8 things you should absolutely not say to a person fasting during Ramadan

You can keep your comments on food and religion to yourself, please.

A lot of people have the knack of confusing religion with culture. That is why, being a Muslim in India, you have to clarify and correct a lot of notions that people have about Islamic practices. I can count the number of people who believe that Muslims take a bath only on Fridays. Why so? Because Friday is a significant day for Muslims and so people have derived the logical conclusion that Muslims bathe only on Fridays. And being a Muslim all my life, I can safely debunk this misconception. I take a bath every day, sometimes twice or thrice because I live in Mumbai (damn you, heat+humidity). Okay, maybe not on some Sundays, but it is only because of laziness. There are so many things I wish people stopped saying to me without making an effort to find out how true it is, especially when it comes to Ramadan and fasting. Here is a list of things I wish people stopped saying to me, or any other Muslim who fasts during Ramadan.

1. You can drink water at least, or eat fruits, like we do during our upwaas! No, I can't. A roza (Arabic for fast) means I can't eat or drink anything between dawn to dusk.
2. So you guys eat all night! That's not that tough. Honestly, by the time for iftaar (breaking the fast in evening) all I want is water. And you forget the point that I also need to sleep.
3. Roza is a great way to lose some weight! Maybe it is. But that's not the point. Roza and Ramadan have deep spiritual and religious significance.
4. Sorry, I shouldn't be eating around you. Thanks for being so considerate, but seriously, it's okay. The whole point of fasting is to practice self-control. So don't be so conscious.
5. Can you travel/ go to work/ live a normal life when fasting? Yes, I am fasting, not terminally ill.
6. Eat a little, no one will know! Excuse me? I am fasting because I, as an adult, want to do so. I don't need anyone to monitor my behaviour.
7. But you don't wear hijab or look Muslim! Wearing the hijab is one aspect of Islam and fasting the other. Just because I don't 'look Muslim' doesn't mean I can't observe a roza.
8. So once you start, do you need to observe fasts on all 30 days, come what may? People have the option to not fast when they are sick, on their period, pregnant, physically or mentally incapable. It is a religious practice, not a suicide mission.

If you have questions about Ramadan or any Islamic practice, the honourable thing to do will be to approach a Muslim and ask. Commenting with half-baked knowledge can sometimes be offensive.

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