Student Eats Lunch Discreetly Out Of Respect For Muslim Friends During Ramadan & Earns Netizens' Praise

Respectful student earns netizens’ praise

Ramadan is a meaningful time for the Muslim community, during which individuals practise fasting from sunrise to sunset for religious reasons. As Malaysia is a diverse country, those not in observance of Ramadan remain mindful of our Muslim friends at this time as they refrain from food and more.

Setting an example in spite of his young age, a Chinese student was photographed by his teacher discreetly eating his lunch among his fasting Muslim classmates. He had done so of his own accord out of respect for them during Ramadan.

Student eats lunch discreetly among his Muslim friends

On 14th April 2021, Syafiq Izwan Kassim shared the photo of the young student on Facebook, which has since been reshared by many netizens and news sites on various social media platforms.

According to the caption, she had instructed her non-Muslim students to eat their packed lunches at their desks as they usually did in the classroom while the Muslim students observed Ramadan.

This is because many schools nationwide are encouraging students to pack their own lunches, and have them at their desks, to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

Student discretely eats lunch in respect of others during Ramadan - student
Image credit: Syafiq Izwan Kassim

Other students began eating as they typically did, but one kid stood out to her among his peers.

She shared that he had his head and container of food lowered below his desk while he ate quietly.

Student discretely eats lunch in respect of others during Ramadan - student
Image credit: Syafiq Izwan Kassim

The teacher shared that he had done so out of respect for his Muslim friends around him, who were fasting and seen in the photo resting during lunch hours.

To this, she praised his parents for raising him to be mindful of others and being socially aware.

Netizens praise respectful student

A reshare of the post on Oh My Media’s Facebook page went viral, with over 2,000 shares and 40,000 reactions at the time of writing. Many netizens have come out to applaud the young student for what he had done.

This includes Alice Ling, who praised the student and teacher, while recommending that the teacher praise the student in front of the class as well to raise awareness to other students about being sensitive and showing concern for their classmates.

Image adapted from: Alice Ling

Another netizen, Nor Muhamad Roslam Harun, also sung high praises for the student, whom he called smart, and for his parents as well, whom he cited must have raised him to be respectful of other religions with his show of awareness while eating his lunch.

He also capped off his comment by saying that, “We are truly one Malaysia”.

Image adapted from: Nor Muhamad Roslam Harun

Facebook user Shifae Penawar reiterated the respect Malaysians have for each other, commenting, “Actually, most non-Muslims have respect for their fasting Islam friends, even though we [Muslims] do not care if others ate around us. Malaysia is indeed a country full of love.”

Image adapted from: Shifae Penawar

Student eats lunch among Muslim friends during Ramadan

Malaysia is made up of distinctive cultures that make up a unique Malaysian culture. So as Malaysians, we are reminded to be respectful of our neighbours when it comes to important festivities or religious events, as this young student who quietly ate his lunch while in the presence of his fasting Muslim friends during Ramadan did.