What to say to Muslims during Ramadan

What could be a better month to learn about your Muslim neighbors than the holy month of Ramadan?

When we were writing “100 Questions and Answers About Muslim Americans, with a Guide to Islamic Holidays,” several questions revolved around Ramadan. Non-Muslims want to know why the holiday moves around the Gregorian calendar, what the fasting is all about and what to say to Muslims during Ramadan.

We will be publishing a few of the most popular questions this month. We’ll start with how to greet Muslims during this month. A very appropriate greeting is, “Blessed Ramadan.” In Arabic, that is “Ramadan Mubarak.” You can hear how some Muslims say this and some other Arabic words or phrases in this audio.

Another greeting is “Ramadan Kareem,” roughly “Have a generous Ramadan.”

Recognizing someone’s holy days is respectful. Another way to recognize Ramadan is to remember that many Muslim adults fast from sunup to sundown. Those who fast strictly  do not even take water during the day. Lunch plans and coffee meetings may have to wait.

I once invited a reporter out to a bakery lunch counter as I was learning about her interests in working at my newspaper, the Detroit Free Press. We went through the line and, as I pulled out my wallet to pay for our lunches, all she held was a can of pop. She said she was not hungry. And then, when we sat down, she said she would save the pop for later. Only then did I realize: It was Ramadan and I was eating lunch in front of a person who would not eat for several more hours.

She was good natured about it. Almost a year later, we had an opening at the Free Press and brought hr in for formal interviews. You guessed it. It was Ramadan again. I planned a schedule that would not have any lunchtime interviews. She laughed and said not to worry. She would eat during her visit and make up by fasting an extra day or two after the end of Ramadan.

We hired her, she did a great job, and in a later Ramadan I fasted with her—but just for one day. It is difficult and I can’t imagine doing it for a month. In 2019, Ramadan will end with the feast of Eid al Fitr on June 4.

Two books that can help you

We recommend “Our Muslim Neighbors: Achieving the American Dream, an Immigrant’s Memoir” by Victor Begg.

In a preface, the Rev. Daniel L. Buttry writes, “We need stories of our Muslim neighbors like Victor Begg to break down the walls that separate us and to educate us about those who might seem so strange, at first, but might become heart friends if given the chance. Along the way, we might discover some true American heroes. Victor is just such a hero: selfless, ordinary, but willing to risk to make our nation and our world a better place.”

Begg was one of our allies on “100 Questions and Answers About Muslim Americans with a Guide to Islamic Holidays” .” It answers 100 of the basic, everyday questions that non-Muslims have about the religion.

This is a thoughtful time to learn about Muslim neighbors, co-workers and classmates and to show interest in the meaning of this month.