (fa ith) and ihsa n (since rity a nd
e
rig hte o usne ss) and removal of riy y a ’ (sho w ing o ff).
7. Aids in purification of the heart/ s and helps to im
oul prove one’
s
charac ter.
8. Trains the pers to do prais orthy ac e.g. c
on ew ts harity, kindnes ,
s
generos patienc and forgivenes .
ity, e s
Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 7

8. Fasting - What is it?
Fasting begins at the break of daw and ends at s et
n uns
3. P ic As t:
hys al pec
• R efrain from food, drink and intim y during fas
ac ting hours
Depending on loc ation and s on, it c vary from1 2hrs to 1 7
eas an
hrs.
4. Spiritual As t:
pec
• R efrain from blam orthy thoughts and ac e.g. foul
ew ts
language, vain talk, hurtful behaviour, during all hours
Who fas ?
ts
• All Mus s exc
lim ept: c hildren, unhealthy adults (mentally or
phys ally), adults travelling long dis
ic tanc , and w en w are
es om ho
m truating, in pos c
ens t- hildbirth care, pregnant or breas feeding.
t-
Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 8

9. Fasting - Why?
P ic Objec
hys al tives benefits
/ :
3. A fasting pers experienc s e of the hards
on es om hips of
the poor and hungry.
5. P iologic effec inc
hys al ts lude low ering of blood sugar,
cholesterol and s tolic blood pres ure.
ys s
7. Improves strength, enduranc and s dis ipline through
e elf- c
phys al abs
ic tentions.
Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 9

10. T (typic Ac
he al) tivities of R adan
am
• Sa ho o r: Meal before daw and the
n
firs prayer of the day.
t
• Ifta r: breaking of the fas at Suns
t et
(c oinc ides w the 4th daily prayer).
ith
• Ziarat: Soc gatherings e.g. vis
ial iting
relatives s
, haring food with
neighbours friends and the poor.
, ,
• Ta ra w ih: Optional Prayers at early
night (20- hrs )
21 *
• Qiraat: R eading of the Qur’
ãn
during free time.
• Qiam Optional late-
: night prayers in
*the las 1 0 days (02-
t
for 2005 only 04hrs ).
*
Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 10

11. Eid- Fitr: Marking the End of R adan
ul- am
• Eid- Fitr: T feas m
ul he t arking end of R adan.
am
• Zakat- Fitr: A pres ribed am
ul c ount of money
obligatory on every Mus , c ulated to feed one
lim alc
poor pers in his region for one day.
on
• Eid activities include:
• Eid prayer in the early morning.
• Visiting fam friends neighbours the s
ily, , , ick,
elderly etc.
• Enjoying festive meals.
• Modes gift-
t giving es ially to c
pec hildren.
• T greeting on that day is Eid Mubarak
he :
Shell Global Solutions 11

12. Working w Mus
ith lim
Rolleagues
c adan Etiquette
am
• T not to avoid the follow
ry ing for your Mus c
lim olleagues:
• meetings w h include lunc
hic h
• meetings extending after 5 p.m.
• departm parties (or s ial events during R adan.
ent oc ) am
2. B unders
e tanding that it is the m t s ial m
os pec onth in a
Mus ’ c
lim s alendar.
3. It is c m to take vac
om on ation during the las w
t eek of
R adan.
am
4. Eid Day is off, es ially for thos w fam
pec e ith ily.
5. Greeting colleagues saying: “ am
R adan Mubarak”(B s
les ed
R adan) is a very nice w to c s into a new c
am ay ros ulture.
6. If invited to share Iftar, try to make it…Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
it w be fun!
ill
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 12

13. Travel (to/ from and Working in Mus
) lim
Countries
• Holiday jam (to Mus c
s lim ountries begin < a w
) eek before end
of R adan till three days after Eid.
am
• Conges tion oc urs on flights to and from the Gulf area during
c
2nd half of R adan (people vis
am iting Makkah).
• Traffic jam are c m before iftar… s etim grid- ked,
s om on om es loc
• Working hours in s e com
om panies end earlier during
R adan; P
am leas plan ac ordingly!
e c
• Being in a Mus c
lim ountry during R adan is a great
am
experienc e… There should not be any worries.
Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 13

14. Conc ions
lus
• R adan is a m
am onth of fasting.
• P ic abs
hys al tentions and intens ation of ac of
ific ts
w hip are a m
ors eans tow ards attaining the spiritual
objectives of s purific
elf ation and im provem ent.
• Es entially a m
s onth of training us to
ed
dis ipline/ prepare ones for the rem
c elf ainder of the
year.
During the Month of R adan
am
• B c iderate of and s
e ons upportive to the Mus s
lim
around you
Ra ma d a n M ub a ra k TO A LL! Shell Dive rsity & Inclusivness
Middle E & North Africa Network
ast 14