RTM announcer Rasyidah recently shared her thoughts on fasting during Ramadan, emphasizing that she has no issue seeing others eat in front of her.
In a Facebook post, she reflected on how some non-Muslims hesitate to eat in front of their fasting Muslim friends out of concern for offending them.
She recalled that many of her non-Muslim friends were reluctant to eat around her, assuming it would be disrespectful or make fasting harder.
However, she clarified that true faith and endurance come from within, not from external influences.
Fasting is a personal test
Rasyidah, who has been fasting since she was five, explained that her faith is strong enough to withstand temptations.
She humorously shared that when she sees delicious food while fasting, she simply chooses to “smell it” instead of feeling tempted.
She also acknowledged that some non-Muslims avoid eating in front of fasting individuals as a sign of respect, which she appreciates.
However, she stressed that fasting is a personal challenge and should not be imposed on others.
Reacting to viral slap incident
In her post, Rasyidah also commented on a recent viral video where a non-Muslim man was slapped for eating in public during Ramadan.
She expressed disappointment over the incident, stating that Ramadan is about self-discipline, not forcing others to comply with fasting rules.
She urged fellow Muslims to handle such situations with patience and report concerns to the authorities instead of resorting to violence.
“There is no need to bring others down just to elevate ourselves,” she concluded.
