What is Ramadan? By Harry Morin

Intercede vol. xxviii, no. 4 july/august 2012 What is Ramadan? By Harry Morin O n Aug. 1, 2011, President Obama released a statement marking the first day of Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims. He acknowledged its significance and wished Muslims, both locally and around the world, a blessed month. The fact that more and more high profile figures of American society are acknowledging Islamic practices and holidays is a clear indication that the presence of Islam here in America is a growing phenomenon. Christians should be on the alert, not to treat this as a threat, but as an opportunity to reach people with the Gospel who otherwise would be difficult to reach in their homelands. But to reach these Muslim people, it is important to understand both them and their religion. And so, what is this Ramadan all about? Let s begin with the basics. For a Muslim to be a good practicing Muslim, he or she must believe in certain things and must do certain things. His tenets of belief are known as the Articles of Faith and his religious works are known as the Pillars of Islam. These religious works are the critical pillars that uphold the system of Islam and provide strength, meaning, and preservation. What a Muslim believes is an internal matter that remains invisible to the outside world. But what continued on page 4

How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? Romans 10:14 Jim Bennett Global Initiative: Reaching Muslim Peoples B urdens or visions for a particular people group are often built on information. The lead article of this issue is packed with information about the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. This year, Ramadan will begin on July 19 and end on Aug. 18. Islamic books and websites provide practical ways in which Muslims can experience Ramadan, especially the last 10 days which include the Night of Power the night Muslims claim Muhammad received his first revelation. An article entitled 16 Things You Can Do On The Night of Power is found at www.soundvision.com. Here are excerpts from some of the practical suggestions for planning your Night of Power. 1. Take a vacation for Allah. We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator? If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah [worship/prayer], not having to worry about getting to work the next day. It will also facilitate doing Itikaf [spending periods of seclusion in the mosque]. 2. Do Itikaf. It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last 10 days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid [mosque] for Itikaf. Those in Itikaf stay in the masjid all this time, performing various forms of Zikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat (prayers), recitation and study of the Quran. They do not go outside the masjid except in case of emergencies, therefore, they sleep in the masjid. Their families or the masjid administration takes care of their food needs. Itikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well. 3. Finish reading a book on the Prophet. Read about the Prophet's life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah's sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last 10 nights. 4. Recite the Quran. Perhaps you can choose Surahs [chapters] or passages from the Quran which you have heard in Tarawih [extra congregational prayers performed at night in the month of Ramadan]. 5. Get your sins wiped out. Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven (Bukhari and Muslim). As you can see, practicing Muslims are not lacking in religiosity but religiosity will not save anyone. Speaking before the religious elite of his day, the Sanhedrin, Peter provided the clear antidote to religiosity: There is no other name among men whereby we must be saved, except the name of Jesus (Acts 10:32). Join us during Ramadan in praying that true salvation in the person of Jesus Christ will come to the world's 1.5 billion Muslims. Intercede 2

Muslim World News Egypt Christian's six-year sentence stands A judge in Egypt has upheld a sixyear prison sentence for a Coptic Christian wrongly convicted of blasphemy against Islam and inciting sectarian strife, his lawyer said. The judge in Assuit refused to strike down a Feb. 29 sentence delivered to Makarem Diab, 49, of the town of Abnoub in Assuit Province. The charges stem from an argument that Diab had in February with Abd Al Hameed, a fellow employee at Deer Al Gabrawy Prep School. From the start, the charges against Diab were inflated, according to his lawyer, Ahmed Sayed Gebaly. I know Makarem well, because we grew up together, and I know he wouldn't do that, said Gebaly, a Muslim. To be honest, he didn't do anything wrong. If he did, I will have told him. Gebaly said he was surprised by how far Al Hameed took the accusations. The whole thing was just an ordinary discussion, he said. Al Hameed told Diab, an administration worker, that Jesus had sex with at least 10 women who were Mehram or forbidden to Him under Islamic law, according to Gebaly. Mehram status refers to forbidden marriage or sexual relations, such as those between immediate family members. Diab countered Al Hameed's claims for which there is no historical record by stating that Muhammad, the founder of the Islamic religion, had more than four wives a view commonly held by Islamic scholars, though disputes arise over whether he had more than four wives over the course of his life or at one time. For reasons not publicly known, Al Hameed waited for 11 days to report allegations against Diab to a misdemeanor court. Police arrested Diab and held him four days before he was presented to a judge. On Feb. 29, in a 10-minute court hearing with no defense attorney present, the judge sentenced Diab to six years in prison for insulting the prophet and provoking students. Compass Morocco Convert serving 15 years for faith Nearly five years into the prison sentence of the only Christian in Morocco serving time for his faith, Moroccan Christians and advocates question the harsh measures of the Muslim state toward a man who dared speak openly about Jesus. By the end of December 2012, Jamaa Ait Bakrim, 46, will have been in prison for five years. An outspoken Christian convert, Bakrim was sentenced to 15 years prison for proselytizing and destroying the goods of others in 2005 after burning two defunct utility poles located in front of his private business. Moroccan Christians said that the severity of his sentence shows that authorities were determined to put him behind bars because he spoke about his faith. Authorities tried Bakrim for destruction of the goods of others, which is punishable with up to 20 years in prison, and for proselytism, which is punishable with six months to three years in prison. Compass Intercede 3

What is R Continued f he does his religious works provides external evidence giving credence to his Islamic identity and loyalty. Thus a Muslim s devotion is measured more by what he does than by what he believes. This explains his emphasis on religious works, the Pillars. One of these identifying Pillars is the annual fast of Ramadan. Christians are quick to learn about the political agenda of Islam, but are not as well acquainted with some of the spiritual disciplines of Islam, such as fasting. What follows are answers to common questions that will lead us to a better understanding of this important issue. prayer call for the sunset prayer. Again, in most cases, a siren sounds off to signal the end of the daily fast. At this time, Muslims partake of a quick snack (commonly known as iftar) to hold them over through prayer time, and then after prayer, eat as much as they want until resuming the fast at dawn the next day. The affluent will occasionally host iftar gatherings to which friends and neighbors are invited to celebrate together the breaking of the daily fast. What is significant about the word Ramadan? Ramadan is the name of the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. The Quran (2:185) actually states that it was in the month of Ramadan that God sent down divine revelations for humankind. Muslims believe that their prophet, Muhammad, received these revelations in AD 610 and continued to receive similar revelations for the next 22 years, after which time they were compiled into book form the Quran. It is this aura of divine guidance from God that distinguishes this month in Islam as a holy month. Thus the Quran (2:183) clearly prescribes this sacred month as a time to fast. How long does the fast of Ramadan last? The fast (sawm) begins on the very first day of the month of Ramadan. Because Muslims follow a lunar calendar, the beginning of each month is determined by the sighting of the new moon. Thus, fasting begins once the new moon of Ramadan is sighted and continues for the next 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the next new moon. The end of the month-long fast is marked by a joyous celebration and three-day holiday known as Eidal Fitr. Now that we have addressed the monthly duration of the fast, what about its daily duration? Muslims are expected to fast every day from dawn until sunset. Dawn is traditionally declared when there is enough light to distinguish a white thread from a black one. Nowadays, a siren sounds off from a local mosque to signal the beginning of the fast. In some cases an earlier siren goes off to wake up the local community in time to eat a meal before the fast. The daily fast ends at sunset, just prior to the Who is required to keep the fast? Every Muslim who has reached the age of puberty is expected to observe the fast of Ramadan. Exceptions include expectant and nursing mothers, the elderly, the mentally ill, the sick, and the traveler whose journey exceeds two days. For those exceptions whose conditions are only temporary, the number of days missed during the fast must be made up at some other time. In some cases, Muslims can make up for these missed days by feeding the poor, one poor person for every day missed. Can Muslims drink liquids during the fast? Not only must Muslims abstain from food, they must also abstain from all liquids, all sexual activity, and smoking. Some Muslims are so strict about this that they spit out their saliva. The fast is also a time to refrain from any seemingly immodest and bad-tempered behavior. Intercede 4

amadan? rom Page 1 Do Muslims observe religious rituals during the fast? Muslims are obligated to read the whole Quran during Ramadan. This is facilitated by the fact that the Quran is divided into thirty equal sections so that when a Muslim reads one section per day, by the end of Ramadan, he completes the obligation. In many Muslim communities, this reading of the Quran is carried out as a community exercise whereby Muslims attend the mosque nightly to hear professional readers or religious leaders read the Quran on their behalf. This practice is accompanied with prayers and is known as the Tarawih ceremony. Some Muslims actually isolate themselves in the mosque during the last 10 days of the fast as a means of cutting themselves off from all worldly distractions for the purpose of spiritual reflection. This ritual of spiritual solitude in the mosque is known as itikaf. One night in particular, commonly held to be the 27th of Ramadan, is known as the Night of Power (Lailat-al Qadr). Supposedly, this is the day during Ramadan when the first revelation of the Quran was delivered. According to the Quran (97:3), this night is better than a thousand months and is a night when angels descend to deliver blessings to humankind. Many Muslims regard this night as the most holy of the year and spend the evening praying in the mosque hoping to receive divine blessing. Why do Muslims keep the fast? The main reason Muslims keep the fast is because the Quran (2:85) prescribes it. That makes it a religious obligation. Furthermore, it is a religious pillar, which if observed, earns merit. In fact, according to Islamic tradition (Sahih al-bukhari: vol.1, book 2, #36), Whoever observes the fast during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hopes to attain Allah s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven. The Quran (2:183) declares that the believer is to keep the fast in order to learn self-restraint, leading him to revere God, glorify God, and thank God. Other acquired virtues associated with the fast are patience, humility, submissiveness, gratitude, and spirituality. How can Christians relate to the Ramadan fast? If we are really serious about delivering the Gospel message to Muslim people, we are going to have to find ways to build bridges into their lives. Unfortunately, we often begin by erecting walls that distance us. One sure way to erect a wall is to condemn Muslims for embracing a religious system of works and to label those works, such as fasting, entirely worthless. In our enthusiasm for God s grace, which is a gift not of works, we are often quick to cast judgment on Muslims. But think back to the story of the Apostle Peter and Cornelius, the Roman Gentile. Acts 10 informs us that Cornelius religious works of prayers and gifts to the poor did not go unnoticed. Of course, these works did not directly save Cornelius, but they caught God s attention and eventually led to his salvation. Who knows how many Corneliuses there are among the Muslims of the world or in your neighborhood, who are sincere about connecting with God? Could we not commend Muslims for their devotion, rather than condemn them for what we deem futile? That doesn t mean that we endorse Islamic teaching, but it means we recognize the reality of spiritual hunger. Remember the Apostle Paul s reaction when he saw the abominable idols of the Greeks of Acts 17. He did not rebuke the Greeks for idolatry. He said, Men of Athens! I see that in every way, you are very religious. The Apostle Paul found a way to keep the channel of communication open. And indeed, when it comes to Muslims who devoutly keep the Ramadan fast, they are very religious! continued on page 6 Intercede 5

What is Ramadan? continued from page 5 Prayer Profile: Arab Alawites of Syria Acknowledging a Muslim s fast can open the way for dialogue regarding the biblical examples and teaching on fasting. We can refer to the personal fasts of Moses (Ex. 34:27-29), Daniel (Dan. 9:3-19), and Jesus (Mt. 4:1-4). We can also refer to the community fasts of King Jehoshaphat and his subjects (2 Chr. 20:1,3-7,12), and the people of Judah (Joel 2:12-17). Such a discussion can lead to the biblical teaching on holiness (Lev. 11:44; 1 Pet. 2:9-11; Titus 2:2-6). Jesus expects his followers to fast, but fasting nowadays is not a common or popular practice. It is certainly a practice that is biblical and necessary when engaging in spiritual formation and spiritual warfare. Who knows what could happen if more Christians in America made their prayers fervent by adding the ingredient of fasting! Last, but not least, we can allow the Ramadan fast to remind us to pray and fast specifically for Muslim people and related ministries. And what better time to do this than during Ramadan? With thousands of Christians praying and fasting for Muslims Muslim friends, Muslim classmates, Muslim co-workers, Muslim neighbors all at the same time, we could believe for a mighty move of God that would lead to unbelievable miracles in the lives of these dear people! And so when you fast, remember Ramadan and the millions of Muslim people who need our fervent prayers. Alawi suggests an adherent of Ali and accentuates the religion s similarities to Shia Islam. Shia groups revere Ali and his family, but Alawites go beyond veneration, considering Ali to be a manifestation of God. Out of a Syrian population of 22.5 million, Alawites number 1.2 million. The Syrian Sunni majority view Alawites as heretics. President Assad, an Alawite, holds to his presidency by placing Alawites in key government posts. Pray for: Political stability in Syria; Christian literature to reach Alawites; Christian Syrians to interact with Alawites; expatriates to be called to the Alawites; and the few converts to have opportunity to share Christ with their own. Intercede 6

Jumaa Prayer is now on Facebook. Please join today. Friday, July 6, 2012. Please pray for Muslim children to have the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ. More than a quarter of the world s 2 billion children live in Muslim countries. Children make up over 40 percent of the global Muslim population. for Muslims in Tunisia where a new draft constitution is based on sharia law. for Syrian refugees in Jordan. Approximately 100,000 Syrians have fled the recent chaos into Jordan. Friday, July 13, 2012. Please pray for Muslims in Mali where the threat of radical Islam is growing quickly. for Christian pastors across the Muslim world. Pray that through divine intervention, windows of opportunity would open allowing indigenous pastors to openly preach about the love of Jesus Christ. for Muslim women in Yemen. They are often subject to sharia law and have little opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ. Friday, July 20, 2012. Please pray for MBBs (Muslim Background Believers) in Egypt. Christian persecution continues in 2012. for Muslim students in European universities to receive witness of Jesus Christ. for Muslims in Syria. The country remains on edge with protests, arrests, imprisonment and many deaths. Also, if the Assad regime falls, Syrian Christians could face waves of persecution. Friday, July 27, 2012. Please pray for God to work a miracle in the lives of Bangladesh s Muslims. for Muslims in the Maldives. Despite hostility toward Christianity, pray that Muslims in the Maldives would come to know Jesus Christ. for Christian believers in Kazakhstan to be filled with wisdom and the vision to share Jesus Christ with friends. Intercede 7

Jumaa Prayer is now on Facebook. Please join today. Friday, August 3, 2012. Please pray for millions of Muslims attending mosques today. Pray that the Lord would reveal His love to them in miraculous ways. for Muslim children in Turkey. Turkey is home to 19 million kids under the age of 14 and 97 percent are Muslims. for a MBB in Saudi Arabia arrested for insulting Muhammad. The MBB faces a possible death sentence. Friday, August 10, 2012. Please pray for God s protection over the underground Church in Afghanistan. for Nigeria s Muslims to be free from the influence of Boko Haram militants. Boko Haram continues to cause chaos across Nigeria. for Druze Muslims in Lebanon seeking to know more about God. Friday, August 17, 2012. Please pray for the Muslims of Kuwait to have witness of Jesus Christ. Government legislation has been drawn up banning construction of churches and non-islamic places of worship. for Chinese Muslims to have opportunity to learn about Jesus....for Christian missionaries across the Muslim world. Pray for their protection and encouragement. Friday, August 24, 2012. Please pray for Syria s Alawite Muslims. Out of a Syrian population of 22.5 million, Alawites number 1.2 million. for Muslims living in Europe. Pray that through their conversions and testimonies, the gospel of Jesus Christ will be spread into the Islamic world. for God to fill the hearts of Muslims in Turkey with a strong desire for progress and liberty, so that the present trend towards Islamization might be reversed. Friday, August 31, 2012. Please pray for God to protect and sustain the persecuted Church in Sudan. for expatriate Christian workers in Qatar to gain opportunities to witness about Jesus. A large percentage of Qatar s population is made up of foreign workers. for MBBs in Eritrea. Pray for God s protection over these precious people. Intercede is a bimonthly publication of Global Initiative: Reaching Muslim Peoples P. O. Box 2730, Springfield, MO 65801-2730 1-866-816-0824 (toll free) www.globalinitiativeinfo.com www.jumaaprayer.org