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.

[DownByTheRiverside]

I've personally never known a pregnant Muslim who fasted, it was seen as a bad choice by the members of the community I worked with.

[CoteDAzur]

Me, neither. But research shows that the worst effect on the fetus is when expectant mother fasts during 1st month of pregnancy - i.e. Before she even knows she is pregnant.

[DownByTheRiverside]

Rather like the rest of us smoking and drinking, taking drugs and indulging in extreme sports when we don't know we're pregnant?
Isn't there some daft proposal in parts of the USA to make women liable for anything they do pre-conception that might prove harmful? Dodgy ground to get onto.

[CoteDAzur]

I was drinking, smoking, and skiing in the 1st month of my 1st pregnancy. I'm definitely not saying women should be restricted because of possible ill-effects to the fetus.

What I am saying is that Player's claim "pregnant women can fast and it causes no harm to the baby" has been proven to be false in a large- scale meta-analysis.

[DownByTheRiverside]

That makes sense.

[PhaedraIsMyName]

Rather like the rest of us smoking and drinking, taking drugs and indulging in extreme sports when we don't know we're pregnant?

No, not at all like the rest of us; like a very small minority of other people. I did none of those things at any time when I was pregnant.

[SolidGoldBrass]

I don't think it's wrong to fast. I think it's stupid and pointless, but other peolpe's bodies: other people';s choices. Same as I think that watching sports is pointless, religion is pointless, most board games are pointless. Etc. Doesn't mean I want to stop other people doing them.

As to the fasting/pregnancy/forbidding or allowing sips of water, I think problems can arise when a particular religious leader with influence but no medical knowledge starts insisting his followers do a more extreme version of the fast (ie no water for children on hot days/no lenience for pregnant women) just because he's a power-mad, ignorant knob.
It's not that dissimilar to weight-loss diets, after all: some are reasonably sensible and advise people to take into account their own personal circumstances while others are based on either anecdotal stupidity or straightforward cynical moneygrabbing (eg Buy OUr Magic Pills and eat nothing else...)

[DownByTheRiverside]

Phaedra, you never had a drink of alcohol in case you might be pregnant?
How very self-controlled of you.
I danced and drank and sailed and potholed for the first two months of my first pregnancy as I was unaware that I was pregnant.
Then I stopped drinking.

[CoteDAzur]

SGB - There is no such thing as "extreme form of fast" in the context of Islam. It's always the same - nothing to eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. Nothing. Zip. Nada.

[Player67]

I think lots of things are stupid and pointless such as dubious sexual practices

[Player67]

Thank you Greedy it is what MN is famous for

[Player67]

What I am saying is that Player's claim "pregnant women can fast and it causes no harm to the baby" has been proven to be false in a large- scale meta-analysis

You need to do your research, took me one minute of googling to find huge flaws in your large scale meta analysis

[MorphineDreams]

Low birth weight was higher in the fasting groups in all the studies I've read.

[2013Mother2013]

I think all know the science is behind the fast is sometimes for some people a bad idea. If there were a God (which there is not) she would be very cross people do these things.

However it does people no harm to have reasonably large gaps between meals although do keep your fluids up. Intermittent fasting has been part of man's natural state for a million years as food is often not plentiful.

Luckily we live in a country where we are allowed to say there is no God and that fewer and fewer people are believing in God and that science proves that no drinking during sunrise and sunset is bad for the health of many. We shall not be censored for saying so and many Muslims who choose to live here are very very glad the West allows such freedom of expression something sadly lacking in many Muslim countries who hopefully in due course will adopt our ways.

[Player67]

that science proves that no drinking during sunrise and sunset is bad for the health of many

Where is the science that proves this?

Why are billions of Muslims able to withhold fluid without it affecting their health?

God is not cross that people do these things, he is cross with people who are judgmental and criticise others

[MorphineDreams]

It is bad for the health of many, especially some pregnant women who already experience dehydration because of morning sickness etc.

I imagine it's even worse in hotter countries.

But they're expected to get on with it.

[2013Mother2013]

What makes you think God is male not female? I think we are saying that studies do show for some, not necessarily all, it can be bad for your health not to drink so long in heat. In my view if there were a God she would be very cross people were doing this to themselves. however we live in a country where we can all express different views and even disagree with each other and try to convince others they are wrong. That is the wonderful thing about the West and why people flock here. Each to their own.

[GoshAnneGorilla]

Yes, Muslims should be extremely grateful to be patronised by Mother2013. It would never do for Muslims, as perpetual foreigners,not to be told how cringingly grateful they need to be for being allowed to live in the UK.

As for upthread, I'm not convinced that a study looking at populations in Uganda and Michigan are massively to the UK population.

Or that a person's profession determines the validity or their study. It's thinking like that which enables Dr Andrew Wakefield to flourish.

[SolidGoldBrass]

Sorry, can someone clarify for me - is the 'not even a sip of water' the fasting rule for all Muslims, or is it a matter of interpretation from imam to imam/family to family? Given that there is so much advice given to the general population about making sure they drink enough water in hot weather (and knowing how ropey I feel when out and about at work on hot days if I don't have water to drink).

[Happydaysatlastforthebody]

I in awe of anyone not eating /drinking for a few hours let alone a whole day. Especially in this heat.

Who are these wierd people who get up the duff sober? Again in awe.

[Player67]

Yes no sip of water for all Muslims, there is no difference of opinion

You might feel ropey without a drink but plenty of Muslims don't and continue successfully with work and family commitments. Plenty of athletes continue to train successfully

[TalcumPowder]

To the best of my knowledge the 'no water' between sunrise and sunset is standard.

[CrayolaCocaColaRocknRolla]

just read OP and skimmed through. Our boss is muslim and we all eat at our desks. He is not bothered that we ate while he is fasting, its all about willpower and overcoming temptation. Most of them don't care.

[CrayolaCocaColaRocknRolla]

Also yes, no water is standard. No chewing gum, no water, no food. also no alcohol, smoking, sex etc etc

[PhaedraIsMyName]

Phaedra, you never had a drink of alcohol in case you might be pregnant?
How very self-controlled of you

And how very snide of you. The circumstances of how I conceived are none of your business but I knew from a certain date conception might have occurred, drank no alcohol thereafter, tested at first opportunity which confirmed I was pregnant. No self control required my baby was far too important.