Is it insulting to eat in front of Muslim people?

Ramadan almost over and I don't know if Rayan had an answer.

IMOH If I am working in a country I should respect the custom, You will pick up the experience as you go and understand the local culture. From local point of view please avoid eating in front of fasting people, they will respect you more because you toke care about there feelings while they fast, it's all depend on your relation with your colleges and how you want to bullied on it.

These question should be answered till Ramadan next year and it should be as a reference ;)

In my personal opinion its not insulting, rather i would say it will be an insult to my fast if i beleive seeing others eat makes fastign difficult for me. Having said that i have seen many muslims consider it disrespectful (i wonder why!).

What about atheists? Will you promise not to preach in front of them about your religion as a sign of respect?

It's the holy month of Ramadan for us Muslim, as a sign of respect just avoid eating in front of him even thou he tell you it's ok.. :-)

dear,

dont think too much,

you can eat but should not infront of people who are fasting.

Who said the laborers were underpaid by their bosses?

Are you suggesting the government projects don't pay fair salaries?

Mast you missed the point, we were concerned if they were being forced to fast while outside but that seems not to be the case.

Why should we give them money and subsidise the employers that exploit them?

If both of you feel so much for the roadside labourers rather then to advise to refrain from fasting why don't you help them with some funds

No one would be so cruel as to expect those laborers to refrain from drinking some water while working in the hot sun. This isn't supposed to be a month of torture and cruelty after all!

Fubar tha is good to hear. For us in offices it is easy, plus the Muslims go home and sleep the afternoon away, those guys in the heat doing manual labour it would be forced suicide.

The roadworkers on Salwa road are drinking water during the day when I drive past.

It's all well and good to fast when you sit in an air conditioned office for 3 hours a day, but fasting while doing manual labor during daylight hours would be suicide (literally).

I hope the poor labourers in this summer heat working outside are allowed to drink water and get some food during their day. Otherwise that means Ramadan is torturing them

Jesus, the son of God, liked wine so much he turned water into wine. The bible tells us to "drink wine with a merry heart".

Where's the beef babu? He also made pork and it tastes damn fine

beef ? is a problem and chicken not why did God create both for us to eat

my thoughts, and which i feel are logical for once:-)

1)Muslims should NOT mind others eating. RipCord makes an excellent point with the beefburger/Hindu.

2)Non Muslims, as Mary Catherine said, can choose to make the effort to extend the courtesy to their Muslim brothers. But if not, then they have NOTHING to feel guilty about.

3)The religion itself does not anywhere make it law to not let non Muslims eat around those fasting; its more a case of governments doing so to cater to their constituents.

4) NoMerci: yes, if a Muslim expects everyone around him to stop eating just because he is fasting, he is in fact being disrespectful and pompous; this is what I believe my religion will say too.

This was a weird question that was going around in Gulf countries - if you are on your compound, are you in public when you are by the pool?

What about in the front yard of your villa?

What about on your balcony?

What about inside your house, but visible from the street?

When have you ceased to be in "public" and you are now in a space that is not public?

SP: As per uslegal.com definitions, an office A public place is generally an indoor or outdoor area, whether privately or publicly owned, to which the public have access by right or by invitation, expressed or implied, whether by payment of money or not, but not a place when used exclusively by one or more individuals for a private gathering or other personal purpose. The following is an example of a state law defining public places for smoking laws:

You can read more here:

http://definitions.uslegal.com/p/public-place/

@Marco

By law, ur not allowed to eat in public, and by law office space is not considered public domain

public r all facilities, sites or location that are owned by the government and grant full access to any patrons to walk in without prejudice.

i.e. parks, streets, roads, etc....certainly not office buildings

P.S. it has to refer to a static structure or location and not a thing, so ur car is not considered private property

I think life is easier than this thread

From long ago, there are people fasting and people not, and there is respect from the both sides.

But what is happening here is Adrift and cackle

Life is easy :O)

personally ill feel dis respected

thanks for asking but thats only me

Well, let me ask this..is it disrespectful of fasting people to expect non Muslim to abstain from food and drink ?

they are not muslims if they will feel insulted and disrespected. because they should have FOCUS on what they are doing.

instead, they should thank God for letting them see you eating because they should see you as a test of their FAITH, that they will overcome the urge to eat or drink.

You don't eat in front of people who are fasting. Just as you wouldn't eat in front of people at home who are not eating.

Etiquette world over has the custom that you don't indulge if those around you aren't (for whatever reason).

It's considered rude, nearly everywhere.

Just eat in the loo......saves any 'issues'.....

Why exactly are you confused ?

Your colleagues have clearly stated that they don't mind. You , rightly think of being nice in their company .. So where us the problem

When we fast, we don't care if anyone is having our favorite food, icecream or juice etc.

Fasting teaches us self control.

I wonder why your colleague responded you childishly?

Sulieman, I think I'm more confused than when I started. ;)

RC ,, You aren't looking for an answer, are you? :O)

"I think I'm making a big deal of nothing."

Yes, you are. :O)

Ditto that fubar, about the bad driving habits which are really unaccepatable!

And if you are going to behave like an animal on the road, cursing at other drivers and flashing your lights to push them out of the way, don't bother fasting at all:

“Whoever does not abandon false speech, acting upon that (falsehood) and ignorance, then Allah has no need of him abandoning his food and drink.”

Children, old people, the mentally impaired people, sick people, nursing and pregnant mothers, people travelling, and women on menstruation... Amongst many more I might have missed, are exempted from fasting (As per Islamic law). Now let’s hope they won’t get arrested for eating /drinking in public.

well its halfway done of ramadan so i am sure we all have got used to refraining from food and also we are rewarded for keeping ourself away from food for the sake of Allah. Fasting is completely for Allah and no one else.

From my point of view, NO it is not insulting for me o see anyone eating in front of me. I am sure it depends from people to people.

And best best part is those who do not fast does respect those who fast and it comes automatically to them to refrain from eating and drinking not to make others uncomfortable.

Think like this that a lot of locals are abroad enjoying their holidays. Would they get insulted when they go out and see people eating?

So the answer to your questions in No it is not insulting but don't make it a too obvious also and try to be discrete as you are in close proximity of person fasting in a Middleast country!

Getting bored by those who're saying "respect a fasting muslim by not eating beside him"...WTF does he need better- peoples' respect OR Allah's reward

Reasonably then,a muslim should also feel insulted by people sleeping in the midnight when he is awake eating his "sohur"!

He should feel insulted by people walking about on the street when he is observing tarawi in the mosq.

He should as well feel insulted forever.

If they sleep "all day" doesn't that invalidate their fasting?

It's definitely NOT insulting. Any fasting muslim who feels insulted because a non muslim is eating beside him is losing the spirit of fasting itself! Ds is why Allah (SWT) says "only Him deirectly rewards a fasting muslim"..SIMPLY BCOZ wen that muslim has a full option (nt because he's in qatar) to eat and drink,that same muslim has chosen to refrain from such. Fasting in islam is an act of worship for all muslims NOT a culture for d qataris or saudis!

RC: however, eating/drinking in public (and I’m assuming office spaces is part of that public), during the fast hours is a crime punishable by Qatari law.

In my opinion you should be more worried breaking Qatari laws other rather than offending your work-mate.

Diveter, you need a language lesson. I wasn't referring to all Muslims.

"I don't get those people that sleep all day and stuff themselves all night" You have written INSULTING WORDS now only. Even if you eat infront of muslims when they dont mind is OK. But you have insulted now stating that they sleep all day and stuff all night.

No problems RC, go and eat ur hearts fill. Personally I feel others should not be deprived of eating just because I am fasting and if your office hasn't issued any circulars regarding the eating issue then u wud be fine.

That was my understanding too, fubar. I don't get those people that sleep all day and stuff themselves all night.

My understanding of Ramadan was that it was a month to teach you self-restraint, including by fasting.

Eating in front of someone, prompting restraint on their part, is part of achieving that religious objective.

But that's just me talking. I'm sure Muslims may disagree with that interpretation?

Its not insulting , but they feel about youre not restpecting them and to their faith, because you showed them the urge and temptation to eat also , and its not good for them to feel more hunger when infact they are fasting, , so you better show some respect and they have symphaty of your situation. You will not die skipping 1 snack or 1 meal a day or not drinking water infront of them.

I encourage other eating infront of me, being fasting muslims, I used to accompany my colleagues and friends back in home country for Lunch, they used to eat and I used to watch them,

That increases my tolerance level.

Eating infront of fasting of people is just fine.

Short answer....No it's not insulting in any way or form

Alright, thanks

Some radical and far right groups are there everywheree.. u dont have to bother them.. :)

You can eat. There is no problem. My friends use to eat infront of me. I don't even feel it as We are strong inside thinking that we are fasting. Don't worry at all just be relaxed and continue your routine.

Thanks

Being Muslim, I don't feel insult here. Yes, if I see any healthy Muslim eats during fasting hours I feel awkward.

Ryan..as you dont have a pantry..you can eat with no regret. Just in courtesy with your colleague you can ask "Can I, if you dont mind?" as simple as that.

eat in the bathroom

So I have to fast, too? Or eat in the bathroom?

it was more insulting when I saw two Muslims smoking and drinking juice.

For me, I won't consider insulting but a bit rude. Common Etiquettes I guess..

Better to give Respect to the fasting Person rather then to eat in front of the fasting person

I think I'm making a big deal of nothing. I remember once in Dubai (the first year I was there) I was eating a few dates at the bus stop and some guy pulled over his car and starting yelling at me. (Understandable, but I didn't know at the time.)

I don't think he'd mind that because you're still making an effort to be respectful and avoid letting him see you eat.

may be the hamburger was new rizks

I'm worried he said it was no problem only to be polite.

but I just hope he wasn't being polite.

Wed, 24/07/2013 - 11:32am

RyanCanuck just a simple question ?

Are you new to this country ?

Yeah, I wait for this guy to leave before I eat anything (he sometimes goes to visit other coworkers in different departments). However, he just walked in the room while I was finishing a hamburger. This is why I ask. I know he said it was alright, but I just hope he wasn't being polite.

In my point of view: its better to eat out of their sight for fasting people as a sign of respect.

Pantry is a safe place, if your tea boy is on fasting he should know how to avoid people eating inside as our tea boy did. Once we enter the pantry he will automatically go out as he know no other place for us to eat.

As a christian we have sometimes do fasting, and its my greater challenge to exposed myself to the people eating in front of me but for them I think its impolite and disrespecful.

I'd say its better if you eat when he's not around. Although I don't think it is insulting, it might just make you feel awkward as well as him. Better to avoid that situation in the first place if you ask me. I would just go sit in my car as my parking lot is much more secluded than my office.

It depends. I ask always permission. Actually i do this one. we are in they same room He is fasting. So i ask always a permission to my co work. that i will eat some snack or fruits. Sometime i hide it. Hope he will not angry till end of ramadan..

So you feel it is disrespectful, Rizks?

its not insulting, its called dis-respecting !

Ah Ok...:)

Alright, it sounds like most agree that it isn't insulting.

I said "NO" to the question "Is it insulting".

Hope this is clear now. :)

common sense to be applied

Regards

LLR... contradiction.. you say "no" and then also say you encourage others to keep their routines including eating in front of you. Dont have to be diplomatic, just say whatever is acceptable to you..:) Guess there are no extra QL points for being diplomatic...:)

Its all about showing respect

^I think I answered that before.

doest ur office have a pantry ?

if not, wat kinda office you are working for then ? :(

Yeah, the tea boys are sleeping in their room.

It depends on their knowledge.

As long as I know they wont mind, as in homes we being observing our fast, we cook for other family members who are not fasting and after 3 or 3 30 they start to prepare iftar.

If I have to vote I would vote for "NO" as long as you keep the normal eating etiquettes at work.

If the tea boys are Muslim they wouldnt have any work there. So you can ask them to go out for a while, make your tea, wash your cup and leave. I am not sure though if you can do so cos I have a diff. set up and never had such a situation. May be someone who understands better can guide you.

I can understand people being insulted if I were to eat a big hamburger out front of City Centre (I would never do that). But this is the only place where I work that is somewhat secluded. I don't want to eat in the bathroom.

LLR so is your opinion 'no' or 'it depends'?

In my opinion "NO"

I normally encourage others to keep their normal routines as as per my reading if someone eats in front of me, for every bite I get extra rewards of one day fasting.

It depends. Today while entering to my work.. a guy was eating a gum in the elevator.. though i did not say anything but I felt it rude , as it was smelling bad.

The problem is we share an office. I would go to the pantry, but there are Muslim tea boys there.

No it is not insulting. If a muslim eats a beef burger in front of a hindu is that insulting?

He must have understood you want to eat/drink out of his sight say inside the pantry or in your office with doors closed. It wouldn't be alright to eat/drink in front of him.