Audit associate, Adam Kola joined Parsons in September 2025 following a gap year after leaving a local secondary school. Below he shares more about his first experience of Ramadan as a working professional.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is a special time of year for Muslims around the world. It is a month focused on fasting, prayer and the holy book known as the Quran. This was my first year experiencing Ramadan while working full-time as an audit associate.
The challenges of Ramadan
Fasting during Ramadan means abstaining from food and drink from dawn until sunset. Although the fasts are shorter this year, with Ramadan being early in the year, the fasting period still stretches from approximately 4:40 in the morning until 6:20 in the early evening.
To ensure I am energised for the day I have been waking up for a pre-fast meal and early morning prayers, after which I return to bed. One day, the tiredness meant I woke up later than planned and nearly missed my bus to work. It was a reminder of how the change in routine during Ramadan can take some adjustment.
After arriving at work I continue with my normal workday, completing audit testing and responding to client queries like any other time of the year. The work is challenging and the concentration required throughout the day can often be difficult without normal nourishment, especially towards the end of the day.
Exams
I also found studying during Ramadan difficult as I was preparing for my first professional exam with the AAT. Revision after work during Ramadan requires a lot of discipline and time management.
Although energy levels might not have been high, one of the fundamental pillars of Ramadan is how it encourages perseverance through challenging times. This helped keep my motivation strong in the face of adversity.
A supportive employer
One of the most memorable parts of the month was the support shown by my colleagues. To better understand the experience of fasting, my colleagues decided to fast for a day themselves. It gave everyone a small insight into what the month involves. Many of them actively explained how challenging they found the process and it really helped them understand what the Muslim community goes through every day in terms of energy and concentration levels.
At the end of that day, we shared a meal together to break the fast, which was a great way to bring everyone together.
The team were also incredibly considerate during Ramadan. On several days management kindly allowed me to leave slightly earlier so I could make it home in time to break my fast with family. These small gestures made a big difference and showed the supportive culture within the workplace.
Rewarding
The evenings during Ramadan are often the most spiritually rewarding part of the day. After breaking the fast at sunset, I would attend a special nightly prayer known as Taraweeh. These prayers are an important part of the month. Ramadan ultimately serves as a reminder of faith, gratitude, and generosity—values that I hope to carry well beyond the month itself and into my everyday working life.
