This Ramadan civil rights primer from CAIR gives you the information you need to take full advantage of this blessed month. Please share it with your family and friends to ensure they too are empowered to assert their rights!
AT SCHOOL
Students should be accommodated for prayers, iftars and Eid. Requests for these accommodations should be made in writing, see template below. For more information, please read Know Your Rights As A Muslim Youth at School and An Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices.
School Religious Accommodation Request Letter
IN THE WORKPLACE
You are entitled to prayer and iftar breaks and to take time off for Eid, so long as the request is reasonable and does not cause an undue hardship to the employer. Generally, the law allows an employee to take time off from work for religious observance, so long as the employee gives the employer adequate notice and the employee’s absence does not cause an undue hardship to the employer.
Employer Religious Accommodation Request Letter
Some best practices on how to request religious accommodation at work:
- Follow your employer’s policies when requesting an accommodation. Before making your request, review your employer’s handbook and follow any procedures stated in the employee handbook regarding notification and requesting time off.
- It is necessary you make clear that the reason you are requesting the accommodation is because of a religious belief or practice.
- Keep a personal record of when and how your request was made and whether and how it was accommodated.
- Be respectful when requesting an accommodation. Refrain from reciting the law, in the first instance, as most employers are willing to work with you to accommodate your requests for salat, iftar breaks, and Eid time off.
As always, if your reasonable requests for prayer and iftar breaks and/or Eid are not accommodated, our legal team is available to provide free assessments, advice, and assistance. You can contact them by completing this form online.
