Would It Be Offensive To Ask Neighbours If They’re Muslim?

[GeorgeMichaelWasHere]

Hi,

I believe our neighbours may be Muslim but I’m not 100% sure. They’re of Pakistani origin (mum is from Pakistan, dad born in England with family in Pakistan) - when I’ve googled it says 97% of Pakistanis are Muslim so I think maybe so.

The reason I’m asking is because if they are and are due to celebrate Eid, I’d love to get them a little gift/s. They have 3 kids and they always bring us a box of chocolates or similar at Christmas. And the mum occasionally brings us delicious home cooked food. I’d love to give them something in return, even if it’s just something for the children. But, I don’t know whether asking is the right thing to do. I know I’m possibly overthinking but I don’t want to cause offence.

Can you not just ask/say in conversation, "So, you'll be celebrating Eid soon ...?"
If they are not, just apologise for your assumption.
It sounds like a lovely neighbourly relationship.

Put a happy Eid card through the door and that'll start the conversation. The question isn't 'are you Muslim', it's 'are you celebrating Eid'.

Yes it sounds like they very probably are, but it’s as well to ask if they will celebrate Eid, that’s a nice way of putting it

"Are you celebrating Eid soon?" is probably a friendly way to enquire, and could lead to a chat about the celebration as part of getting to know each other better.

Thanks everyone. I’ll go with the the ‘are you celebrating Eid soon?’ idea.

@GeorgeMichaelWasHere Were your instincts correct?

Yes! Although I didn’t actually end up asking beforehand because I didn’t see any of them and didn’t want to just rock up and knock on the door to ask.

What happened was, the youngest of the girls (and some of her friends, all about 6, 7, 8 in age) knocked on the door the other night and gave me a beautiful Easter card that she’d made at school. She explained that she made it for us as they don’t celebrate Easter so I took my chance and asked what they do celebrate and she confirmed they celebrate Eid. Her and her friends then proceeded to excitedly tell me all about what they do and how they get dressed up and I asked a few questions as I really didn’t know anything at all. So it was really interesting to find out. And lovely to see the children all excited.

So, I missed it this time, but I know for next time and can be prepared.

How sweet!

We have some lovely neighbours who are Muslims. They brought us chocolates at Eid. I'll be taking them something at Easter (we're Catholics)

Isn’t it? My perimenopausal hormones gave me a lump in my throat and very nearly tears!🙈

That's so sweet!

That is so lovely @GeorgeMichaelWasHerethat she thinks you are so special that she decided she would give the card to you.
Take a bow 💕

(Not a 🎀)

Just another update. I was prepared this time and got them a lovely card and a bag of goodies (I Googled to make sure everything was acceptable) for the children! It was lovely to be able to repay their kindness and the kids shared the sweets with their friends and cousins I mentioned earlier.😍

I used to be a cake maker so next time I’m going to make them a cake. I just hadn’t the time this last week.

Ask will they be celebrating Eid?