Many have at least heard, passing by or around public space, about the Ramadan fast – the fasting month for Muslims. As Ramadan approaches, millions of Muslims around the globe are preparing to pray, study the Quran, give to the poor, and are doing what they can, hoping for ‘Allah’s mercy’ and elimination of some of their sins. For Christians living in Muslim countries, Ramadan is a difficult time when many believers experience heightened persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and, according to Muslim belief, the Quran was given as a revelation during this month. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and refraining from food and water is obligatory. Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, greed, lust, angry or sarcastic retorts, and gossip during this month.
Heightened Christian persecution during Ramadan
In many parts around the world, Christians living in Muslim countries are targets during Ramadan. In Egypt, Christians have faced physical violence because they were caught eating lunch by their fasting Muslim co-workers or neighbours. In other parts, Muslim extremist groups are also known to increase violence against infidels (non-Muslims) during Ramadan as a way to show gratitude to Allah and strike the necks of invaders by destroying their might. The pressure often also comes from social discrimination. In countries such as Algeria or Morocco, where Islam is the state religion, not abiding to the Ramadan fast is punishable by a fine or imprisonment.
Testimony from Algeria
Cala, a 30-year-old Algerian woman, explains that the social pressure during Ramadan is most intense from her Muslim relatives. Although she has been a Christian for several years, she is forced by her Muslim father to continue participating in the Ramadan fast. “I converted to Christianity since my early age . . . But my father opposed my conversion and he tries to control my life,” she explained.
Cala’s father was not always so strict. He changed when his fellow villagers began to pressure him, following the conversion of members of her family to Christianity. As the social pressure mounted, Cala’s father forced his children to fast during Ramadan and not to speak openly speak about their Christian faith.
Muslims are seeking the Truth
Despite all the rules behind this month of fasting, Ramadan is also a time where many Muslims earnestly seek to draw closer to Allah. Miraculously, in their search for truth, many Muslims have encountered Jesus in dreams and visions during their fasting.
A time to pray!
Christians around the world have different sentiments regarding Ramadan, but in this time, the Lord is giving us a unique opportunity to intercede for Muslims. Our hearts should be crying out loudly to the Lord that He may show Himself clearly to the millions of Muslims who seek genuinely to find Him. We should pray that the Lord will use every one of us to act as a light to show Muslims around us the true way to the loving God.
Pray during Ramadan
So, let us look at Ramadan differently. Not as a fasting month for Muslims, but a call for Christians globally to stand together in prayer. Join us in praying this Ramadan. Let us pray for the protection of our brothers and sisters in Muslim countries, and for secret Christians who suffer for the cause of Christ, that the Lord will give them boldness to share their faith. Pray also, for Muslims around the globe, that in their search for the truth, they may meet the one true Lord! Visit opendoors.org.za/ramadan-19-joy to download your Ramadan prayer calendar!
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Date published: 24/04/2019
Written by: Open Doors SA
Article source: JOY! Magazine
