Days of Feasting and a Night of Power

        	              

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar began on August 1st — the month of Ramadan.



What is Ramadan?



Ramadan is a time set aside by Muslims for daily fasting, prayer and visiting their holy city of Mecca. According to Islamic tradition, the celebration of Ramadan commemorates the beginning of the revelations of Allah through the verses of the Qur’an given to the prophet Muhammad. Mecca




Muslims around the world will fast from food and drink from dawn until sunset. Each evening, families will gather to celebrate the breaking of their fast. In order to properly observe Ramadan, Muslims will often pull away from their daily routines and focus on their prayer, helping those in need and doing good deeds of kindness. They will frequently exchange gifts and prepare special foods for family and friends as well as giving liberally to the poor and needy. For the most fortunate ones, the celebration includes a trip to Mecca.



The Night of Power



The last ten days of Ramadan are considered the most significant, especially the twenty-seventh night which called the "Night of Power." It is believed that this is the night the first revelations were given to the prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims will spend this night praying, reciting the Qur’an and anticipating special revelations from Allah.




A day of celebration, "Eid-ul-Fitr", marks the end of Ramadan. Muslims spend the day praying, visiting friends and relatives, exchanging gifts and share special meals prepared for the occasion.



5 ways to pray for Muslims during Ramadan



1) For a Muslim, Ramadan is a special opportunity for Allah to reveal himself. According to Islam, Allah holds himself apart from mankind which makes a revelation during this time very desirable.



    

  • As you pray for Muslims during Ramadan, pray that they will have a full revelation of the true God and his loving character.
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2) Islam means "submission" and Muslims understand that they are servants of Allah to be used like slaves for his purposes. MENA mosque



    

  • Pray that Muslims will come to understand that God desires relationship with us as children and not as slaves. "So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you an heir. (Galatians 4:7)
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3) The Muslim lives in fear of evil spirits known as "jinn" who are thought to be responsible for illnesses and misfortunes. In an attempt to control or prevail against the jinn, many Muslims’ lives are controlled by a variety of superstitious activities.



    

  • Pray against this fear that controls Muslims and ask Jesus to reveal himself as the one who has authority over all spiritual influences.
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4) Islam teaches that a Muslim must do enough good deeds to outweigh the bad ones in order to be eligible for paradise. Islam does not guarantee salvation for a Muslim but insists that he continue doing good in order to hopefully attain it. Consequently, the concepts of sin, repentance and forgiveness are not easy for a Muslim to grasp.



    

  • Pray that Jesus will reveal himself as Savior and that Muslims will be convicted of sin, know true repentance, experience God’s total forgiveness and have the assurance of salvation.
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5) Because Muslims have a great awareness of the spiritual reality around them, large numbers have come to believe in Jesus as Savior as a result of a dream or vision of Jesus.



    

  • Pray that God will continue to open eyes and hearts to the reality of salvation in Jesus. Also, pray that followers of Jesus (believers in Christ) will have opportunities to openly share their faith in Jesus as Savior.
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Going Further



To read accounts of Muslims who have become followers of Jesus, visit the 30-Days Prayer Network.




If you would like to pray daily for Muslims during Ramadan, resource booklets for adults and kids entitled "30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World" are offered through World Christian.com. Downloadable and digital versions are also available.




If you or your small group would like to pray specifically for Muslim unreached people groups within the MENA regions, please contact MENA for prayer resources.



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