Welcoming Ramadan 2023 at GOSH

Ramadan is a special time of year for Muslims all around the world, and for those who practice it, it is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and community. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and it is considered the holiest month of the year for Muslims. It is believed that during this month, the Quran, the holy book of Islam, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Many Muslims find Ramadan is a time where their usual spiritual practice increases. Although a challenging month, for many it’s a spiritual time of abstaining from negative acts and spending time strengthening their relationship with God. Fasting helps support the healthy function of the body, and perhaps most importantly, it helps Muslims remember those who are less fortunate than us as we live through their reality.

After completing Ramadan, Muslims celebrate their hard work during Eid Al Fitr, which directly translates to celebrating breaking one’s fast. Eid al Fitr is celebrated for three days, as families gather, perform a special Eid prayer, and hand out sweets, money and gifts to each other.

Here at the GOSH International and Private Care, we are delighted to welcome Ramadan and want to share some information about this special month with all staff, patients and families.

Ramadan 2023 is expected to begin on Thursday 23 March, following the sighting of the moon over Mecca. Lasting between 29 and 30 days, Ramadan is expected to end on Friday 21 April, with Eid al-Fitr celebrations starting on Saturday 22 April or Sunday 23 April.

Essentially, fasting is the act of abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, which means fasting Muslims do not eat or drink anything during daylight hours. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and it is obligatory for all healthy and able-bodied Muslims to observe it.

It is common for families and friends to gather for iftar, and many mosques and community centres also provide Iftar meals for those who are unable to prepare their own.

In addition to fasting, Muslims also engage in prayer, charity, and other acts of worship during this month. However, some Muslims do not partake in the fast for various reasons such as:

• Illness (physical or mental) or being very frail 
• Women menstruating or with lochia discharge 
• Pregnant or lactating women who have credible concerns about their own or their child’s health 
• Healthcare staff required to provide care to COVID-19 patients at real risk of dehydration or making clinical errors due to wearing PPE and long shifts. 

Despite being in the above categories some prefer not to miss these fasts in view of the special blessings and spiritual benefits during this time.         

Many patients, families and staff at GOSH celebrate Ramadan, and to help them feel at home, this year we’ve put together some Ramadan-themed social media content over the month. Ranging from ex-patients sharing how they're spending this Ramadan with family back home, staff getting involved in baking treats for Eid and patient activities across wards with the Play Team.

Muslim Prayer Room

The Muslim prayer room is located on Southwood level 3. It will be open throughout Ramadan with copies of the Quran available. You will be able to break your fast with dates and water in this area, but no other food must be eaten. Please be aware, you are not permitted to sleep in this area at any time. 

The hospital Imam will lead Jummah Friday prayer in the Muslim prayer room every Friday with a Khutbah.

Lagoon Mealtimes

The Lagoon will be open until 8pm throughout Ramadan with food being served until 7.45pm. 

The charity section of the Lagoon be open throughout the night for people to have iftar and Pre-Fajr meals.

Some parents may need some support during this month. If any families and parents are experiencing anxiety or stress, please reach out to our Chaplaincy team for further assurance and support.

• Please contact the Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Team if you have any questions. 020 7813 8232 or email gosh.chaplaincy@gosh.nhs.uk 

Local Halal Restaurants:

See our list of 10 local Halal restaurants near the hospital, here: https://www.gosh.com.kw/news-articles/local-halal-restaurants-near-gosh 

Coram’s Field Guild Hall 

93 Guildford St, London WC1N 1DN

King's Cross Mosque & Islamic Cultural Centre

Sanfield (Basement), Cromer Street, London WC1H 8DU 

London Central Mosque

146 Park Road, London NW8 7RG

Holborn Mosque

Brookes Court, 33 Baldwins Gardens, London EC1N 7RR

Ramadan Mubarak / Kareem - Two of the most common Ramadan greetings which means congratulations on the arrival of the holy month. 

Sawm (fasting) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It requires Muslims to abstain from food, drink, impure and negative behaviour from dawn until dusk. 

Imsak refers to the start of a fast and begins when the first light of dawn becomes visible, shortly before the dawn call to prayer (Fajr). 

Suhoor or Sahri is the meal consumed before the start of the fast. 

Iftar or Iftari is the meal that ends the day’s fast. Iftar is a time for family and friends to come together. 

Prayers - Muslims complete ritual prayers five times a day. The first prayer is at dawn (Fajr), followed by prayers at noon (Zuhr), mid-afternoon (Asr), sunset (Maghrib), and night (Isha). 

The Quran - The Quran is the holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the word of Allah. The Quran consists of 114 chapters of varying length, divided into 30 volumes. It was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammed during the month of Ramadan and is a guide to all mankind. Muslims are encouraged to complete reading the Quran during the fasting month of Ramadan. 

Eid prayer: The end of Ramadan is marked with a celebration known as Eid Al Fitr. On the morning of Eid, Muslims attend mosques or special designated open areas for the prayers. 

Eid al-Fitr 2023 is expected to be celebrated on sundown of Friday 21 April ending at sundown on Saturday 22 April.

Ramadan Kareem from all of us at GOSH International & Private Care to all muslims who participating.