Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims. According to tradition, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan, is when the Quran was revealed to Muhammed. In honor of the month, Muslims spend time fasting (from sunrise to sunset), praying, reciting the Quran, and doing charitable deeds.
Although Ramadan has no significance to Christians, we should be aware of this observance that occurs from March 10 to April 8 this year. Muslims will be participating in specific religious practices to please God. This is a perfect time for them to seek out the true God of the Bible and for us to pray for them to come to faith in Christ.
Praying for vast numbers of Muslims around the world can be daunting, though. Where do we start? How do we know what we should pray for? The task is also hard if we are not familiar with Muslims and their needs.
The following prayer points can help direct your prayers and focus on specific concerns that are unique to Islam and Muslim culture.
1. Pray That Muslims Would Seek Out the True God
During Ramadan, followers of Islam seek to grow closer to God through fasting and reciting the Quran. Many Muslims desire to know God and to follow Him. They are thirsty for the Lord but try as they might within their religion, they come up dry.
As Christians, we know that only the true God can satisfy that inner thirst and yearning for Him. No amount of religious observance can replace a relationship with the Living Lord who created all things. He has placed eternity in the heart of every human, which is why we long for Him, even when we do not understand that longing (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Believers can pray for Muslims by asking the Lord to increase their thirst for Him. Pray that Muslims will seek out the truth about who He is, as He has revealed in the Bible. Ask Him to make them so desirous of the truth that they become restless and can focus on nothing else. Pray that this desire will lead them to a Christian, a Bible, a ministry, or a resource created by believers.
We can trust that the Lord will hear our prayers and answer them. As Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8, NIV).
2. Pray That in Their Fasting, They Will Hunger for the Bread of Life
Fasting is a major part of Ramadan and of the Islamic religion, as it is one of the five pillars of Islam (known as sawm). Healthy individuals who are of age participate in the period of fasting that occurs from sunrise to sunset. Once the sun goes down, they gather with their family to break their fast, starting with dates.
We can pray that in their time of fasting, they would develop a spiritual hunger for Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6:35). The food that Muslims eat during their Ramadan meals when they break their fasts will not last, but whoever comes to Jesus will never hunger again. He gives eternal life to those who believe in His death and resurrection (John 6:40).
A desire for truth about God will ultimately lead to Jesus. He is God the Son, who added humanity to His divinity to die for our sins (Philippians 2:5-8). His blood washes us clean and makes us new (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9:14).
We can pray for Muslims this Ramadan by praying they would hunger for Jesus and learn that He is far more than a prophet or good man. He is the Lord God, who loves them so much that He came to die for them to give them everlasting life.
3. Pray For Them to Learn About the Light of the World
An interesting part of Ramadan is the lantern (fanous or fanoos). This decoration is traditional to Egypt but has become an iconic symbol of the holiday. Although the lantern adds to the festive spirit of the month, it also holds strong symbolic meaning. Lanterns provide light in the darkness, representing hope during times of difficulty. They also can help guide a person who is lost, indicating the lantern’s symbol as relating to finding a way or path.
Followers of Jesus know that He is the Light of the World (John 8:12). He casts out the darkness of sin, death, and hopelessness. As He said, “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark” (John 12:46, NLT).
Not only is Jesus the Light of the World, but He is also the Way (John 14:6). Everyone is lost in the darkness of the world and their sins. Jesus is the only way that leads to restoration with the Father. Those who do not place faith in Jesus remain in the dark, lost in sin.
Let us pray that as Muslims celebrate Ramadan and admire lantern decorations, they will place faith in the Light of the World. He is the only path to salvation and the only light that can cast out the darkness. Ask the Lord Jesus to open the eyes and hearts of Muslims to the truth of who He is and what He has done. Pray for eternal and joyous light to enter their lives through a personal relationship with Christ.
4. Pray for Muslims to Become Discontent with Trying to Earn Salvation
Muslims complete the period of fasting and reciting the Quran because they want to please Allah. They also give to the poor and do acts of charity (known as zakat). For Muslims, these deeds are necessary for spiritual cleansing and strengthening their faith.
As much as seeking devotion to God and helping others is good, there are no number of charitable deeds we can do to make ourselves clean or to gain salvation. According to the Bible, the good we do cannot outweigh the bad, for we are all sinners who go astray (Romans 3:10-12, 23). Nothing we do can save us from the inner uncleanness of sin. We must be washed and made new.
We cannot earn salvation through doing good deeds, but we can place faith in the deeds of another. Scripture tells us that the basis of our salvation is what Jesus did on the cross by dying for our sins and being resurrected on the third day (Romans 10:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Those who place faith in Him receive the washing of renewal and rebirth by the Holy Spirit (see Titus 3:4-8). Believers have a new life in which they will want to do good, not out of obligation, but because of their love for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:10).
This year, as we take our requests to the Lord regarding our Muslim friends, let us pray that they become discontent with trying to earn salvation and favor from God. Pray that Muslims will see that they could never fast or give enough to cleanse themselves from sin. Ask the Lord to use that stirring of discontent to lead them to Himself so they accept the gift of salvation that He freely offers. Then, they will learn of the joy of serving Jesus and doing good for others from a place of love.
What Else Can I Do?
If you want more ideas for praying for Muslims during Ramadan, consider using a prayer guide. There are many available online, including those offered by Christian ministries and organizations, such as Frontiers’ Taste and See prayer guide. Within these prayer guides, you will find specific prayer points for each day of Ramadan.
Another way to get involved and pray for Muslims during this time is to commit yourself to praying for a nearby mosque in your city. Doing so can help your prayers be more specific as you think of individuals in your town who need to hear the good news of Jesus.
Finally, be willing to reach out to a Muslim and befriend them. Praying for Muslims during Ramadan can open our hearts to these individuals. We start to see them as human beings created in the image of God, possessing worth and value. Stereotypes fall away, and we develop a desire to share the good news of Christ with these people who need Him. As you pray, let God work in your heart and see if there are opportunities for you to get involved in befriending and talking to the Muslims who might already live and work in your city or neighborhood.
Why Does This Matter?
Ramadan is a significant month of fasting, praying, and giving that Muslims observe around the world. Christians should not ignore this time when Muslims are seeking closeness to God. We can pray for them to encounter the true God of the Bible and that they would hear the gospel. As the church, we can come together and pray that numerous Muslims around the world would place faith in Jesus and experience the freedom and joy of knowing Him.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Ozbalci
