Looking at my personal calendar a few weeks ago, I noticed
that Ramadan is scheduled for July 20th at sunset with the
appearance of the new moon. Ramadan is
the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar.
According to Guests of the Sheik,
which takes place in Iraq, “The mullahs (Muslim religious leaders) in the holy
shrines…watch the sky for several days, and when the chief mullah announces
that he has indeed seen the crescent moon, however briefly, the beginning of
the month is officially declared from the minarets of the mosques. The news travels quickly by radio, by taxi
and horseback throughout the surrounding countryside.”
Islam teaches that the Qur’an was first revealed to Mohammed
during the month of Ramadan. During this
time, there is much fasting; from sunup to sundown they eat and drink nothing,
not even swallowing their own spit. Many
devote themselves more fully to the practices of Islam such as offering up more
prayers to Allah, reading more of the Qur’an, showing more kindness to one
another and increasing their almsgiving.
This month set aside for fasting is designed to generate
self-restraint. “O ye who believe!
Fasting is prescribed to you as was prescribed to those before you that ye may
(learn) self-restraint (Surah 2:183).” (Understanding
my Muslim People)
There is one special night called the “Night of Power”. Muslims are taught to pray as much as
possible during this night, for it is extremely commendable. Islam teaches that this night hundreds of
years ago was when Mohammed received his first revelation from Allah. One the day that the fast ends, Muslims hold
a “Breaking the Fast” celebration.
Sweets are prepared and new clothes purchased. A time of dancing and singing occurs. I asked many of my friends in the bush about
the arrival of Ramadan and you could see the excitement on their faces. Of course, this broke my heart, seeing how
excited they are about something that is so far from the Truth. It is so sad to think that some of them will
never experience true Love and Peace.
Please lift up my friends in ‘B’ and the surrounding areas
as Ramadan is coming. Pray that they
would be discontent with the practices and rituals of Islam and that they would
realize their hopelessness. Ask the Lord
of the harvest to direct their eyes to Him and the sacrifice of Christ. May we trust fully in the Lord to work mightily
during the month of Ramadan all across the globe!
“But he was pierced
for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that
brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like
sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has
laid on him the iniquity of us all. He
was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a
lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did
not open his mouth.”
Isaiah 53: 5-7
