# Polite Things to Say At Ramadan Sunset Meal?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-things-to-say-at-ramadan-sunset-meal/510182>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 15, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-things-to-say-at-ramadan-sunset-meal/510182 "2009-09-15T15:50:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-things-to-say-at-ramadan-sunset-meal/510182/1 "2009-09-15T15:50:21Z")

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It’s my brother’s birthday and I have a text message from him saying that the local computer shop guys have invited him and his wife to join them in their evening meal.

Brother says “any suitable Islamic greetings much appreciated”.

No big deal, of course the guys speak English, but I suppose brother would like to know something suitably nice to say. Hey, if nothing else, I’m sure his pronunciation would give them a laugh. 🙂

I thought I’d see if anyone here is willing to help. Any takers?

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**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-things-to-say-at-ramadan-sunset-meal/510182/2 "2009-09-15T16:00:18Z")

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“Asalaam Alaikum” is the common muslim greeting. It means “Peace be upon you.”

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**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-things-to-say-at-ramadan-sunset-meal/510182/3 "2009-09-15T16:07:25Z")

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Thank you! Or indeed, “Shukran”.

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**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-things-to-say-at-ramadan-sunset-meal/510182/4 "2009-09-15T17:12:53Z")

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My boss, who is a Muslim Arab, says that “Ramadan Kareem” is a polite phrase during this time. The word “Kareem” means peaceful or gentle, and the phrase suggests a hope that your Ramadan fasts will not be too difficult for you.

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**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polite-things-to-say-at-ramadan-sunset-meal/510182/5 "2009-09-15T18:02:31Z")

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^  
Ramadan Kareem is Arabic. And is given at the start of the month. The Urdu greeting would be “Ramazan Mubarak”. Really, there is no greeting needed.