Please watch your words during Ramadan

This kind request goes out to all who test the patience of Muslims who fast when they utter ridiculous statements and make unrealistic demands.

COMMENT

A friend tagged me on a Facebook post she shared just the other day. It was originally posted by a Malay man, complaining about an Indian worker at his office who was eating her pack of rice within his line of vision at lunch time.

Accompanied by a picture of the woman sitting at a corner of a stairway eating her meal, the man’s status read, “Yee tahu kau Indian, but respect ah aku belakang kau ni Melayu, aduhh makan la jauh.”

I am unsure where the man preferred the woman to eat – in the office toilet perhaps?

Feeling somewhat annoyed at this ridiculous post, I decided however not to make a big deal of it. I concluded that only moronic human beings who lacked compassion and civic mindedness would pass such a comment.

Anyhow the other day, I came across yet another similar statement. This time, it came from the Kelantan mufti. According to certain media, the good mufti has urged non-Muslims to respect Muslims who fast by dressing conservatively (appropriately) throughout the month of Ramadan. This, according to him was because Muslims particularly men, will have their fast forfeited if their gaze fell upon those dressed indecently.

Since it is a trend to make requests during this holy month of Ramadan, I thought perhaps I too could put in a request.

My request is very simple.

I would like to urge religious scholars and Muslims with less than average intelligence to be considerate and refrain from making nonsensical statements during the holy month of Ramadan. This is because inappropriate and foolish statements can trigger a negative reaction, hence contributing to my lack of judgement in choosing decent words to express my emotions.

Clearly, I would not want to taint my ibadah (or worse, forfeit my fast) by uttering impolite words, many of which spring to mind instantly, against those who test my patience by their lack of intelligence.

Therefore, it is my hope (and request) that Muslims like me be protected from dawn to sunset for the entire month of Ramadan to ensure our brains, mouths and fingers do not think, utter and post things online that we will regret later, hence tainting the purity of our fast.

I thank you in advance for watching your words and learning to respect others. May Allah bless you.