Ramadan 2026: Sharing humanity, supporting colleagues

Dear Colleagues,

The evening of Feb. 17 marked the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, observed by millions of Muslims across the globe. It is a month of fasting from dawn to sunset, a deliberate act of spiritual and physical discipline. The experience of hunger and thirst during this month is meant to cultivate humility, gratitude, and a deepened sense of empathy for all those who face deprivation, not by choice, but by circumstance.

Ramadan is also a time in which acts of charity, generosity, and service carry special significance. In Islamic tradition, giving during this month is considered especially virtuous, reflecting the belief that compassion and care for others are central to faith.

For many Muslims, Ramadan offers a welcome pause from the relentless pace of daily life. The nightly prayers, worship, and moments of quiet reflection provide a grounding sense of purpose, an opportunity to reconnect with values such as gratitude, patience, and kindness.

It is also a profoundly communal month. Families, friends, and neighbors gather to break their fast together, sharing traditional meals, opening their homes, and strengthening bonds of community and belonging.

This year, these values resonate even more deeply. Across the world, many communities are experiencing profound hardship: families facing hunger and displacement, including those in places like Gaza and Sudan, individuals in need here at home losing access to essential food assistance, and immigrant communities navigating rising hostility and uncertainty. These realities remind us how urgently gratitude, compassion, and solidarity are needed.

I warmly invite you to join your Muslim colleagues across the health campus in embracing the spirit of Ramadan. You might choose to fast for a day to experience a small part of the physical practice, or simply join in reflecting on the values the month elevates: kindness, generosity, community, and care for those in need.

To learn more, please take a moment to read this Insider story: “Supporting Muslim employees during Ramadan.” May this season be an opportunity for all of us to slow down, support one another, and reaffirm the shared humanity that connects us.

Yours in health,

Hiba Hamdan, MBBS, MPH
Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor
UC Davis Division of Nephrology
Internal Medicine Department
Chair, Muslim Faculty and Staff Association Employee Resource Group

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are open to anyone regardless of background who wish to support, participate, or be educated in the many cultures and communities at UC Davis Health. Membership and participation in Employee Resource Group activities are not dependent on race, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any protected category under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.