Would you join us in praying?
Right now, around the world, millions of Muslims are seeking spiritual guidance. We are in the middle of Ramadan, a very important month to Muslims- a month of intense spiritual focus. They spend the 30 days of Ramadan fasting and praying from sunrise to sunset in an effort to grow closer to Allah. They are also seeking to obtain forgiveness for their sins, gain guidance for the future, and please God with good works.
During the evening, after breaking the fast, they celebrate with family and friends over a large meal. Most will stay up eating until around midnight, and rise again around 4am to eat before the sun rises and the fast begins again. In most Islamic countries, food and water are not sold during the day and restaurants don’t open till evening.
Night of Power
This Sunday, September 5, marks the most holy day of the year for Muslims - Laylat al-Qadr, also known as “the night of decree or measures,” “the night of destiny,” or “the night of power.” It is believed that this is the night the Qu’ran was revealed to Muhammad.
Muslims believe that on this night heaven opens and God hears their prayers. They believe that spending this one night fasting and praying is worth thousands of months of fasting in the eyes of Allah.
They will offer extra prayers and spend additional time reading the Qu’ran. Many will even spend the night and the remaining ten days of Ramadan in the mosque – praying, reading and seeking God. Through all of this, Muslims hope to obtain favor in the eyes of God and to receive spiritual blessing and revelation.
So, why write a blog about Islam? The truth is it’s becoming more and more common for Muslims to have dreams and visions of Jesus during Ramadan! “Year in and year out I see a heightened increase in God speaking to the hearts and lives of Muslims through dreams and visions during this focused time of prayer for Muslims,” said IMB International Prayer Strategy Director Ed Cox.1
Let’s pray that during the remaining days of Ramadan, God would reveal himself to Muslims in a mighty way! Would you join us in praying for Muslims around the world? We even encourage you to get a group of friends together to pray this Sunday, during the Night of Power. Ask that Jesus would reveal himself through dreams and visions.
For prayer points for each day of Ramadan, you can use this 30-day online prayer guide: http://www.30-days.net/muslims/category/featured/
For more information on the views of Islam, visit the International Mission Board’s website: http://btw.imb.org/news_research.asp
1 http://imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=3197
