This year Lent and Ramadan overlap. And while it would be easy to get lost in the countdown to Easter, we can seize the opportunity to pray for Muslims around the world. Whether we're familiar with Ramadan or if it feels like this mysterious event, we can grow in our love for the Lord and the world by praying for Muslims during their month of fasting.
Since many of us are intentionally preparing our hearts to rejoice in how Christ rescued us from the dominion of darkness, we can naturally pray for the light of the gospel to dawn in Muslim hearts across the globe.
If talking about worldviews that differ from Christianity is tricky for your family, check out this article I wrote with three guidelines to teach our kids about other worldviews. We want to openly talk with our kids about what others believe. Learning about other worldviews can be a bridge toward praying for the lost and sharing the gospel.
Ramadan is an Islamic month focused on seeking God and prayer. Muslims fast from sunset to sunrise. They refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. This year Ramadan starts on March 22 and ends April 21 (these are estimates as the exact start and end dates depend on a lunar calendar.) Every year Ramadan moves up 11 days!
Muslims spend more time praying and giving to the poor during this time. Each evening at sunset, families break their fast together by eating a date, then consuming a large meal with special food. Many Muslims also rise early before sunrise to eat a meal. Ramadan concludes with the biggest celebration of the Muslim year, Eid.
RAMADAN VIDEO
As a family, watch this short video (about 3 minutes!) called, "Kids Explain Ramadan" to gain insight about Ramadan from a Muslim child's perspective. (Halal means food prepared according to Islamic law.)
As a family, watch this short video (about 3 minutes!) called, "Kids Explain Ramadan" to gain insight about Ramadan from a Muslim child's perspective. (Halal means food prepared according to Islamic law.)
PRAYER PROMPTS
2) Pray for Muslims to have dreams of Jesus as they seek out God more during this month.
ACTIVITIES
1) Swing by the Weave website to learn more about Ramadan, read a kid-focused story, and watch a children's video about the Malay.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
1) Pray for Muslim families to come to know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
2) Pray for Muslims to have dreams of Jesus as they seek out God more during this month.
3) Ask God to place Christians in the lives of Muslims who can walk alongside them and share the gospel.
4) Pray Muslim families would understand that the type of fasting God desires is a life dedicated to helping the poor, the oppressed, and the needy (Isaiah 58:3–11).
5) The month of Ramadan can be exhausting for some women with fasting, disrupted sleep rhythms, preparing nicer food than usual, and still feeding non-fasting kids during the day. Pray women would find rest in Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30).
1) Swing by the Weave website to learn more about Ramadan, read a kid-focused story, and watch a children's video about the Malay.
2) If you have Muslim friends, ask them to share about why Ramadan is important and how they celebrate it. This is a chance to listen to what matters to them and why. When you return home, pray for your friends. When Ramadan is over, be sure to tell them Happy Eid! (Eid is the big celebration at the end of the month!)
3) Use dates to spark family prayer. Buy some dates from the store. (They are super tasty—nature's dessert!) Muslims typically eat a date before breaking their fast each evening. Each night before your family eats dinner this month, have each family member eat a date, then pray for Muslims together.
4) Create a Moon Phase Puzzle using just a few supplies! Since Ramadan is based on a lunar calendar, this is a great time brush up on the phases of the moon. Then pray for Muslims throughout the changing moon phases!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
1) Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story: Lailah is old enough to participate in the month of fasting for the first time, but living in America makes it different. When classmates are confused about why she doesn't join them during lunch, a school librarian provides a quiet space for Lailah in the library. (Ages 6 to 8)
2) Muslim World Prayer Guide: 30 Days of Prayer: Each day readers will be introduced to a Muslim people group or part of the world where Muslims live and ways to intercede.
3) 5 Things Christians Should Know About Ramadan: Practical article with a link to a free digital prayer guide.
4) Hidden Treasures of the Muslim World: A 30-Day Prayer Guide: Sign up to receive daily emails with specific ways to pray for Muslims. These short emails will help unpack key aspects of culture and traditions to deepen your understanding and better guide your intercession.
Be sure to watch for more World Holidays Prayer Guides throughout the coming year!