Scathing rulings that do us no good at all

They impose stringent and rather scathing rulings which, outside of Ramadan, would never cross their minds.

Look at the Muslim staff member in Tesco who wouldn’t scan a customer’s wine and ham because he was fasting. So implicitly it is okay to handle those ‘haram’ products outside of Ramadan?

Which Muslim hierarchy creates these bizarre rules?

If you don’t want to scan a pack of ham or a can of beer, leave the supermarket and go work in the mosque bookshop.

There was the female Muslim sales assistant who refused to sell a Bible to a customer. There is simply is no logic to support such spurious actions.

Where do these religious zealots sprout from?

Friends can be heard repeating the same nonsensical, holier than thou rhetoric, “Don’t wear a T-shirt in the hot weather, it’s Ramadan.”

“Don’t wear so much make-up, it’s Ramadan.”

“Don’t take your children out to eat in public, it’s Ramadan.”

“Don’t post pictures on Facebook, it’s Ramadan.”

And then there is the ‘Ramadan’ wardrobe.

It has to be said, men experience the most patent metamorphosis.

Suited men can be seen emerging from their homes after opening their fast in the uniform of shalwar kameez and cursory beard, even if they are just going to hang out in the local shisha bar. Under the pretext of going to the mosque to read taraweeh, of course. What the wife doesn’t know won’t hurt her, eh?

You see the beard depicts the sanctimonious Muslim brother who is collating bonus points in Ramadan. The more ‘desi’ the attire, the more religious he appears, you see. This is usually the same brother who parties equally hard outside Ramadan.

Even those cursory flirty messages that women have to endure on LinkedIn and Facebook have taken a ‘Ramadan’ feel to them: “Salams, nice picture mashallah.”

“How is Ramadan going for you?

“You have such a pretty name. Maybe we can get to talk to each other after Eid inshallah?”

As if Muslims weren’t beleaguered by bad press.

We’re only making it worse for ourselves.