Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, has begun. What if you're not Muslim? What should you do to show respect to friends or family members who are fasting? At a minimum, you can follow the tips below.
1. You can eat in front of someone who is fasting: For the next 30 days, Muslims will not consume food or drink from sunrise to sunset, but that doesn't mean life doesn't continue as normal.
2. Just try not to skip a work lunch: If your Muslim colleague refuses to come, be understanding.
3. You don't have to fast with your Muslim friends: You can if you want to see what it's like, but you're not obligated to even if your relationship with the person who is fasting is very close.
4. But you can join them for Iftar: Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset. Muslims organize large dinners with a family feel. You can join them if they invite you or if you want to.
5. You don't have to worry about the timing: Ramadan is not like Christmas. The days and times are constantly shifting and changing, as the Islamic calendar is lunar. The starting date depends on the day of the new moon. Therefore, the dates change from year to year.
6. But be flexible: If a colleague asks you to come in early tomorrow or leave early, try to respect their requests.
7. You can invite your Muslim friends for coffee: Even though they can't drink anything, not even water. It's important to spend time together, right?
8. But they can stay away from you for a while: When you don't eat anything for most of the day, your mouth can naturally smell.
9. You can say “Happy Ramadan!”: It is a polite greeting and shows understanding.
10. But don't say "I should fast too, to lose a few pounds": Ramadan is not about losing weight.
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