This Friday evening, July 20th, begins Ramadan. It is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar
and is considered to be the most holy month (stay tuned to see why next week).
Each year, the dates of Ramadan change. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar
and does not match the Gregorian calendar.
Each year the dates of Ramadan move back approximately 11 days.
Observing Ramadan includes abstaining from food, drink, smoking,
and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset. The "goal" of Ramadan per se is a
time of spiritual renewal. By setting aside material things, they can focus
more on the spiritual. It is to be cleansing and purifying. There are always
rewards for fasting in Islam, but they are considered to be multiplied when
observed during Ramadan. I did mention it's fasting from sunrise to sunset,
right? Well, after the sundown, feasting begins with a meal called Iftar. Traditionally, the first thing eaten is dates
- just like the Prophet Mohammed did.
The Muslim people, especially the very religious, work hard
to emulate the Prophet Mohammed. They try to dress like him, eat like him, act like him. The Prophet Mohammed
was just a man. We, I am speaking to Christians, know the Truth - His name is
Jesus. I must admit I am ashamed to say many Muslims work harder to emulate a
man than I work to emulate Christ. I
know I am a sinner and am very faulty, but I can try. The very name
"Christian" mean "little Christ." Am I even deserving of
this title? Probably not. I long to be able to say as Paul did in 1 Corinthians
11:1,
"Be ye followers of me, even as
I also am of Christ."
During the Islamic month of Ramadan, I ask you to pray for
the true spiritual renewal of the Muslim people - that they may know Christ. Rather
than just a "bless them" type prayer, I looked for some ways to more
specifically pray for Muslims. I found an article on a website that had some good
suggestions on how to pray for the Muslim people. http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/muslim-prayer.html.
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