Your Questions Answered- Mustafa
Mustafa joined the firm as an apprentice in Technology & Transformation. He’s part of the Deloitte Muslim Network and is here to answer your questions about the ways our Muslim community is supported at Deloitte.
Ramadan is a deeply spiritual and important time for Muslims all around the world. It falls in the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar and it’s a period where Muslims abstain from food and drink, fasting between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan moves by roughly 10 days each year, with the exact timing based on moon sightings. As one of the five pillars of our religion, it’s a tool for Muslims to become better versions of themselves, bringing you closer to God, helping you to create healthy habits, and do good deeds. It’s also a time for reflection and introspection, making you thankful for all the blessings you have and understanding the difficulties of those who are less fortunate. Muslims will increase charity donations during this time, with some estimates suggesting that UK Muslims donate around £150 million in Ramadan.
Fasting can be challenging, especially when it falls during the summer months when the sunset is very late. I wake up early during Ramadan to drink water and eat before the day starts. My team and clients are always incredibly supportive, and they know that I might adjust the timings of my day to coincide with my energy levels. Some people move their working hours into the evening, while others start earlier in the morning, depending on their preferences. My team also know I’ll be working through my lunch break, so I might finish a little earlier. Deloitte supports Muslim colleagues to work from home during Ramadan when possible, to make them more comfortable. For the past two years, I’ve taken some annual leave during the period, travelling to Saudi Arabia on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Others take holiday at the end of Ramadan to coincide with the start of our Eid celebrations.
We have a dedicated wellbeing suite and multi-faith prayer room in the London office, as well as many of our regional spaces. You can go in there and feel relaxed while you offer your prayers. Deloitte also supports and celebrates all Islamic holidays, as well as those from other faiths.
A lot of people think that Muslims separate worship from daily activities, but the religion teaches us that any action done with the right intention can be an act of worship. For example, in my own life, I strive to use my role as a consultant to make a positive impact on the public sector. By approaching my work with the intention of contributing to the betterment of our community and fulfilling my duty to God, I see it as an extension of my faith. Similarly, my commitment to charity is deeply rooted in my Islamic beliefs, reminding me that giving back to those in need is a form of worship in itself.
Deloitte recognises that everyone has different things that are important to them. That’s why they offer flexible bank holidays, so if I want to work over Easter and take the holidays during Eid instead, that option is available to me.
The Deloitte Muslim Network is a designated network that provides a space for Muslim colleagues to connect. We also raise awareness about any challenges people are facing and support personal and professional development. There are more than 1000 members, including Muslims from a wide range of different backgrounds, as well as non-Muslims who want to learn more or be able to relate to colleagues who practice the faith. We connect likeminded individuals and offer people the chance to raise their voice and share opinions on things they’d like to see in the firm. It’s an inclusive environment for everyone and we also organise socials, coffee catch ups and events throughout the year.
Muslims celebrate several events and holidays throughout the year, and the network supports these. In Ramadan we have the annual Fast and Furious challenge, where non-Muslims are invited to join us in fasting for one day, before having an Iftar feast to break the fast at sunset.
We also celebrate Eid Al Fitr, which comes after Ramadan and then Eid Al Adha around two months later. We host celebrations, bringing in different cuisines for our people to try and share lots of food. The network hosts year-round awareness raising events too, as well as additional events during Black History Month, Islamophobia Awareness Month, and World Hijab Day. Throughout the year we run classes for those who are interested in learning more about the religion, and we bring in qualified speakers. For example, we’ve hosted Islamic finance sessions, to support our people on personal finance issues.
I joined Deloitte as an apprentice straight from school, so I’d never been in a corporate environment before. I was in my own bubble and only knew of things in my area and community. Being part of a diverse community at Deloitte has really helped me to meet people who have different backgrounds and ways of thinking. These different perspectives help us to work collaboratively in teams, bringing diversity of opinion and supporting us to learn more from each other. The networks are a great way of bringing people together and highlighting issues that different groups of people might face. Our faith-based networks also allow people to practice their religion in a way that they are comfortable with and so it enables them to be who they are in the workplace.
