Photo credit CNN, Rob Stothard/getty images
Some believers wonder why Christians pray during the Muslim’s month-long fast called Ramadan. The answer to this question can be found in addressing five of the top half-truths and out-right misnomers many non-Muslims have about Ramadan.
#1 – Ramadan is a month-long fast from food during which Muslims focus on earning God’s favor.
This is true in as far as it goes, but the fast is not only from food, but also from pleasurable activities such as drinking (all beverages including water), and sex. They also put double-effort into refraining from sinful behaviors such as gossiping, slandering, and other vices.
#2 – During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims eat nothing.
Actually, the fast is only during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset) for a month of days. The most devout even spit excessively during their daylight fast to increase their discomfort. But once the sun dips below the horizon and final prayers of the day are completed, lids fly off the cooking pots and the fast turns into a feast enjoyed by the whole family. It is said that Muslims generally eat more food during the month-long Ramadan fast than at any other month of the year.
#3 – Muslims dread this month-long fast.
Absolutely false! Muslims look forward with anticipation to Ramadan in a way similar to how Christians look forward to Christmas!
#4 – Muslims devotion during this month makes them more resistant to the gospel.
In truth, because this is a time when many Muslims, in sincere devotion and spiritual hunger, are seeking the truth and asking for God to reveal Himself to them, this is actually a time when some find God through Jesus Christ.
The 26th night of Ramadan is called the Night of Power and is considered the holiest night of the year; this year (2019) it falls on Saturday, June 1. Muslims believe that prayers offered on the Night of Power are twice as powerful as at any other time of the year. On this night, the prayers of many Muslims focus on asking God to reveal Himself to them in dreams and visions. It is not unusual to hear testimonies of Muslim-background believers that trace their spiritual journey to Christ back prayers they offered on the Night of Power.
#5 – Christians pray during the month of Ramadan to show solidarity with their Muslim neighbors.
While this may be true for some, the far greater reason many Christians want to pray during this month is that their Muslim neighbors need Christ, and during Ramadan Muslims are focusing on their faith. The spiritual hunger in Muslims is the same as that which is found at the core of every human being; as the writer of Ecclesiastes said, “[God] has also set eternity in [their] heart.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Being a time of heightened spiritual focus, Ramadan is an ideal time for Christians to pray, just as Paul did many years ago for lost Athenians in the Areopagus, imploring them to “reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:26-27)
Join the Movement
Here are three ways you can join a vast movement of tens of thousands of Christians worldwide praying for the 1.8 million Muslims participating in Ramadan, that they will come to faith in the true Christ:
- Access excellent Ramadan prayer resources at Open Doors 30 Days of Prayer During Ramadan
- If the entire month-long prayer focus is more than you can take on at the moment – though only 12 days are left of this year’s Ramadan (ends on June 4) – make this year’s Night of Power a special time of praying for Muslims to find Christ. This year the Night of Prayer falls on June 1. The link above will include resources to make your prayer focus especially meaningful.
- Email crisisresponse@encompassworld.org to request to be included on emails from an International Encompass staffer focusing prayer on her Muslim friends and contacts this month.
