to think that all muslims should not have to stand up and rally

[hiphiphurray]

Let me elaborate :-) In my work place, someone said that the local public sector office (dont want to name it) is banning food on desks for employees (in month of ramadan) as it may upset the muslim employees!

My stance was (initially surprised that they have done this - it is unnecessary if those are indeed their reasons) that one shouldnt believe everything they hear about muslims getting offended, as most of it, especially what is in some of the media tends to be 1% true 99% false.

The conversation then progressed to something like, muslims should stand up and say that this is not fair
And that non-muslims cannot say that this rule is unfair as they are afraid of being labelled racist.
Oh...and that politically correct officials are giving muslims a bad name!

I am all for standing up for a cause, but I just feel a bit and and also by the conversation as i dont understand why 'muslims need to be seen to stand and rally' about an office that has imposed this rule - just to calm the others down who dont want to be 'seen as racists'.

I couldnt help but feel that this outrage was more directed towards muslims than the PC officials despite the fact that the conversation didnt 'blame' the muslims.

So...who is right? Am I just being overly sensitive and AIBU?

my muslim pupils say to non-muslims 'just carry on as usual'. they don't look for special treatment.
but if you do, voluntarily, avoid eating and drinking in front of them, they consider it a kindness. and if you can 'join them' in fasting for a day, they see that as a real gesture of solidarity. (before anyone thinks otherwise, i haven't managed it yet).

yanbu

anyone who makes this rule doesnt understand some basics about fasting.

In a house with woman in it, it is likely there will be times when the woman is not fasting. She will eat and drink normally. In front of her husband etc.

Looking at people eat doesnt make anyone want to stop fasting.

I do hope you told them all this OP and that you're not just posting it here to start a bun fight?

No-one needs to snack at their desk anyway imo, they should be too busy working.

I think that you could be BU, if an offical memo was circulated telling everyone to change their behaviour because 'women' objected, i would question it, tbh.

One of my male collegues passed wind a fair but, he could have a school boy sense of humour at times, but i joined, when he blamed me, i found it funny.

It was another male that complained, a gendered response circulated and i got it changed.

I very much doubt it has happened at all. It's one of those stories that go around.

So food offends non muslims? How do they feed their kids, work in restaurants/food stores, etc?

My DH is fasting but he still cooks lunch for the kids.

Sadly someone has been well meaning and completely missed the point by bringing in this rule that no one asked for.

Well, I don't think Muslims HAVE to rally against this. But I think it's no bad thing if any Muslim directly involved (working in the iffice, perhaps) educates everyone. It's always a good thing to learn about other people. I'm not even going to say culture, just people. If I hear something negative about cosleeping, long term breast feeding or transport planning (all of which I have personal experience of!) I will politely correct people. I think it's the same here. Muslims don't have a moral obligation, but it makes sense to chip in, in my opinion.

How's it going, Nalik?

It's a bit 'they want to ban christmas' and 'baa baa black sheep'

Worra definitely not on here to start a fight. Let me make clear, my colleagues are a great bunch. We have our different views especially on religion but they are a nice lot. I did indeed say everything that i have stated on here to them. It was a heated conversation but not unpleasant or rude if you see what i mean. I dont want any bad comments directed at them (if you want to say something at me then that's fine as i have started this thread) i just want to keep this discussion in context of view points. I hope that clarifies it worra. Infact, i may even show them this thread!

thats baa baa rainbow sheep, usual, don't forget.

it gets easier every day by the time iftar comes you cant even eat that much!

a Muslim girl on another forum was saying she finds it weird eating during ramadhan, and she wanted to know what non muslims would assume if they saw her eating during ramadhan

and also what they would assume if she explained to them the reasons why she was eating, like the connations behind it.

She works in an office btw.

But I agree with OP that it is weird that if one Muslim does something, or something is done in the name of Islam, all Muslims are expected to stand against it, if they banned chocolate at work during lent or something would there be people saying christians should make a stand?

Oh that's ok then OP

It's just often threads like this are started and the OP mentions they didn't say anything to the people involved!

What did the muslims have to say about this?

Are they really going to police people about this? Just carry on eating at your desks.

worra i appreciate the advice, in fact i got worried after your initial message that this thread would turn into bad mouthing - if it does, i will ask for it to be deleted, as i have started it to get opinions rather than support!

And yes, I am also pretty vocal also, therefore i did indeed say what i have stated in the op, rather than just thought it to myself!

I hate stupid rules like this that create prejudice, and no I don't think they should have to rally but if it were me I would be very vocally pointing out their idiocy.

Fwiw inlaws are all fasting and mil still cooks and feeds myself (bf and a Christian!) and dd1 when we visit, so hardly offended by food

rainyday who knows if this rule is indeed in place! I personally don't think it is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

I don't know a single muslim personally who is offended by presence of food during fasting! And if they are, then i would ask them not to forget the true meaning of fasting which is self-control!

why should they condemn? isnt obvious that it is wrong?

To me it is yes. How about you

Sorry Muslims never condemn suicide bombers? So all those community leaders making their voices heard in the media about it were a figment of my imagination?

Please do jog on.

Well Muslims hardly ever publicly cindemn Muslim suicide bombers.

Well maybe the Muslims you know don't but the ones I know certainly do!

I don't know any muslims who would be offended by this. But, out of manners i wouldn't sit there and stuff my face in front of someone who was fasting. I'd sneakily go and hide somewhere to do it. But i wouldn't want to be told i have to do that.

Urban myth bollocks.