Ramadan Guide

A Ramadan guide consists of rules that Muslims adhere to during Ramadan. The guidelines include:

Ramadan Etiquette

Ramadan is a perfect time to increase one’s faith. Muslims strive to do good deeds during this time. They believe that the rewards are in double measure. Ramadan also strengthens their relationships and promotes unity. It is an excellent time for people to sort out their differences and live in harmony.

Muslim Etiquette for Non-Muslims During Ramadan

Ramadan is a month of abundant opportunities and blessings. Muslims invite their non-Muslim friends to participate in various activities. For instance, they may invite them to eat with them on special occasions. This includes iftar and Eid, which mark the end of Ramadan.

Ramadan presents a beautiful time to engage in charitable activities. Here, Muslims often help the needy. This is offered to both Muslims and non-Muslims. An example is raising money to help them. This may be done by attending charity events. 

Ramadan for Non-Muslims

As a non-Muslim, there may be a lot of questions about Ramadan. You may also have questions when it comes to etiquette. 

For example, how should you treat your Muslim or Turkish friends during Ramadan? Should you treat them the same as usual? What do you say to a Muslim during Ramadan? 

Here, it’s good to be considerate and understanding. Let’s read on to learn more about this holy month. We’ll also discuss what to say to Muslim friends during Ramadan.

Ramadan Greeting

There are a ton of ways to greet your Muslim friends during Ramadan. You can tell them “Ramadan Kareem.” This means, “Have a generous Ramadan.” You can say this anytime you meet them. 

You can also say “Ramadan Mubarak.” This simply means “Have a blessed Ramadan.”

 Once the month is over, Muslims celebrate its end with a holiday called Eid al-Fitr. During Eid, it’s appropriate to say “Eid Mubarak.” This translates to “Happy Eid.”

Knowing Ramadan greetings alone may not be enough. It’s also good to have proper etiquette during Ramadan. That is, to be considerate, mindful, and accommodating. 

For example, don’t simply ask someone why they are not fasting. It may seem like a simple question to you, but it may come off inappropriately to others. 

There are many reasons why some Muslims don’t fast during Ramadan. They may be sick, pregnant, nursing, or traveling. Women experiencing menstruation, children, and elderly people are also exempted from fasting.   

Be thoughtful about the types of questions you ask your Muslim colleagues. Don’t ask weird questions that may be offensive. This also includes questions about body weight issues.

Rest assured that it’s totally fine to eat in front of us. However, don’t offer food or drinks to your Muslim guests during Ramadan. There are many other ways of making your Muslim visitors feel welcome.

Do’s and Don’ts in Ramadan

It is okay for Muslims to do basic personal necessities during Ramadan. These include brushing their teeth, swallowing saliva, and taking a shower. They are also allowed to go swimming. However, they should take caution when doing this so that they don’t take in water.

Muslims can also taste the food they are cooking to check the seasoning. However, they must spit it after. Ingesting food is not allowed. 

Getting vaccinated during Ramadan is also within the fasting guide. This is especially good when the vaccines are declared halal. This means that they do not contain any human or pig derivatives. 

Among the important don’ts in Ramadan is eating. Muslims don’t eat or drink anything, including drugs, from dawn to sunset. They also stay away from sexual relations until after having iftar (if they are married).

During Ramadan, Muslims avoid bad habits. These include arguing, swearing unnecessarily, gossiping, smoking, or taking in alcohol. Blood cupping and withdrawal are not allowed. Using ear drops or inhalers also invalidate fasts.  

How Can You Support Your Muslim Friends During Ramadan?

You can support your Muslim friends, colleagues, or family in various ways:

Giving to charity

Ramadan is a month of giving. It presents an excellent opportunity to show hospitality and generosity. You can give donations or take part in Ramadan Fundraisers. You can also help the needy directly. This is done by giving them clothes or nutritious food items like dates.

Checking on your Muslim friends

Checking in on your Muslim friends is always a great idea! Feel free to ask them how they are fairing. You can either pay them a visit or call them briefly over the phone. Doing so will help your Muslim friends feel loved, supported, and seen.

Accommodating your employees

Being considerate to your employees during Ramadan is one way of supporting them. But what is the proper way to go about it?

Try scheduling meetings before sunset. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Therefore, they need some extra time to prepare for Iftar.

You can also accommodate the time of prayer if possible. Muslims pray five times a day for about 10 minutes. It’s unlikely for Muslims to eat lunch during Ramadan since they usually fast. So, try to move their lunchtime break to their preferred time in fellowship.

Showing love to your customers

If you are a business person, consider giving your Muslim customers great deals. Opt for discounts on products whose sales go up during the month. These include things like dates, milk, wheat flour, and so on. You can also put some commodities on offer or give out special Ramadan packages. At the very least, you can wish your Muslim customers or clients “Ramadan Mubarak” or “Ramadan Kareem.”

Sponsoring iftar

Iftar is the first meal Muslims have after breaking their fasts. One way of supporting your Muslim friends is by hosting them for Iftar. Consider it as inviting your colleagues for dinner. Be sure to have a varied menu that will accommodate everybody, in case you have a vegetarian friend. We recommend including dates to break their fasts. They may also have cold water in its absence.