Ramadan involves 30 days of fasting. It is considered the most venerated and spiritually beneficial month of the Islamic year and sees Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn until dusk. Meals are taken before dawn and after sunset only. But as Imam Hafiz explains, there is more to the Islamic world's holiest month than fasting:
"The whole month is centred around refocusing our attention to God, revitalising our spirituality and revaluating our life, seeing if you can spot any pitfalls and make them good. As a result, Muslims may spend the month of Ramadan more focused on prayer and religious observance than at other times of the year."
The practicalities of observing the fast of Ramadan might be viewed as difficult to reconcile with carrying out the normal duties of a British soldier, airman or sailor, but with a little bit of flexibility Imam Hafiz doesn't see a problem:
"Nearly a billion Muslims fast every year throughout the world and in non Muslim countries they fast without it affecting their jobs at all. The essence of the fast is to carry on with your daily life as usual while undertaking the sacrifice. Most bosses would not even know their Muslim employees are fasting."
The physical demands of training however could present a few problems to a soldier who has not eaten for hours, as Imam Hafiz acknowledges, but he has had Muslim soldiers tell him they have managed to fast while undertaking physical training and in one case a soldier told him he completed his quickest ever eight mile run while fasting:
"But undertaking strenuous physical training while observing the fast of Ramadan, can be challenging," he continues. "My advice to Commanding Officers is to try and accommodate Muslims trying to fast and if possible alter the times of physical training, to offer flexibility where they can.
"My advice to soldiers is that if fasting is going to affect their health, or life, then make the due considerations when planning the day. Ramadan is a big spiritual experience for Muslims so as an employer it's important we try to accommodate this."
Muslims can normally forego fasting if they are ill or undertaking a long strenuous journey and pregnancy also offers exemption. Deliberately breaking the fast though incurs sanctions such as donating money to charity or helping the poor and needy by offering food and drink. Imam Hafiz says soldiers on operations would also be exempt from breaking the fast if they are in a situation where it might jeopardise their work or indeed their and others lives:
"It is possible for Muslims on operations to fast, but the operational environment should take priority," he says.
Due to the nature of the Islamic Calendar Ramadan occurs 10 days earlier every year. It is now therefore falling in months when the sun sets later and rises earlier, which could prove a problem for getting those pre dawn and sunset meals in at the cookhouses. The spiritual nature of the month may also mean many Muslims want to spend more time in prayer, but Imam Hafiz doesn't see any big problems for the Armed Forces:
"If a Muslim is going about his day to day duties then there should not be a major issue, you probably wouldn't even know they are fasting and as long as people are pragmatic and flexible, any problems should be easily dealt with."
Imam Hafiz see's his role as the Muslim Chaplain to the Armed Forces being split into three areas. First he gives spiritual, religious and pastoral advice to Muslim personnel and their families, which might involve answering calls from a soldier who has a specific religious question, to helping with marriage or family difficulties. He also presides over marriages as well as funerals, of which there have unfortunately been two since he joined the Armed Forces.
His second role is educational and sees him responding to requests from units who have troops deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan and want to have a briefing on the basic tenets of Islam. Although Imam Hafiz admits he is no expert on either of these two countries, he can help provide a basic understanding for personnel.
Thirdly he contributes to Policy, for example working with his other world faith chaplaincy colleagues to advise Commanding Officers on how to provide prayer rooms, or even advising the Dress Committee on what kind of uniform would be appropriate for female Muslim Service personnel.
With no supporting team Imam Hafiz undertakes these roles and provides support for the 350 Muslim UK Service Personnel on his own. He is keen to point out though that 350 is the MOD official number he is constantly coming across more Muslims in the Forces who have not registered as being Muslim. Sometime this is just an admin error, but sometimes he says, they don't want to be identified by their faith, rather first and foremost as a soldier. Sadly, some people have been reluctant to disclose their faith due to the political climate.
Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan though should not present any special issues for Muslim soldiers according to Imam Hafiz:
"The challenges that face Muslim personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan is no different to any other soldier," he says. "They face the same issues of life and death, bearing arms against other human beings, being away from family, will they go home etc.
"Another challenge though is how the Iraq and Afghanistan war is perceived by Muslim communities in Britain. It can be hard to join the Armed Forces and there is concern as to how you will be received back in the community. But I would like to stress this is no different to Catholics serving in Northern Ireland. This is not an issue isolated to Muslims."
Due to these same perceptions Imam Hafiz explains that his is a post which many Imams would either not apply for or be very sceptical about, but he continues:
"The vast majority of the Muslim community has welcomed the appointment and regard it as a good achievement and contribution. However, it would be naïve of me to say that there isn't a tiny minority of people both within the Muslim and non-Muslim community that feel that there is no place for a Muslim Chaplain in the British Armed Forces.
"However once they understand what my role within the Forces is, many will begin to appreciate the post. My view is as long as there are Muslims within the Forces, their spiritual, religious and pastoral requirements will need to be met and I don't see this need going away anytime soon."
Imam Hafiz prepares for Ramadan by clearing his diaries. Last year he says, on the first five days he was inundated by calls from Commanding Officers and chaplains asking for advice on how to deal with various issues the month may bring:
"I'd like to take time off during Ramadan, but I have a responsibility to people who might need me at this month more than at any other time. Muslims in the Armed Forces have welcomed the post of Muslim chaplain to the Armed Forces. I had 50 people join me at the Eid gathering and 50 people at the first Armed Forces Muslim Conference, which I think shows people are happy to have a Muslim padre in the system. I think it's boosted morale too - one person reported to me that he has now told his family he has his own Imam, one that understands the challenges he faces."
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