[Barb09]

I check into this board 8 times or so a day watching for new posts....just wanted to post a "Salaam" to keep in touch.

[Alisha]

Salaam! I love the forums here, too. Nice to meet you.

[EvilGerman]

Hello.
I am not Muslim. I fear that, through my own ignorance, I have caused distress to a Muslim colleague of mine and it is very important to me that I apologise in the most sincere form possible.
I work in a company where we are often recipients of small tokens of appreciation (realy small).
We were all given a bag of chocolate covered peanuts as a 'freebie'. Without thinking I shamelessly tried to convince my colleagues to give me their choc-peanuts by telling them I'd found rat-poop in my bag of choc-peanuts.
I thought this was really harmless - most of the folk I work with are used to my weird sense of humor but it did not occur to me that my little ruse was far from harmless...
One of my (Muslim) colleagues indicated that they were seconds away from a stomach pump when they read my mail. I thought this a little extreme but now, having read up on the Muslim faith, I realise this 'joke' was anything but harmless. By the time my colleague had read my mail he had already eaten the entire bag.
Now in hindsight and with a bit more understanding I realise that 'my body is my temple' is a very important apsect of the faith.
My ploy was thoughtless and insensitive - my ignorance is not a mitigating circumstance.
I would like to sincerely apologise to my colleague. 'Sorry' just wont do - I would like to make it clear that I have endeavoured to research the appropriate action and cleanse the way between us.
I was raised 'Christian' but have strayed from that path many, many years ago. Although I presently live in the abscence of faith it is very important to me to acknowledge and respect the beliefs of others.
Is there something I can do?
I don't want to be counted as one of the ignorant.
-Lutz

[Barb09]

I don't know that this is a mistake of religious interest. It could have as easily been a Christian or Jewish member of the office that didn't realize the joke and have been just as upset over the implications they may have eaten something tainted or dirty.

I don't understand why he would think his own individual bag (sealed) would contain the same contamination yours did.

OK, well, I don't know that there is any official Muslim apology. I think any sincere apology (person to person) would be appropriate. I would do so in person not online or in email. That is all that would be necessary (imo).

You may wish to leave his email addy out of future "jokes" as he may not understand them. And that way, you avoid insult to him.

My sister's friend recently married a Muslim...I gave her my email addy to reach me if she had questions or needed help...and I got "joke" emails from her (as part of her friends addressbook) that were ugly and crude. I soon stopped opening her emails...and hope for her sake her husband never sees the things she is sending (and pray for her to one day know better). Anyway...it is better to not include your colleague than risk an insult.

Take care