So when did fasting during Ramadan begin? and why? I'll be
happy to tell you.
First of all understand the Ramadan is the name of a month,
the 9th month to be exact. Through the
centuries, it has become synonymous with
the fasting. Around the year 610 A.D., a man named Mohammad claimed to receive
the words to the Quran from the angel Gabriel. Mohammad decided to keep the month holy as commemoration of
the giving of the Quran. Tradition says that especially the end of the month is
the most holy - that is when the first vision of Gabriel came to Mohammad. In fact, one night is set aside to
symbolically be "the" night Mohammad received the revelation. "Laylat
al-Qadr" or the "Night of Power" is said to be the holiest night
of the year. Some Muslims stay up all
night reciting the Quran that night.
The Quran contains 114 chapters or suras. The word
"Quran" literally means "the recitation" and is believed to
literally be the words of Allah. The Quran is greatly revered by Muslims. It is
never marked in (which is considered desecration) or set on the ground. The
Quran is organized from longest passage to shortest. The length is
approximately the same as the New Testament.
Can you imagine reading the Bible, or even a book of the
Bible from longest passage to shortest?? I am no scholar, but wow. After
reading about the Quran, I hope we can be more thankful for the Bible. God used
many men as His pens, and yet the message is always the same: Jesus Christ. In
every book of the Bible, Jesus Christ is central. We
esteem the knowledge of the Bible and write it on our hearts, but we do not
have to be afraid to mark in our Bibles. When was the last time we simply thanked God
for our Bible?
Once again I ask that you join me in prayer for the people
of Islam. Pray for their hearts to be softened to hear the Gospel. Pray for
them to understand. Pray for boldness of believers. Pray for more laborers.
Pray for our hearts to be softened toward the Muslims and have a greater
compassion for these lost souls.
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