The month of Ramadan is upon us, when many Muslims around the world observe fasting from sunrise to sunset. 

It is the month of reflection, prayer and community. It is a month that is meant to take us closer to God, and bring us calmness and peace.

All this would be magical, but it doesn’t automatically happen overnight, just as the Ramadan moon is sighted. As a Muslim teacher, it can be a testing time.

Firstly, the hours and the length of the fasts are not very teacher-friendly. Suhoor, which is the morning meal we have to start our fast, is around 4am. We wake up, have something to eat and pray. 

Last year, when I was on maternity leave, this was fine: I could go back to sleep and wake up later in the day. Or sleep during the day. 

However, now that I’m back at work, it leaves me in a predicament of whether or not it is worth going back to sleep after the meal. I get up for work at 6am. Will I fall asleep in good time after suhoor? What if I don’t wake up when my alarm goes? 

And if I get up for suhoor, eat, go back to sleep and then wake up again an hour later, on a scale of one to 10, how tired will I be? 

Ramadan: Tired teachers

So, most of the time, I skip this morning meal. I would rather be more hungry than sleepy. The constant rumbling of the tummy can be drowned out by my loud explanations of metaphors and similes. But nothing can hide the bags under my eyes - not even my expensive concealer.

We all know that being teacher-tired is real. But add fasting into the mix, and that’s a real beast. The day can feel quite long when you’re fasting. I am constantly counting down the hours until the Iftar, the evening meal to break the fast. 

Though, actually, the time goes a lot quicker when I’m at work, especially if I have a full day of teaching. When you’re focusing on teaching, then your mind doesn’t really think about food. 

I must admit, though, that during this month I definitely feel more tired and sleepy, especially as I’m not allowed the five cups of tea I have on a normal day. 

I try and preserve my energy as much as possible, avoid unnecessary movement or conversations, and keep the energy for my lessons. Additionally, I try to ensure that my lessons do not include too much teacher-talk, as this would make my mouth feel dry - we aren’t even permitted to drink water. 

Those of you who have never experienced this may be wondering what it feels like to not have any food or drink for hours during the day. Well, it’s hard, and can make you feel a little weak.

At times, you get a throbbing headache, especially when the class are a bit noisy, and it definitely tests your patience. There are times when I’ve felt I needed to sit down for a few seconds to get some energy back, and then I’m good to go again.

But you remind yourself why you’re doing it: it’s not just a fast of food, but a fast of all the negativity and weakness, and that gives you the strength to carry on. I’ve found that, when the class come to know that you are fasting, they seem to respect that and not throw you off the edge.

Naturally, though, by period five, I feel drained. Then again, don’t we all, with or without fasting? 

It’s OK to eat in front of a fasting Muslim

Keeping your focus during meetings is also tough - and not only because it’s getting closer to breaking the fast, and you’re imagining the food you’re going to eat. Meetings mean a longer working day without any food, which can really make you feel exhausted.

Just because I’m fasting, obviously it doesn’t mean that everyone else is. Which means I will see people around the school building, eating. Does that affect me? Not in the slightest. 

I know others are trying to be kind and polite, but it’s rather annoying when people apologise for eating in front of me. Please don’t do this. Seeing you eat won’t make me want to, I promise. 

During the month of Ramadan, I try to increase my imaan, my belief, and this includes praying. But this isn’t always easy, as there isn’t a prescribed area at school where I can go to pray. Islam is forgiving, and I can make up the prayers when I get home, but praying them on time would be much more beneficial.  

I have, over the years, got better at managing my time at work during Ramadan, and use breaks and lunchtime to do any planning or marking, so I’m not bringing anything home. This then allows me to use the evenings and weekends to dedicate to prayer and reflection.

Ramadan has always been an important part of my religious journey. Even though it’s more difficult when I’m teaching, I am grateful for what I have - and I enjoy the feeling of satisfaction it gives me every single day when I have completed a fast. 

The 30 days come and go so quickly, but I feel a much better human during them.

Sherish Osman is a lead teacher of English at a secondary school in West London