Amongst them is first team defender Romain Saiss, who has previously shared his thoughts and experiences with www.wolves.co.uk
Wolves Foundation’s Finance Manager Zulf Khan is also observing Ramadan, and has taken us through how he manages to combine prayer and fasting with continuing his job, and the support he receives from the club in doing so.
On his role at Wolves
I have worked as an accountant for the club and Foundation for the past eight years which has included supporting a number of the key departments and managers across the club. I enjoy what I do as no day is the same as the club continues to grow with new challenges all the time. It can be very demanding and stressful at times but I enjoy the work I do, and feel it makes a real difference.
On life during Ramadan
Ramadan is a very rewarding month for all Muslims and, as a family, the most important time of the year.
My day in Ramadan will start at around 4am for our morning meal called Sehri. This is when we prepare a meal before closing our fast for the day, which will be by 5am this year. Straight after this we offer our first prayer of the day - Fajr - before sunrise.
Usually, due to the limitations on time, we follow our normal routine of getting our kids ready for school and completing the school run. I then start my journey to work and get into office just after 9.30am. During my lunch break at midday, I usually offer my second prayer of the day – Zuhr - at my local mosque in Wolverhampton. This is more rewarding from a religious perspective and also allows me a much-needed break from the office.
In the afternoon, around 5.30pm, I offer my third prayer of the day called Asr at work before ending my day around 6.30pm. This can usually be the most difficult time as by this point, I can feel quite tired, hungry and have a reduced level of energy.
I arrive home most days after 7pm and, as a family, we prepare for the main meal of the day for when we open our fast, which is called Iftari. The fast will be opened at around 7.50pm this year, which is one with eating dates, following in line with religious teachings. Immediately after opening the fast, we offer our fourth prayer of the day called Magrib and then enjoy our main meal of the day.
I then attend the final prayer of the day - Isha - at mosque which finishes at around 10.45pm. Ramadan lasts for 30 days approximately and ends with the official celebration - Eid al Fitr. Abstaining from all food and drink during daylight hours is a challenge with the reduced resting time available throughout the week.
On celebrations at the end of Ramadan
The day after Ramadan is the start of the new Islamic month after the sighting of the local moon confirmed by our local mosque, is declared as the celebration of Eid al Fitr. It is then often a quick turnaround to prepare all necessary food and preparations for the main day of Eid.
On Eid day we attend mosque for a special Eid prayer around 8am and will wish members of the community and family ‘Eid Mubarak’. From this, we return home to our families to continue with the celebrations. Traditionally on this day all family are invited for dinner and we will exchange gifts with one another, enjoying all the simple things in life we have missed during fasting.
Eid Ul Fitr celebration lasts for at least three complete days after Ramadan and is a well-earned reward after the month of fasting.
On the personal importance of Ramadan
Ramadan for me is the most special month in the entire year. From a religious perspective it fulfils one of the five key pillars of Islam but personally it’s much more than this as it is a time to refresh my faith and become a better practicing Muslim.
It allows me a time to reset and reflect on how I lead my everyday life and truly appreciate all we have available, compared to people less fortunate around the world who are in need. I believe it helps to build a healthier and happier life, by reducing or eliminating impurities from the body and mind.
Ramadan allows me to allocate more family time. We open the fast as a family at a set time each day at sundown, so it not only provides key family time but actually helps bring the family closer and enjoy the sense of achievement fasting brings.
Ramadan is usually a time to increase your good deeds, as religiously it is more rewarding. It may be as small as helping someone at work, providing a listening ear to someone’s problems to making a financial donation to a good charitable cause locally or around the world but every little difference counts and makes an impact.
Through these combined good actions with a better-balanced approach, Ramadan helps you lead a better life until the time of reflection, fasting, comes again.
On support received from Wolves during Ramadan
I find myself very fortunate to be part of such a great team of people and a supportive club which does so much more, dare say I it, than just professional football! Throughout the year and especially during Ramadan my colleagues take a particular interest in what I do and how I get through my fasting day while keeping up with my daily office tasks and prayers.
Both Wolves Foundation and the club have always supported me by allowing me time during my working day to fulfil my daily prayers. Since Covid restrictions ended and we returned to the office I am extremely happy that the club has gone even further over the last 12 months and have now invested in a prayer room over at the Compton Training Ground for all staff, players or visitors to use, with a view to having the same facilities at Molineux.
These actions are far greater than any words I could write, that truly show the sincere effort and support Wolves provide in making this great club even a better place for every individual regardless of race, colour or religion.
On whether there is now more tolerance and interest from others about Ramadan
I definitely feel that there is a lot more tolerance to my faith, and towards Muslims in general, which has improved as the interest of the holy month of Ramadan has grown over the years.
Especially with the likes of the Internet and social media there is a lot more information available about my faith which I feel supports many of the questions raised by non-Muslims. This access to information not only helps to build a greater understanding of what and why we do things but, as an indirect result, reduces misconceptions and anxiety around our practices and belief.
I have been observing Ramadan since I was 16, approximately 23 years now, and can honestly say interactions with non-Muslim people are so much more positive. I feel they are much more understanding with a genuine interest, and appreciation and respect, for my faith and culture.
I truly believe that by building a greater understanding of all our different cultures and faiths that exist around each other, we truly allow ourselves to build the knowledge required to support true diversity and the integration required within our communities.
