I am a Christian from Lebanon, so I grew up alongside Ramadan rather than inside it. The call to prayer at sunset meant something to my neighbours and a quiet kind of magic to me. Ramadan 2025 begins on or around 28 February, and if you work with Muslim colleagues or have Muslim friends, a short primer will help you be the thoughtful one in the room. Nothing here is preachy. It is simply what I would want a new neighbour to know.
What Ramadan actually is
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. For about thirty days, observant Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. No food, no water, nothing by mouth. They break the fast at sunset with a meal called iftar, often starting with a date and a glass of water, and eat a pre-dawn meal called suhoor before the next day begins. It is a month about discipline, gratitude, prayer, community, and charity. It is not intended as a hardship parade. Most of the Muslims I know look forward to it all year.
The greetings you will hear
There are two you need. The first is رمضان كريم (Ramadan Kareem, generous Ramadan), which is a general seasonal greeting anyone can use. Say it to a colleague, a shopkeeper, a driver. It is warm, appropriate, and hard to get wrong. The reply is Allahu Akram (God is more generous), though most people will simply smile and return the greeting.
The second is رمضان مبارك (Ramadan Mubarak, blessed Ramadan). Slightly more religious in feel, but still very widely used, and absolutely fine for non-Muslims to say. I tend to use Ramadan Kareem with people I do not know well, and Ramadan Mubarak with friends.
"The call to prayer at sunset meant something to my neighbours and a quiet kind of magic to me."
At the office
A few small things make a big difference. If you are scheduling meetings, avoid the last hour before sunset where possible. That is when energy and concentration drop, and when your colleague is thinking about getting home for iftar. Early mornings and mid-mornings are much better.
Avoid eating lunch in shared meeting rooms without checking, and do not feel you need to make a production of not drinking your coffee in front of them. Most Muslims I have met will tell you to carry on, it is not their fast to impose on you. What they appreciate is that you noticed.
If your workplace has a prayer room or quiet space, flag it. During Ramadan, many Muslims pray more often, and the short tarawih prayers in the evening can mean later starts the following day. A small bit of flexibility goes a long way.
If you are invited to iftar
Say yes. Iftar is often the warmest meal of the year, full of family and neighbours. Arrive a few minutes before sunset, bring something sweet (dates are traditional and always welcome, as are baklava or a small box of chocolates), and do not worry about what to say. Your hosts will do the heavy lifting. When the call to prayer sounds, the family will typically break their fast with dates and water, then sometimes pause for evening prayer before sitting down to eat. Follow their lead.
You do not need to fast yourself to be a good guest. Some non-Muslim friends do out of solidarity, which is lovely but not expected. Honestly, the best gift you can bring is an open appetite and a few warm words.
Eid is coming next
Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast. In 2025 that falls around 30 March. I will write a full post on Eid closer to the time. For now, just know that when the month ends, the mood shifts from reflection to celebration, and the greeting changes to Eid Mubarak. New clothes, family visits, sweets, money for the children. It is a joy.
The honest bit
I have lived in plenty of places where Ramadan was almost invisible, and in Lebanon, where the whole rhythm of the city changed for thirty days. Both worked. What matters is simply noticing. A two-word greeting to the right person, at the right time, lands harder than any speech. You do not have to be an expert on Islam to be a kind colleague or friend during Ramadan. You just have to pay attention, which, if you are reading this, you already are.
If you work with Arabic-speaking Muslim colleagues and want to pick up a handful of phrases for the month ahead, that is something we can do in a single lesson. Book a free taster and we can get you ready.