How to Not Be Totally Clueless About Ramadan 

Ramadan began yesterday, so this week you might start to notice your Muslim coworkers and friends skipping lunch. The month of fasting commemorates God’s revelation of the Quran to Muhammad, and believers use this time to practice reflection and self control. So if you’re not Muslim, how can you be more considerate of those who are? Here are a few tips from people who observe Ramadan about what they wish others knew.

First, the basic rules of Ramadan: During this entire lunar month, many observant Muslims won’t eat or drink between sunup and sundown. It’s a religious exercise during which people aim to become closer to God and their community. Part of this involves fasting during the day and eating a celebratory meal at night. Since so much of our lives are focused on food, things can get awkward. So what should you do?

“I don’t care if you eat in front of me. Really,” writes Naila Kelani at The Kitchn. If you can avoid it, that’s great: move your regular lunchtime meeting to a different time of day if you can. But no need to tiptoe. Kelani writes that “effusive apologies and theatric food-hiding [are] unnecessary.”

“Be thoughtful about your questions,” writes Sarah Hagi at Vice. It’s natural to be curious, but “Not even water?” is something you could google, and something your Muslim friend is probably already tired of explaining. It’s also not appropriate to ask somebody why they’re not fasting, since that’s personal. People who are pregnant or sick are exempt from the rule, for example, and that’s none of your business. That said, Hagi is happy to talk about Ramadan and about her faith with others. It’s not a taboo topic.

But really, not even water. That means a midday workout, or even a walk outside on a hot day, can get pretty miserable. It’s also normal to feel tired toward the end of a day of fasting—so if you’re making plans, keep that in mind. “One summer, my best friend put a cold towel in her freezer for me to cool off [with] rather than offering me a glass of water,” Hagi writes. “It was one of the most kind and thoughtful things anyone has ever done for me.”

“You don’t need to fast with us,” Kelani writes. It’s not a political movement that benefits from solidarity; it’s also not a diet bandwagon to hop on. That said, you may be invited to break the fast with your Muslim friend. The end-of-day meal, called Iftar, is often a community celebration. (Pro tip: bring a vegetarian appetizer.) And feel free to wish everyone a Ramadan mubarak.

This post was originally published in May of 2017 and was updated on April 14, 2021 to update dates and links and align with current Lifehacker style.