A Ramadan etiquette guide for non-Muslims

There are more than 8 billion people in the world. And about a quarter of them are fasting from sunup to sundown. Every day. For an entire month.

It's Ramadan, and it's the holiest month of the Muslim calendar. In 2024, it runs from March 10 to April 19.

But what if you're not a Muslim and instead just a caring, considerate person. Is there anything you should do so you don't come across as insensitive to your fasting friends in the United States or abroad during Ramadan?

Short answer: No. Long answer: No.

But you can earn some cool points if you follow these 10 tips:

For the 30 days of Ramadan, Muslims around the world will abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. That doesn't mean you shouldn't carry on business as usual. (Just turn a deaf ear to our growling stomachs.)

If you have to host a brown-bag, you should. But don't feel bad if we sit there, like a vegetarian friend at a churrascaria. Ditto for a happy-hour mixer. If your Muslim co-worker takes a pass, understand.