Many of our Muslim friends have been informing us "Our month of fasting starts this week." The rhythm of the Islamic year is very important to them. One of my friends in the ESL class I help out in was trying to explain about the month of fasting when the teacher asked, "Why do you fast?" "It's the month when we fast because of our sins. You know...the small sins. Not the big sins like murder or anything." It will be a different Ramadan this year because of the effects of Covid-19. Shopping at 'halal' meat store is more subdued with social distancing. There won't be any pot-lucks at the mosque or evening prayer times. And there won't be the solidarity we've seen in other years.
Whether we minister abroad or in the homeland, godly attitudes will be challenged by the apparent disconnect between religious duties and real life. Right now with encouragement to stay at home while collecting government benefits, fasting will be considerably easier with being able to take it easy during the day. On the other hand there will be fewer Iftar parties of breaking the fast together with friends. But to a committed Muslim it's about obeying what he believes God has commanded them to do. This is one of the five pillars(practices) of Islam that is their only hope of gaining entrance to heaven and receiving blessing from God. Muslims are not encouraged to think about 'why'. In Islam, God is the master, adherents are his servants. They can only hope by following Ramadan rules, the 'religious scales' will be tipped in their favor.
If we become sarcastic and disgusted, we will lose ground with Muslims. While I may see blindness or hypocrisy, I can't allow this thought to dominate. Much of the bridge building we've done could be wiped out if we make hurtful remarks. Many of my Muslim friends are sincere about fasting. Nominal Muslims enjoy the festivities of breaking the fast too. Muslims are somehow locked into this legalistic system imposed on them or what they have chosen. If they want to be part of their community's social life, they have to go along with fasting.
This year my I shared the '30 Days of Prayer For the Muslim World' booklets with churches and many individuals. An attitude of prayer is important to maintain compassion for Muslims. We want to pray in faith that God will stir the hearts of Muslims to see that only through Jesus can one be reconciled with God.
During this month, we mostly wait for Muslims who are consumed with Ramadan to return to normal life again! Their schedules are often totally thrown off by a late evening meal and an early morning start. Some Muslims isolate from non-Muslims. Now it's doubly so with physical distancing guidelines creating another barrier.
Anyone who follows Jesus is totally excluded from these social events and if in Muslim majority countries severely persecuted. Can you imagine how a new believer feels? I like to call my Muslim background believer friends to assure them we are thinking of them and praying for them. If possible, we also visit them to give them a sense of their new 'Ummah'(Christian community).Lord Jesus, help me to connect with my Muslim friends behind closed doors during Ramadan this year. Renew my compassion and love for Muslims. Amen.
April 24th is the first day of Ramadan 2020. See Praying for the Muslim world (click) for a daily prayer guide.
