Q&A: A Greeting for Ramadan
A Greeting for Ramadan
Question
In your opinion, is there a halakhic problem with greeting a Muslim with “Ramadan Kareem” (“a noble Ramadan month”)? Presumably Muslims are not idol worshipers, so there should not be a problem from the standpoint of idolatry, but is there a halakhic issue with saying a religious greeting that is not Jewish? (Maybe it is preferable to say “an easy fast” or “may your fast be beneficial”?)
Answer
There is a problem even if it is a religion that is not idolatrous. It is preferable to say “an easy fast” or something like that. If there is concern about hostility, then it is permitted to offer even the religious greeting.
Discussion on Answer
There is no acknowledgment here of the truth of the religion, only a greeting that stems from interpersonal relations. But such a greeting does involve recognizing that there really is a religious holiday here, and that its founder was a prophet of God, whereas in fact he made it up out of his own heart. I am not sure there is actually a concrete halakhic prohibition here, but in my estimation, if possible it is still preferable to avoid it.
Could you explain what the problem is with a religion that is not idolatry? (If I understood correctly, is the problem that a religious greeting is essentially an acknowledgment of the truth of the religion?) If this is not a top-level halakhic ruling, I would appreciate sources.