Title: Eating in Public during the Month of Ramadan Question: In certain parts of Pakistan, it is considered almost criminal for a person to be eating in public during the day in Ramadan. One can get beaten up if caught in such a situation by the general public. Where does such strong public sentiment have its roots? Would you support a law that would make the practice illegal? Atif Rehman Pakistan Answer: The root of this practice is only in the uncontrolled temper of individuals who behave as self-appointed divine inspectors of Islam. In their zeal of bringing people in line with their own perception of the norms of Islamic behavior they forget that while in a state of fasting they were not only to refrain from eating and drinking, but were also to keep all other Muslims and human beings secure from any harm that their hands or their tongues may bring upon them. I do acknowledge that eating in public while the whole society is observing a fast is indecent and uncouth behavior. Any individual who is guilty of public indecency and uncouthness can be apprehended and even punished, if the law of the land makes such provisions. However, this detention and punishment can only be effected by those, who have the moral as well as the legal authority to do so. Taking the implementation of laws - which, in most cases, are not even legislated - in one's own hands is crime itself. The referred practice is already not only illegal but also lacks all moral grounds. In my opinion, individuals involved in such criminal practices should themselves be severely punished under the law of Qisaas [1] . I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad December 8, 2002 [1] "Qisaas" means to follow suit. The punishment prescribed by Islam for murder and for inflicting physical injury is to subject the perpetrator to a similar injury as he himself had inflicted upon the victim.