A Ramadan message from our CEO

This month, Ramadan, Easter and Passover all fall under lockdown, with coronavirus significantly impacting religious sermons, festivals and pilgrimages. The holy month of Ramadan begins on Friday 24 April 2020. For Muslims fasting is a spiritual and mental exercise as much as it is a physical one, it requires self-discipline, control and resilience. Ramadan is also about coming together, but social distancing measures will make large Iftar (breaking fast) gatherings and Taraweeh (congregational prayers) impossible. Many mosques and Islamic centres are however holding online activities, providing new ways for the community to connect and come together during this unprecedented time.

Zakat (charity) is also very important during Ramadan and many Muslims increase their charitable donations during this month. Unfortunately, there are some fraudsters and online criminals who will try to exploit this generosity, especially during this pandemic. We’ve developed an Avoid Ramadan Scams campaign which is currently being promoted on our website and across our social media which aims to raise awareness by highlighting some of the most common scams.

There is a lot of negativity in the world right now, but Ramadan comes at an incredibly important time as it’s an opportunity for spiritual reflection, to look within and feel gratitude for all of the things you have been blessed with.

Ramadan Mubarak to you and your families. 

Peter Horton

CEO, Al Rayan Bank