All The Struggles You Face When Explaining Ramazan And Eid To Non-Muslims While Living In America

By Isra Rahman | 3 Jul, 2016

Celebrating Ramazan and Eid in America is a challenge but explaining it to non-Muslims is a bigger struggle. Sure most people know the general basis of Islam. However, when it comes to understanding the holidays most non-muslims are generally clueless (if you’re living outside Pakistan). With Eid around the corner and Ramazan coming to an end, most Muslims are reminded yet again of the struggle of trying to explain these holidays to non-muslims.

Here are all the struggles of trying to explain Eid and Ramazan to a non-muslim:

 

Stage 1: The curious inquirer

Source: Giphy

Everyone knows that one non-Muslim who comes up to you and asks “oh so it says on my calendar that it’s Ramazan, what does that mean?” With that question comes a slew of others and the beginning of an eye-opening conversation for both parties. 

 

Stage 2: The unknown start and end date

Source: Giphy

No one ever really knows when Ramazan will start. Despite the fact that it’s marked on calendars, it’s very well possible that the moon won’t be sighted and that the entire community will go against the calendar. The hardest part isn’t sporadically changing your dietary schedule, in fact, it is explaining that you don’t know when you will change it. Especially since each Muslim waits for their unique masjid to announce Ramazan and it is very possible that two Muslims will be starting Ramazan on different days. To witness this miracle of Ramazan just come to Chicago (if you live in the US). 

 

Stage 3: The “I’ve done something like that before”

Source: Tumblr

As you talk more about Ramazan there is always the person who relates it back to their religion by saying “oh I’ve done something like that, I just drank water and/or ate fruit instead of my normal meals.” In order to not disrespect their religion, you just shrug and act like water and fruit don’t make a difference.

(We all know they do though)

 

Stage 4:  The “not even water” shock

Source: Giphy

As much as you’d love to relate to them, you must pop their bubble and explain that you don’t eat or drink anything (especially not alcohol, ASTAG) from sunrise to sunset and with that comes the all too expected response “not even water?”

Leave time for a moment of silence at this point. The listener may in fact need a moment to understand how one can go through a whole day without drinking water. It’s a mind-boggling discovery for most.

 

Stage 5: The “I could do that, I barely eat anyways”

Source: Giphy

Everyone encounters the person who says “I could probably do that, sometimes I forget to eat anyways”. Muslims around the world know that Ramazan is so much more than just not eating but alas, it is always too hard to explain that.

 

Stage 6: The “so when do you even eat?!”

Source: Giphy

As you explain Ramazan, listeners slowly begin to lose the gist and just remember the no-eating part which leads to a slew of questions like “so when do you eat? do you eat the whole night? do you stuff your face at 3 am?”

Remember that patience is key during Ramazan. Even in the face of questions reminding you just how much you can’t eat. 

 

Stage 7: Looking for the Ramazan reward

Source: Giphy

After explaining all of Ramazan, the most common question is “what do you get for all of this?” Since faith and the afterlife is a topic too tough for someone who just learned about Ramazan, the best response is always Eidi #cashmoney

 

Step 8: Eid is not Christmas

Source: Tumblr

The easiest way out of this explanation is equivocating Eid and Christmas, but initially you don’t give into that. Eid doesn’t involve a tree, a bearded man bringing you presents (unless you count the Sheikh and all the duas he brings you), or stockings. You start strong and intend to explain Eid for what it really is; a celebration of starvation (and also the end of Ramazan).

 

Step 9: Eid is similar to Christmas

Source: a cup of Karachi

The conversation always goes back to “Eid=presents and Christmas=presents” so what’s the difference? Little do they know about the infamous Eid coma following the month of fasting.

 

Step 10: Ok fine Eid is basically Christmas

Source: Tumblr

Instead of justifying the differences over and over again, you finally give into the assertion that Eid is like Christmas and share some leftovers from Eid because let’s be honest, everyone wants leftover seviyan. Don’t forget to reminisce about how all holidays are essentially an excuse to go into a food coma.

 


Cover image via: muslimgirl.com

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