Some companies have prayer rooms
Inas Ali Zeidan from Garching is a manager in recruitment.
(Photo: Catherina Hess)
“Ramadan is the time to reset everything,” says Inas Ali Zeidan. The 39-year-old is a recruiter for the automotive industry. “The first few days are hard until you get back into it. But it’s a valuable time. You take a step back mentally and physically and concentrate entirely on God and leading a good life,” she says. Fasting for 30 days is “quite sporty,” but the evenings with family and friends are all the more valuable.
She would like Ramadan to become more visible in German society. “There are 5.6 million Muslims in this country and about half of them fast, so it would be nice if we didn’t have to explain ourselves again every year,” she says. As a human resources manager, she observes how companies treat their Muslim employees. There are big differences. “Some companies that are more diverse have already set up prayer rooms and officially wish their employees a blessed Ramadan – just as they wish a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter at other times of the year.” This is diversity in practice and promotes togetherness.
In times of a shortage of skilled workers, such initiatives are becoming increasingly important. But there are also other companies that still expect Muslim employees to come to lunch together during the fasting month. “More flexibility would be really helpful. And therapeutic fasting is trendy, which also offers something to talk about across cultural or religious boundaries.”
Purify the heart
Mohamed Hamse Iriksous from the Munich Muslim Council is pleased that friends who do not pray or come to the mosque are also taking part in the fasting month.
(Photo: private)
Mohamed Hamse Iriksous is a political scientist, taxi operator, imam at Munich’s Al-Ahibba Mosque and member of the Munich Muslim Council. The month of fasting, he says, is the opportunity “to update your connection to God.” It’s about regaining control over your lifestyle, which may have slipped away a little during the year. In any case, you should do good, donate to those in need, “purify your heart – Christianity and Judaism also know that.”
The 31-year-old, who was born in Kiel, says that he has felt close to faith since his childhood. His father is half Syrian, half German, and his mother is Syrian. However, there was a time in the current imam’s life when his relationship with God was disturbed, he says: when he received the diagnosis of a chronic illness. “But ultimately it is these hard trials in life that lead you closer to faith again.” Fasting is good for him. Almost everyone among his Muslim friends fasted, he says, “even those who don’t pray or go to the mosque.” He also has friends who drink alcohol in the club in the evening if they feel like it. “But they do take part in Ramadan because it is such an important ritual for Muslims.”
For some the religious aspect is most important, for others the cultural aspect is more important. “In Muslim countries, special series come out for Ramadan, which the whole family then watches together in the evening.”
Colleagues take each other into consideration
Almir Burnić leads a team of 30 nurses at Münchenstift.
(Photo: Catherina Hess)
Almir Burnić tries to avoid eating and drinking during the day. “I am more with myself during this time,” he says. The 28-year-old nurse came to Munich from Bosnia nine years ago for training and works as a residential area manager in the St. Maria retirement and nursing home of the Münchenstift. He is the head of a 30-person team. He estimates that at least half of his employees come from the former Yugoslavia, while others come from Tunisia, West Africa or other parts of the world. There are many Muslims among them, “some fast for the whole month, others take a more relaxed approach and only fast for ten days, and others not at all,” he says.
During Ramadan, he tries to take the needs of fasting people into account, for example when designing the duty roster. Not that easy, “but you just need a knack for it and it usually works.” He then gives the fasting people less physically strenuous activities or takes the fasting period into account when arranging shifts. “We prefer to plan night or late shifts for the Muslims during Ramadan, but we shouldn’t try too hard either, because fasting should be lived consciously.” Because everyone knows each other well, this is usually not a problem. “There is great mutual respect in our team,” he says, which is why non-Muslim colleagues are willing to take on a shift during Ramadan for someone who is fasting. It’s almost like being in a family.
And at the end of the month, when people in all parts of the world celebrate the Sugar Festival, there is also a feast in the Münchenstift canteen: lamb stew, fish, baklava and other sweets.
Breaking the fast with dates
Narcis and Melita Hrnjica in front of their restaurant in Sendling, where they offer a Ramadan menu.
(Photo: Catherina Hess)
The owners of the River Restaurant in Sendling offer a Ramadan menu every year. The first breaking of the fast begins on Monday at 6:29 p.m., at sunset. First everyone gets a date, it’s tradition, “because the prophet did it that way and because they say that dates have a cleansing effect on the body,” explains Melita Hrnjica. Afterwards there is a soup to warm up the stomach and then traditional Bosnian dishes such as stuffed peppers, cabbage wraps or ražnjići. “You definitely have to make a reservation because the restaurant is particularly busy these days.”
There are families with children, young people who meet to break their fast, but also single men who want something hearty to eat after fasting in the evening. “It’s always a particularly beautiful, peaceful atmosphere when everyone sits together after sunset in Ramadan. This creates a special closeness.” To ensure that the host couple gets something out of the evening themselves, friends and family members help in the kitchen and in service. This time is also special for the children. “Our children grow up open to the world, through kindergarten and school they are familiar with Christmas and Easter, and then there is Ramadan.” Children do not fast yet, only after puberty. “We will then leave it up to them whether they want to fast or not.”
The parents go without food and drink during the day – not so easy when you also work in the catering industry. But the body adapts to it and ultimately it’s a matter of the head, says Melita Hrnjica. “I think of the many people in the world who have nothing and how well we are doing here. My husband and I experienced the war in Bosnia in the 1990s, we are refugee children. We are grateful for that, what we have today. During Lent you can appreciate even more the fact that you get something warm on the table every day.”