to fast during Ramadan even though I'm not a Muslim...

[MrsStrawberry]

Not Muslim, or even religious at all in general. Have many Muslim friends and whilst never tempted to take part before have recently been looking into it more and like the idea behind it... But don't want to mention it to anyone as I think I sound like a pretentious twat

snugnbug Thanks!

I totally agree with all the Muslim people apart from alrayyan have been really polite and quite happy about this and haven't felt the need to call people names. I still don't understand all the 'you are a pretentious twat' stuff. That's not an informed, intelligent opinion is it as a pp suggested. People are being deliberately antagonistic because it's about fasting/Ramadan/Muslims. As usual.

alrayyan some of your comments have been rude and OTT but I do agree with your general point about the judging and bitchiness

Nowt wrong with a bit o' rude.

I think perhaps alryyan is suggesting so many of the mn stalwarts have God complexes and I absolutely agree with her.

YANBU to fast during lent or ramadan, but bear in mind that it has real religious significance to some people and try not to be showy about it (if you know what I mean) or the fact you are doing it without the meaning, would be my advice.

alrayyan Why resort to thinly veiled attacks r.e. sick to death of this forum being so predictably bitchy which is ok if you are one of the over investors

The OP started a thread inviting others to comment. I see no harm that some have agreed and others haven't. Surely if you once spent a day crying over being called names over something so innocuous as a bikini laser puts you in the camp of the so-called 'over investors.'

What I find rather bizarre is this idea of AIBU as a hot-bed of anger and angst. It really is just an internet forum on which people occasionally, more often than not (admittedly), disagree.

I think, for me, the crux of it is that this is in no way an appropriation as I know my religion is for all. Not just Arabs or Pakistani people etc. All races and people welcome. Looking at You mosque down the road

Contrast with other issues at the moment... race is not changeable. That is appropriation and needs to stop.

Me and a few colleagues fasted last year when a Muslim colleague invited us all for the iftari meal. It was tough but tbh was not as hard as I thought. Before the meal we sat and talked about things in our life we were thankful for and joined in the family's discussions about which local charities they would be supporting dirtying Ramadan. The food was delicious and I was surprised at how joyous I felt. There was a real sense of mindfulness, togetherness, family and joy. I actually felt like I'd had an adrenaline high after eating. In fact it's one of the reasons I began the 5 2 diet as I realised that I did feel physically better for having fasted.

Go ahead and try it op. We are so consumed food in the West that it was nice to have a complete break from it. And far from feeling tired or frumpy I actually felt more alert. I have been told that children (our Muslim friends teens do not fast) the old the young, pregnant, bf, those on medication or ill do not fast. It really is something done by the young and fit.

I'm not thinly veiling anything. I think you rather missed the whole point. its a bigger picture where it's ok to bash Muslims again and again and bully and belittle people. It's not actually. No thin veils. I do not like bullies and stand up to them these days. I just don't resort to smiley faces to do that. I'm not angry at all. If you could see where I am right now you would know just how relaxed I am...

alrayyan Does it look something like this:

Yes a bit. Ironically the hotels have mega deals because of ..... Ramadan.

Agree that alrayyan is not thinly veiling anything. She is quite right about what she said.

Also agree that the prejudice is jaw dropping when it comes to anything related to muslims/veil/ramadan.

You can do whatever you want to do! Why not?

Do be careful to eat well and stay hydrated though, I knew someone who gave it a go and ended up in hospital because they didn't look after themselves.

Don't most women fast anyway? It's called dieting.

Ramadan fasting is nothing like dieting.
No water during the day and a big meal before bed is neither healthy not a diet.

I was being sardonic.

Well, it didn't work.

For whom?

So did you give it a go yet Op? I don't think there's anything strange or pretentious about wanting to fast at all.

I live in the Middle East, and I know some non-Muslims doing a fast just for the day, in solidarity with their Muslim friends/colleagues and to experience it for themselves. Seems like a perfectly valid, unpretentious reason to do anything, to me.

Yes it's a hard Ramadan this year, but then the point of it is self-control, purification and remembering your blessings. In a way, there's no better time for the OP to be doing it - might be a bit of a cop out if it was in December!

so does Ramadan move right around the calendar so eventualy it could be in December?
Must be really hard to do it at midsummer.

Ramadan is about 10 days earlier every year, so yes it's in the winter sometimes.

It's a very difficult one this year as the daylight hours are so long.

What's with the bitchiness on this thread, btw?

It is the same every year on mn at Ramadan, same vitriol

Just search ramadan or eid and look at all the bitchy comments on the threads!