Opinion

Ramadan energizes workers

May 26, 2018
Ramadan energizes workers

Ibrahim Muhammad Badawood

Al-Madinah newspaper

People welcome the holy month of Ramadan in different ways. Some of them reschedule their timing while others turn their days upside down. Instead of sleeping in the evening they sleep in the early morning and start work the next day while fasting.

Fasts this year will last up to 16 hours and we are in the summer when the temperature rises to 50 degrees Celsius in some Saudi cities. All of this will impact the work atmosphere. Despite these odd circumstances, work in offices and at industrial sites will continue as usual as people are capable of adapting to Ramadan.

A recent study reported that Ramadan increased productivity in the Middle East and North Africa as more than 80 percent of respondents said the holy month strengthened them morally and in terms of their determination. About 44.5 percent of those involved in the study indicated that fasting in Ramadan did not affect the effectiveness of workers while 55 percent said that major decisions or important meetings were not delayed during the holy month.

Some people believe that certain difficult conditions in Ramadan disrupt businesses, postpone achievements, suspend decisions and delay dealings. About 74.7 percent of respondents said that business movement is slow in Ramadan with 46.4 percent of them expressing the same opinion strongly.

This prevalent belief is mainly due to the reduced working hours during Ramadan as people are busy shopping and worshipping. On the other hand, some workers consider Ramadan to be a golden opportunity to make money, something that is repeated only once a year.

We have to face up to the challenges of Ramadan to make it a month of achievement rather than a month of laziness and relaxation. Ramadan is a great opportunity for each of us to explore our hidden capabilities, which can be used for work, worship and other productive activities. Without the fasting month, we would not realize that we have these capabilities and potential.

We must rejoice on the arrival of Ramadan and make the capability and potential that we have developed permanent throughout the year. May Allah bless all of us in this holy month.


May 26, 2018
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