AIBU to eat in front of my muslim coworkers?

[EmmbadTheBad]

So it's Ramadan at the moment. I was at a meeting at work recently and a muslim woman, who I don't work with directly, made a comment about how thoughtless the people she shares an office with are for eating in front of her while she is fasting (at this point everyone glances guiltily towards the biscuits in the middle of the table). There are a couple of muslim women in my office and, I'll be honest, it had not even occurred to me that it might be insensitive to eat in front of them while they are fasting.

We do have a kitchen at work but it's very small and a lot of people, myself included, tend to eat at their desks. Quite apart from anything - as an atheist - I don't want to be observing other people's religious beliefs. I know Ramadan is nearly over but I intend to continue eating at my desk. IABU? Would appreciate opinion from anyone fasting at the mo.

[LineRunner]

Muslims do actually eat during Ramadan. Ffs.

[TheBogQueen]

I have had Muslim colleagues for years and not one has ever asked me not to eat in front of them.

[hellokittymania]

I've been in both Malaysia and Singapore during Ramadan and it has never been a problem.

Unless you can't eat, by law, such as a few countries in the Middle East, there is no reason for her to say anything.

[LineRunner]

Sorry I am going to implode shortly.

[FreudiansSlipper]

never happened to me either LineRunner, lived in a Muslim country and have family/friends who are Muslim

[LineRunner]

And I am very pleased that reasonable, knowledgeable posters are here.

[FreudiansSlipper]

I have always suspected I do not have these run-ins with Muslims because I do not read the Daily Mail seems to happen an awful lot with their readers

[Frontier]

Maybe OP is one of those untidy eaters and watching her eat makes this colleague feel uncomfortable all year round - Ramadan has nothing to do with it.

[shockinglybadteacher]

Yeah another vote for "difficult colleague". Unless she was making a general observation that it was tough, rather than an accusation, because no-one Muslim I've ever met has complained about non-Muslims eating during Ramadan. They normally say "Well, it's not a duty for you, is it? shrug"

The closest I've met was one bloke getting arsey about "the Christians eating now when we are not..." but he wasn't complaining about the eating, he was complaining about the fact Christians aren't Muslims If we all didn't eat so as not to offend him, I don't think he would have felt better.

[LineRunner]

Maybe the co-worker asked the OP not to spit cottage cheese out of her gob onto her desk because she was fastidious, not fasting.

[shockinglybadteacher]

True LineRunner that would be impossible :D I put that really badly, sorry!

[DownByTheRiverside]

We used to have a quiet room in school during Ramadan, so if a child was fasting, they had somewhere to go and be peaceful and play games instead. Some used it, some didn't.
But to expect everyone else around you to change their behaviour because you are doing something religious is arrogant. Which is not what Ramadan is about. Fasting is supposed to be a disciplined challenge.

[hellokittymania]

Anyway, Ramadan ends today (I'm in SG so Monday already) so she can eat soon

[Igggi]

Although I don't think the woman had grounds for com

[DownByTheRiverside]

Yes, but whingy and entitled people thinking the world revolves around them is a truly universal, cross-cultural problem. Not Muslim or Christian or Atheist or Vegetarian. They are everywhere!

[Igggi]

Although I don't think the woman had grounds for complaint, I would not personally eat in front of someone fasting unless there was no choice. The eating-at-desk is a bit of an issue, as it is reasonable to expect someone fasting to avoid the staff kitchen if they don't like watching others eat, but how are they meant to avoid their own desks?

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

I was in McDonalds last Sat with my two Muslim sons because DS2 was hungry and is too young to fast. DS1 and I didn't eat (I am not Muslim) and there were a number of women in headscarves sitting watching their young children eat fish finger happy meals without spontaneously combusting.

Muslim parents do feed their children even if the adults are fasting so they have their own family eating in front of them during the day.

[DownByTheRiverside]

The office should be providing a prayer room or area, so that Muslim workers can pray during the day. She could go there and sit during lunch, or go for a walk if the sight of others eating tests her too dmuch.

[PhaedraIsMyName]

but I also think eating at your desk is icky

Really? I've never worked in any office where people didn't eat at their desks. If this happened the person complaining about colleagues eating is very unreasonable.

[SolidGoldBrass]

Some people, regardless of their superstitions, are reasonable and pleasant and accept that not everyone shares their views. Other people are attention-seeking, self-righteous twats. This colleague is simply a Muslim equivalent of all those whiny Christian fuckers claiming they are being 'persecuted' when they are asked not to shove homophobic tracts at co-workers.

[Player67]

I don't want to be observing other people's religious beliefs

Did your colleague force you to?

[PhaedraIsMyName]

Iggi not all offices have staff kitchens. My current office does, the previous one didn't. Even if they have there's no reason for the non-fasters to have to hide the fact they are eating.

[Bogeyface]

Can someone explain Ramadan to me? I only know what my muslim school friend told me/did and she drank water during the day but didnt eat until sundown. Have I read this thread right that drinking is out too? In this heat surely that cant be safe for anyone?

[cingolimama]

I give up sugar and alcohol for Lent. I don't ask people to stop drinking wine or eating cake in front of me! Nor do I require a separate facility such as a prayer room in order to cope. This is my faith, my decision and any difficulties I may have are mine to deal with.