The Month of Ramadan

Find Out More

Hear from your colleague on Ramadan. They let us know their personal traditions, favourite dishes during Ramadan including Suhoor and Iftar and moments of gratitude. We also played a game of would you rather! Scroll to find out more from teams across the business to gain a unique insight into how our people are celebrating the holy month.

Suhail Valli

What is your favourite Suhoor to keep you going?

For me, it's anything high in protein, usually 3 weetabix mixed with warm milk, sliced bananas and Greek yoghurt.

What is the one dish that makes an Iftar feel complete for you?

Although not very healthy, no iftar is complete without some nice hot fried samosas!

What are one or two things you find yourself most grateful for during this month?

Grateful for the time spent with family in this month, it brings our bonds closer, both physically and emotionally too. We spend a lot of time in prayers and at the mosque, but the times of suhoor and Iftar are special for family connection. The spiritual closeness it brings to our faith, as well as the community connection is what I cherish most.

Get to Know Suhail.

Wake up early for a big Suhoor feast or Sleep until the last second and just have a quick date/water?

Wake up early for a big Suhoor feast

Would you rather attend a massive community Iftar with 100+ people or have a small, coay dinner with just close family?

Attend a massive community Iftar with 100+ people

Would you rather spend a Saturday volunteering at a food bank or organising a charity fundraiser from your laptop?

Spend a Saturday volunteering at a food bank

On Eid morning, would you rather be dressed in your finest new traditional clothes or stay in your comfiest loungewear?

Be dressed in my finest new traditional clothes

Rashad Rouzdeen

What is your favourite Suhoor to keep you going?

A Sri Lankan Classic! Rice served with a meat curry (chicken, beef, or mutton) and vegetables. The "Cooling" Option: Sago Kanji (Sawu Kanji). Many Sri Lankan households prepare this with coconut milk and jaggery as it is known to cool the body down before a long day of fasting.

What is the one dish that makes an Iftar feel complete for you?

Beef or Chicken Kanji (Porridge). Even though it's popular in South India too, the Sri Lankan version with a bit of coconut milk and blend of spices is the soul of Iftar. It hydrates and settles the stomach instantly.

A table doesn't feel like a Sri Lankan Iftar without a plate of Mutton Rolls, Fish Cutlets, and Samosas. That crunchy texture followed by a sip of chilled Falooda (with plenty of kasa-kasa seeds) is a reward.

What are one or two things you find yourself most grateful for during this month?

Grateful for community and sharing. In Sri Lankan neighbourhoods, it's common to see plates of snacks moving between houses.

I am grateful for the forced slow-down. The fast teaches us Sabr (patience), but more importantly, it grants us a firsthand understanding of the hunger faced by those less fortunate. This transforms my gratitude into action, leading me to be more intentional with Charity (Zakat and Sadaqah).

Get to Know Rashad.

Wake up early for a big Suhoor feast or Sleep until the last second and just have a quick date/water?

Wake up early for a big Suhoor feast

Would you rather attend a massive community Iftar with 100+ people or have a small, coay dinner with just close family?

Attend a massive community Iftar with 100+ people

Would you rather spend a Saturday volunteering at a food bank or organising a charity fundraiser from your laptop?

Organising a charity fundraiser from my laptop.

On Eid morning, would you rather be dressed in your finest new traditional clothes or stay in your comfiest loungewear?

Dressed in my finest new traditional clothes

Tufael Manik

What is your favourite Suhoor to keep you going?

Left overs from Ifthar!

What is the one dish that makes an Iftar feel complete for you?

Kisuri Chana and Saag

What are one or two things you find yourself most grateful for during this month?

Food and Family (I spent last ramadan mostly away from family)

Get to Know Tufael.

Wake up early for a big Suhoor feast or Sleep until the last second and just have a quick date/water?

I'd rather sleep until the last second.

Would you rather attend a massive community Iftar with 100+ people or have a small, coay dinner with just close family?

I'd rather have a massive community Iftar, I fund and host at my local mosque for the community regularly through Ramadan.

Would you rather spend a Saturday volunteering at a food bank or organising a charity fundraiser from your laptop?

I'd rather spend a Saturday volunteering at a food bank.

On Eid morning, would you rather be dressed in your finest new traditional clothes or stay in your comfiest loungewear?

I'd rather be dressed in your finest new traditional clothes, although I live in Thobes as they are the most comfiest loungewear.

Farheenah Shaikh

What is your favourite Suhoor to keep you going?

Seeded granola with yogurt, nuts, a fruit mostly apple or banana and dates.. (And water of course)

What is the one dish that makes an Iftar feel complete for you?

Fruit salad / fruit chaat with dates (I keep varying the fruits I use everyday - so I would pick 5-6 fruits from apple, banana, oranges, grapes and various berries)

What are one or two things you find yourself most grateful for during this month?

Fn this month, I am most grateful for the peace I feel and for all the time we devote to doing things right.

Get to Know Farheenah.

Wake up early for a big Suhoor feast or Sleep until the last second and just have a quick date/water?

I prefer neither. I generally wake up early to reflect upon the aim of the fast and spend some time on prayers, then prepare a meal for the family and make sure all wake up to eat a few morsels together to understand the spirit of suhoor.

Would you rather attend a massive community Iftar with 100+ people or have a small, coay dinner with just close family?

I prefer both. We generally plan for a mix of just the family iftar, then 1-2 family get-togethers and occasional community iftar (say once a week). This is important so that we can ensure we give time to ourselves and to the community.

Would you rather spend a Saturday volunteering at a food bank or organising a charity fundraiser from your laptop?

I would say volunteering at a food bank.

On Eid morning, would you rather be dressed in your finest new traditional clothes or stay in your comfiest loungewear?

Definitely dressed in your finest new traditional clothes, go out for prayers, meet and greet as many people as you can. Also make some time to reflect upon the month that has passed and the blessings of this special day.

Aisha Fayyaz

What is your favourite Suhoor to keep you going?

Dates, as they release energy needed till Iftar.

What is the one dish that makes an Iftar feel complete for you?

Water is vital and fruit salad

What are one or two things you find yourself most grateful for during this month?

In this month I am grateful for the lovely food we get to eat, while you are hungry you realise the true value of food. I am grateful to prepare dishes for family.

Iftar is more fun with people, sharing food, prayers and love. It's a nice time to socialise and come together with community.

Get to Know Aisha.

Wake up early for a big Suhoor feast or Sleep until the last second and just have a quick date/water?

Have a big Suhoor to get enough source of energy for the day.

Would you rather attend a massive community Iftar with 100+ people or have a small, coay dinner with just close family?

Attend a big iftar to meet different people and socialise.

Would you rather spend a Saturday volunteering at a food bank or organising a charity fundraiser from your laptop?

Volunteer at a food bank and help people to have a good iftar.

On Eid morning, would you rather be dressed in your finest new traditional clothes or stay in your comfiest loungewear?

On Eid morning dress to impress as it's a special day to spread love and happiness.

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