COMMENT | “I love Ramadhan!” said a non-Muslim friend of mine.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because there’s Ramadhan bazaar!” she said excitedly.

“I hate Ramadhan!” said another non-Muslim friend of mine, a Chindian.

“Why?” I asked.

“Thanks to my Malay-like features, I always get stared at. These days, I end up wearing a big cross around my neck just to show people that I am a Christian and not a Muslim!” she said, irritated.

“I don’t get it. Every time I ask Muslims why they fast, I keep hearing the same answer – that they do it to experience how it feels to be poor,” said another non-Muslim friend.

“What don’t you get?” I asked.

“Why should one refrain from eating to feel empathy for the unfortunate? Can’t you feel the suffering of others without suffering yourself?...