By Salim Al Riyami — All Muslims around the globe and of course all
Muslims in Oman are celebrating the once-a-year holy month of
Ramadhan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
It is a month of fasting and praying. Fasting is meant to educate
usabout spirituality, humility and patience. During Ramadhan,
Muslims who are fasting only eat and drink after sunset until
sunrise. Ramadhan is a month of fasting and worshiping, as
well as that of work and production.
Why slacking during Ramadhan?!
During the blessed month of Ramadhan, unfortunately, you will
see some Muslims slack off, show up late at work (or not showing
up at all), sleeping on the job, procrastinating, and doing the
least possible at the workplace. These types of behaviours are
inconsistent with the very spirit of this holy month. Islam does
not advocate a special working mode during this month, whereby
many people turn it into a month of eating, watching TV and
staying up late. In fact, these behaviours affect any workplace,
and are not permissible in Islam. Negligence in performing duties
during Ramadhan is not permissible and is against its teachings.
Ramadhan Working Hours
In the Sultanate, the Government and the Ministry of Manpower
has reduced the working hours to five hours/day for Ministries and
Governmental establishments, while six hours/day for private
sector companies.
Muslims need to rethink the concept of work, especially during Muslims in Oman are celebrating the once-a-year holy month of
Ramadhan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
It is a month of fasting and praying. Fasting is meant to educate
usabout spirituality, humility and patience. During Ramadhan,
Muslims who are fasting only eat and drink after sunset until
sunrise. Ramadhan is a month of fasting and worshiping, as
well as that of work and production.
Why slacking during Ramadhan?!
During the blessed month of Ramadhan, unfortunately, you will
see some Muslims slack off, show up late at work (or not showing
up at all), sleeping on the job, procrastinating, and doing the
least possible at the workplace. These types of behaviours are
inconsistent with the very spirit of this holy month. Islam does
not advocate a special working mode during this month, whereby
many people turn it into a month of eating, watching TV and
staying up late. In fact, these behaviours affect any workplace,
and are not permissible in Islam. Negligence in performing duties
during Ramadhan is not permissible and is against its teachings.
Ramadhan Working Hours
In the Sultanate, the Government and the Ministry of Manpower
has reduced the working hours to five hours/day for Ministries and
Governmental establishments, while six hours/day for private
sector companies.
the month of Ramadhan.
Tips for Muslim employees
• Resist detrimental and negative emotions of anger, envy and
Tips for Muslim employees
• Resist detrimental and negative emotions of anger, envy and
greed. Refrain from and avoid gossiping.
• Besides your duties and work obligations, use the time of
• Besides your duties and work obligations, use the time of
fasting for spiritual contemplation.
• Be disciplined about your eating and sleeping habits at nights,
• Be disciplined about your eating and sleeping habits at nights,
when you are not fasting. Minimise watching TV and other
entertainments that may affect negatively in your day of work.
• Reduce your breaks and rest time to the limit. Take only the
• Reduce your breaks and rest time to the limit. Take only the
break for prayers (eg Duhr Prayer).
Tips for expatriates and non-Muslim employees
• Do not eat, drink or smoke in public, even inside your car,
Tips for expatriates and non-Muslim employees
• Do not eat, drink or smoke in public, even inside your car,
during Ramadhan. This is actually illegal, and against our norm
and culture.
• Dress more conservatively, especially in public areas.
• Avoid loud music and dancing, even inside your car, as you will
• Dress more conservatively, especially in public areas.
• Avoid loud music and dancing, even inside your car, as you will
be seen as being disrespectful.
• If you are a manager or a supervisor, allow Muslim employees
• If you are a manager or a supervisor, allow Muslim employees
to break 10-15 minutes from work for prayers (eg Duhr prayer).
• If possible, do not schedule fasting employees for regular night
• If possible, do not schedule fasting employees for regular night
shifts in order to be more flexible in performing extra prayers
(eg Taraweeh, Qiyam-Al-Layl, etc.)
Bottom Line
All Muslims — Remember the holy month of Ramadhan is about
Bottom Line
All Muslims — Remember the holy month of Ramadhan is about
fasting, praying and working hard… not forgetting the special last
10 days of this month, as Quran indicates ‘the last 10 days is
including ‘Laylat Al Qadr’, which is a night better than a thousand
month’. So work, and don’t slack.
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