Ramadan guide for non-Muslims

Ramadan is just around the corner. The first thing that came into my mind is, no eating, no drinking, etc. Is there anything you should do so you don’t come across as insensitive to your fasting friends?

It is an obligation on every adult and healthy Muslim to fast during the month of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is also the month in which the Holy Quran was sent down from 7th level of heaven to the 1st level, from where it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in parts over a period of 23 years. It is a very joyous occasion for the Muslims of the world. Muslims fast during the day and pray and read Quran during the part of the night.

Read also: Things you need to know about Ramadan

With this holy month, we, non-Muslims are encourage to show respect and observe the basic etiquette during Ramadan.

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1. Do not eat or drink in public during fasting hours. Most Muslims fast during Ramadan (exceptions include pregnant women, elderly people, someone who is unwell) and yet go about their jobs with the same dedication. It’s, therefore, important to respect those who are fasting and avoid eating or drinking in public.
2. Meetings are fine, but no work lunches: To expand on the point mentioned above, those fasting will be open to meeting colleagues outside office for work purposes. They will even be courteous enough to entertain you if you accidentally invite them for a work lunch, though they may not eat anything. Therefore, avoid work lunches as much as possible. Schedule meetings early in the morning, or a couple of hours before Iftar.
3. Iftar is a special meal. It’s the meal you have after ending the fast for that particular day. So, if you are a non-Muslim who is invited by a Muslim friend for Iftar, you should not refuse, and you should certainly not say you won’t eat because you are not fasting.
4. Please be a little flexible. If you have a friend or a colleague who is fasting, please understand if you see they are low on energy. Fasting for a whole day is not easy. Even if you eat and hydrate yourself at night and early morning, the body will soon run out of energy during the day.
5. Don’t tell your Muslim friends you want to fast to lose weight. Ramadan is not about fasting to lose weight. It’s about teaching yourself discipline. It’s about abstinence, about keeping yourself pure. It’s something you should follow everyday of the year. In fact, most people who fast during Ramadan end up gaining weight. This is because of irregular eating patterns and heavy meals at Iftar. There’s nothing wrong in fasting as a non-Muslim.
6. You can say “Ramadan Mubarak” … There’s no “war on Christmas”-level controversy surrounding the greeting (it means “Happy Ramadan”). Your Muslim co-worker will appreciate the thoughtfulness.
7. You don’t have to know when it begins. Ramadan isn’t like Christmas or Thanksgiving, as in everyone knows exactly when it’ll fall. It bounces around, because the Islamic calendar is lunar. When it begins depends on when the new moon is seen. That’s why the precise dates change from year to year.