Thank you for joining us in prayer for Muslims during Ramadan. As we hear of updates, we will share them in the "Answer to Prayer" section on the app.
Muslims conclude the last day of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking). Entire neighborhoods may come together over a huge feast, complete with fireworks and gifts, to celebrate their endurance and generosity toward others during Ramadan. However, when life goes back to normal after the feast, many Muslims report feeling sad or disappointed. Some hoped their fasting would yield a felt nearness to Allah, but instead they feel just as distant as they did before Ramadan began. Pray for God to use the days following Ramadan to steer Muslims toward truth. Ask God to put believers in their path who can share the gospel and invite them into eternal assurance of salvation.
As Ramadan comes to an end, it is tradition for children to return home and ask their parents for forgiveness for wrongs they have committed. Pray that as they seek to honor their earthly fathers, they will see the living God as Father. Pray for the parents approached by their children. Ask God to use this tradition to help them think about the ways they have fallen short of Allah’s holiness and whether they can obtain guaranteed forgiveness from him. Pray that this leads them to the Word and a believer who can share how their sins can be forgiven.
The global church has a unique opportunity every year for meaningful conversations with Muslims during Ramadan. Pray that the church uses this time to extend and accept hospitality to their Muslim friends. Pray we will be eager to listen, humble in our evangelism, and wise in how we build conversation bridges from Ramadan to Christ. Ask for God’s blessings and Spirit to move mightily through our interactions with Muslims during Ramadan and afterward.
Many Brazilian Christian churches and workers are waking up to the growing number of Brazilians converting to Islam. These conversions are due to aggressive proselytization efforts organized in local mosques. Pray national churches will engage their Muslim friends and neighbors with grace and hospitality during Ramadan. Ask God to raise up more Brazilian mission workers to be trained and equipped to share Jesus with their fellow countrymen and bring them to true faith in Jesus Christ.
The 27th night of Ramadan is considered the “Night of Power” when Muslims believe angels and spirits descend and carry out the commands of Allah. Muslims often stay awake until morning and pray for blessings and forgiveness. Because many expect visions, dreams, wonders, and proper interpretations of their dreams during this season—and particularly during this night—pray that people will experience dreams of Jesus that will lead them to seek and be open to truth from a biblical witness or exposure to God’s Word.
Since Muslims must fast during daylight, they typically rise before the sun and eat as much as possible. Most women wake up in the middle of the night to prepare a meal for their families to eat before dawn. A month of this schedule leads to a lot of exhaustion and even resentment. Pray God would uphold women as they serve their families during Ramadan. Ask Him to reveal His Son as the source of true rest, peace, and identity.
Deaf Muslims are usually on the periphery of a majority society, which often solidifies their attachment to their communities. Yet in most ways, Deaf Muslims celebrate Ramadan the same as all Muslims. They pray, they fast, they donate to the poor—all with the desire to be a part of a community and to earn favor from Allah. Pray that Deaf people who adhere to Islam will learn about Jesus through friends or dreams that open their hearts to the Word. Pray for God to send out more Deaf Christians to share the hope of Christ with their Muslim friends.
As you pray for Muslims all over the world, know that there are probably people living close to you who are fasting and take Ramadan very seriously. You may not even know they are fasting because you don’t know they are Muslim. Many Muslims are more spiritually open during this time, particularly in the days just after Ramadan. Pray for Muslims living near and far. Take advantage of this opportunity to enter conversations that lead you toward the gospel.
While many Muslims fast during Ramadan out of duty, many others do so with excitement and pride. Millions of devout Muslims worldwide will start and finish Ramadan zealous for their beliefs. Pray for Muslim who are very religious but do not have a personal relationship with their Creator. Pray that in these days of fasting and feasting Muslims would truly seek God and come to know the one true God and Creator. Pray that they come to see their sin and need for the salvation that is only found in Jesus.
Istanbul is home to religious and nominal Muslims. During Ramadan, some neighborhoods will bustle as normal with people enjoying coffee shops. Others will have empty streets as people stay home while fasting. This month will increase some Turks’ devotion to Islam, but for others, it will remind them why they have distanced themselves or have left it completely. Pray that Christians in Istanbul will have opportunities to have spiritual conversations with Muslims this month. Pray that many will accept God’s free gift of salvation, which is not based on their good deeds but on His mercy to them.
South Asia is home to more than 500 million Muslims. They live in slums and high-rise apartments. They are impoverished rickshaw drivers and wealthy business owners. They pray at mosques in the mountains, valleys, cities, and villages. They spend Ramadan abstaining from food and water, with some trying to not even swallow their saliva lest they disqualify their fast. Pray for South Asian Muslims to feel discontent in this constant struggle and seek answers that Islam cannot provide. Pray for believers who will boldly introduce them to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
More than 25,000 Muslim refugees live on the island of Lesbos in Greece. Lesbos is a favorite destination for smugglers who charge refugees 1,000 euros to crowd in with 50 others into a rubber boat designed for 15 people. Most refugees live in a cramped camp with 20,000 other refugees. In the midst of this, God is at work. One Central Asian leader named Haza* lives in Lesbos so he can share Christ boldly, disciple believers, and form churches. Pray for Haza as he shares, disciples, and trains leaders in a difficult place.
Albanian Ghegs are a people group living throughout Europe with varying levels of devotion to their Islamic faith. Some strictly observe the Ramadan fast, some don’t change their lifestyle in the slightest, and many give an appearance of devotion while secretly breaking the fast. Pray for lost Albanians to realize that their outward actions—like self-denial and ritual washing—matter less to God than a broken and contrite spirit. Pray for the believing Albanians to find creative ways to share that true cleansing only comes through the blood of Jesus Christ.
The Bosnian War of 1992 to 1995 was a catalyst for a resurgence of Islam in Bosnia. In recent years, Islam has continued to strengthen, and Muslims are doubling down on religious practice and are becoming more insular. Pray people will not further ingrain themselves in Islam. Pray that the country remains peaceful, and those who have been involved in Bible studies will continue to meet, and that struggling churches will find ways to minister. Most of all, pray that Muslims realize that their works will not help them when they meet the Lord.
