- Muslims in the workplace will abstain from eating and drinking during the month of Ramadan, which occurs from April 23 to May 23 this year.
- While many Muslims enjoy talking about Ramadan, try not to mandate coworkers attend lunch meetings and don’t expect them to be overly talkative.
- Here are seven things to avoid saying to Muslim coworkers during Ramadan.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Ramadan Mubarak!
Many Muslims have entered into their last week of Ramadan, a holy month which they use to purify their souls and become closer to God. From April 23 to May 23, or the ninth month of the lunar calendar, healthy adult Muslims around the world participated in Ramadan this year.
During the month, Muslims eat their meals before sunrise and after sunset, and refrain from eating during the day. If you have a Muslim coworker, you may find yourself nervous to eat in front of them or say something to offend them.
But you shouldn’t be worried about insulting your coworker, Ibrahim Hooper, the communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told Business Insider. Hooper said Muslims enjoy when coworkers take interest in the month.
“It’s OK to ask questions. In fact, Muslims like to talk about these things,” Hooper said. “It’s always appreciated if you recognize a Muslim coworker is fasting during Ramadan.”
While most questions are all right, there are a few phrases that you should avoid asking a fasting coworker if possible.
Here are seven things to avoid saying to your Muslim coworkers during Ramadan:
