bestcurrentnews 2020 Ramadan Prayer

Stark Differences

Dr. Sam Solomon was raised in the Middle East as a Muslim, spent 15 years studying to become an Islamic jurist, and is an expert on Islamic sharia law. Unusual circumstances drew him to begin reading the Bible. In the holy scriptures, he saw the tremendous differences from all that he was taught in the Qur’an. Dr. Sam repented of his sins and received Jesus Christ as his Lord.

A few years ago, he released his book, “Not the Same God.” He asked a vital question of Christians and Muslims, “Is the Qur’anic Allah the LORD God of the Bible?” Dr. Solomon makes a convincing case that Islamic theology amounts to a complete contradiction of the Judeo-Christian faith.

Some examples: 

As Christian believers, we have realized we were sinners and received the sacrifice paid by Jesus on the cross. Our sins forgiven, we now have peace with God. Jesus enables us to walk daily in the peace of God. Our salvation is life-changing . . . for now, and for eternity.

Sadly, for the Muslims, the Qur’an denies the divinity of Jesus, along with his crucifixion and resurrection. Muslims teach that Muhammad is the ultimate “seal of the prophets” and fulfillment of all God-given scriptures. Original sin is denied, and they reject the Christian teaching for salvation and the forgiveness of sins.

We see that no matter how hard they try, the followers of Islam will never experience the love of God, the assurance of their sins forgiven, or eternal life without Jesus. It is heartbreaking.

 PRAYER POINTS:

  • Muslims are caught in a web of deception. They cannot see there is a God who has called them to His Kingdom. Take a stand on their behalf against the lying contradictions and blindness that block them from receiving the revealed Word of God.
  • Pray that the Lord will send laborers to give them a New Testament, in person or online, so they can see how Jesus, the exact image of God, reveals His love and kindness. 

bestcurrentnews 2020 Ramadan Prayer

Ramadan Will Be Different This Year

Today we spoke with our friend, Dr. Victor, who was born and raised in Egypt. He regularly views Arabic TV by satellite and fully understands the Arabic language. As a result, he sees how Muslims are living and facing difficult challenges during these times. This year it is unlike any other.

Past history reveals that even during wars, natural disasters, and other disrupting events, no matter what was taking place around them, Muslims still gathered to fast and pray.

The first full day of Ramadan started on April 24, but it is much different than the 30-days of prayer in the past. There are no social gatherings as usual. Mosques are basically closed, and their prayers must remain in the privacy of their home. They normally can gather together, even in large gatherings, where they can encourage one another in their faith. But not this year, they are on their own. 

One Muslim shared that he usually feels that a significant part of his own spirituality is praying at the mosque, side by side with his community. He said, “You are sharing the same ritual, the same actions, the same emotions with others.” But . . . not this year. If anything, they will be watching the mosque prayer online.

“Ramadan is the month when I can finally see my family for extended periods of time. It is a time when the family bonds are going to be strengthened, one Muslim expressed. “This year, it is going to be difficult and depressing.”

The al-Aqsa mosque is located on the Jewish temple mount in Jerusalem. Sheikh Omar al-Kiswami is the imam and director of the mosque. Now only guards and mosques employees are permitted to pray. He stated, “Our hearts are tortured from pain in the holy month of Ramadan. It is a very sad moment in the history of Islam.”

As Christians who can seek God, know Him and sense His presence, it is difficult to believe that those who pray five times a day do not. Their god, Allah, is “unknowable.” He never reveals himself, only his will. A Muslim man who prays 5 times a day has heard the call to prayer over 90,000 times by the time he is 50 years of age. Imagine doing this regularly and yet never knowing if your prayers are pleasing Allah. It is hopeless. It is lifeless.

Dr. Victor shared that he read on social media that many Muslims are questioning their faith and Islam in general. They are asking, “Is this (coronavirus) the wrath of Allah? What do we do to please this god? We fasted, we prayed, we fulfilled all the pillars of Islam, yet Allah is not pleased.” Many started to turn to the Bible to find answers to their confusion. Their hearts are open to God’s truth more than at any time in the 1400+ years of Islam. 

PRAYER POINTS:

  • Pray their hearts will be softened to Christ during this time of spiritual sensitivity. 
  • Open their eyes to see the spiritual bankruptcy of seeking to earn God’s favor through ritual.
  • Reveal to them how Christ’s righteousness, given by grace, is what their hearts are longing for.
bestcurrentnews 2020 Ramadan Prayer, Uncategorized

Our Opportunity for Ramadan 2020

The Islamic 30-day Ramadan fast for 2020 will start on or around the evening of April 23 and will be observed by the majority of the 1.6–1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. Like the Western Gregorian calendar, the Hijri calendar has 12 months, but unlike it, those months follow the lunar cycle, i.e., a new month begins with each new moon.

The Islamic calendar began in 622AD, (started at the beginning of the religion by Muhammad).
When Muslims first fasted, they largely inhabited the same location in the Middle East and relied on the naked eye to determine when the moon had been spotted. Information of a moon sighting did not have to travel vast distances around the world as it does today.

As Islam gradually spread over the centuries, it was no longer possible to determine the moon sighting in one place and also at the same time transmit to all Muslims globally. As a result, some begin fasting on one day while others fast on a different day.

During Ramadan, Muslims begin the month and take no food or drink from dawn to dusk. When evening comes until sunrise they then can eat and drink as they like.

This year Ramadan, for most Muslims, will be unlike any they have experienced before. As hundreds of millions of Muslims begin, it will be marked by a more solemn manner. Why?

  • Large public gatherings celebrating Ramadan will not be held as normal.
  • Mosques around the world have been closed for prayer, or attendance is restricted to attempt to stop the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
  • For millions of Muslims in the nations, the breaking of the fast is a community event – which this year will be limited to only the closest of family relations.

PRAYER POINTS:
GOD LOVES MUSLIMS! In general, the majority are an overwhelmingly hospitable, reasonable, peace-loving people—yet staunchly opposed to the Christian gospel. The main reason for this is found in the roots of Islam. Our focus this month is to pray regarding these roots, for light and truth to be made known to them and the gospel of Christ revealed.

  • Ask the Lord to give you His heart for them, enabling us to “pray as one” for their salvation.
  • As Muslims begin Ramadan, pray they will be searching for “truth” and that the One who is Truth, Jesus Christ, will be revealed to them.