With Ramadan having started on 1 March this year, many of our colleagues have begun a month of daily fasts. Ramadan is a deeply significant time for Muslims around the world. To foster understanding and celebrate this important month, this edition of the Life at FT blog features Emma Bentaleb, who shares her personal experiences, the significance of Ramadan, and how we, as a company, are supporting our colleagues during this special month.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your current role?
I joined the FT in November 2022 as a lawyer in the FT Legal team - currently primarily supporting the CRG, FT Specialist, Print & Distribution, and FT Longitude teams, and previously having supported the Ads and Brand & Comms teams. So I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a large number of my wonderfully talented colleagues at the FT and had insight to many areas of the business.
Social mobility is something I’m very passionate about, given that my own journey to becoming a lawyer was one challenge and perseverance: I grew up on a council estate on the Old Kent Road - one of the country’s most deprived areas (and, yes, the cheapest square on the Monopoly board!). Since joining the FT, I have supported the DEI team’s work, helped to co-ordinate the Legal team’s re-introduced summer work experience programme (working with social mobility charity Making the Leap) and now also sit on the steering committee of FT Embrace - which is one of the FT’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). FT Embrace aims to build a culturally aware workplace and celebrate race, ethnicity and faith. As a mixed-race Muslim woman, FT Embrace’s fantastic initiatives particularly resonate with me.
Can you explain what Ramadan is and why it is significant for those who observe it?
Ramadan, one of the holiest times of the year for Muslims, is a month during which able-bodied, adult Muslims fast daily from dawn to sunset. Observing Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, making it an essential religious duty - although those who are ill, travelling or pregnant are among those exempted from fasting. As the Islamic calendar is based on lunar months, Ramadan shifts forward in our regular calendar by 10-11 days each year, meaning that all Muslims will experience longer, summer fasts and shorter, winter fasts during their lifetimes. The start and end dates of Ramadan are also subject to sighting the new moon.
Ramadan is a time for reconnecting with faith, prioritising family and community relationships, and embracing generosity - not just by giving to those in need, but in showing kindness and understanding to everyone around us. Ramadan really provides a ‘lived experience’ of the struggles faced by those less fortunate.
What are some key practices during Ramadan and what does Ramadan mean to you personally?
Fasting, extra prayers, time with family and your wider community, charitable giving, and acts of kindness are key practices during Ramadan, through which we reinforce our sense of gratitude, patience, and empathy for the hardships of others. For me Ramadan really is a yearly “reset”, and a time to connect with my loved ones and remember what’s important to me.
What is Iftar, and why is it a special time of day during Ramadan?
Iftar is the name for the sunset meal with which we break our fast. While it is traditional to break your fast with dates and milk, the similarities across iftar tables will probably end there, as families will really show their culinary heritage with their daily iftar spreads! Many community organisations and mosques will also host “open iftars” where anybody, Muslim or not, can come and ‘break bread’ together - so do consider attending one in your local area!
How do you prepare for Ramadan, both mentally and physically?
For me, nothing quite shows the quick passage of time like another Ramadan approaching, and it does rather spring up on me each year. Despite being a consummate snacker (the rest of the Legal team will confirm this!), I fortunately find my Ramadan fasts relatively easy and focus on ensuring I have carved out enough time each day for the spiritual side.
Are there any company events or activities planned for Ramadan this year at the FT?
On 4 March the FT held its first ever “open iftar”, co-hosted by FT Embrace and an organisation called the Association of Muslim Lawyers (AML) - both of which I’m proud to be a committee member for. The iftar was a fully booked out event, during which guests, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, heard about the FT ERGs and work of AML, had a “Rapid Guide to Ramadan” to learn about its significance, and were treated to dinner plus lots of delicious sweet treats and chai. Inside FT, the company intranet, also has very useful information about how to support Muslim colleagues and remain inclusive during this period.
If you could share one key message about Ramadan with your FT colleagues, what would it be?
The core values of Ramadan - gratitude, charity, compassion and self-improvement - are universal and offer meaningful reminders to us all.
