Compassionate Connection

13 Ways Normal Christians Can Show Care for Muslims during Ramadan

By Shane Bennett

Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, has begun.

From May sixth until the moon gets full and goes away again, practicing Muslims avoid food, drink, smoking, and sex during daylight hours. Discipline, celebration, devotion, and spirituality characterize this month for nearly 25% of the world’s population.

It’s also a great time for people like us to reach out in care to connect with our Muslim neighbors, friends, co-workers, and family. Here are thirteen ways to do that. You can likely think of more.

Were you that kid who always got straight A’s? You’ll probably do them all and feel guilty for not thinking of more. Otherwise, just join me in picking one or two. Aim to be a blessing and give out some of the wonderful gifts Jesus has given you.

Practical Prayer

We are blessed to live in a day when resources and opportunities to pray for Muslims during Ramadan are proliferating. I suspect God is pleased with even a simple, “Bless those Muslims,” but none of us, no matter how isolated, have to settle for that. Check out these:

1. Join 30 Days of Prayer.

The 30-days high-quality, insightful booklet has been guiding prayer for Muslims since 1993. As beautiful as the print versions are, it’s probably a bit late to order them now. Instead, grab copies of the pdf for adults and kids.

2. Ask a Muslim friend how you might pray for them.

While writing this column, I’m messaging with a North African bud in England. I started with this: “Happy Ramadan! I would love to pray for you during this month. Can you share with me what you’d like me to ask God for?” His response opened an amazing conversation that’s still going on and involved me sharing a ham-fisted but good-hearted treatise on what Jesus is really up to.

3. Dial in on a particular group.

Go to joshuaproject.net and pick a group from this list to pray for until Ramadan ends. I picked the Ansari. If you want, you can join me in praying for the good kingdom of God to come to this people group in wonderful ways this month. I’m pretty high tech, so I wrote “Ansari” on a Post-it Note and stuck it on my bathroom mirror.

4. Follow a one-page Ramadan prayer outline.

Check out this free, simple, super-short Ramadan prayer guide that can be freely copied to share with your home group or church.

5. Sign up for the Crescent Project Ramadan Prayer focus.

Join thousands of others who will pray each Friday during Ramadan. Sign up here and Crescent Project will email you a reminder and specific prayer points each Thursday.

6. Watch the Prayercast videos.

The rock stars at Prayercast are releasing a high-quality prayer-facilitating video each day during Ramadan. Sign up for daily reminders. I’m planning to show this one at my church on Sunday. It’s very moving.

7. Focus on the Night of Power.

Consider gathering a few friends at church or in a home on the Night of Power toward the end of Ramadan. As Muslims around the world seek forgiveness and their destiny for the coming year, ask God that the abundant life of Jesus would be poured out on them.

Moving Past Prayer

Keep praying! If you’d also like to put feet to your prayers this Ramadan, here are some ideas that will get you in increasing connection with Muslims.

8. Try a Friday fast.

Some Christians choose to show solidarity with Muslims by following most or all the decrees of Ramadan. Trusting they’re obeying God in this, more power to them. May their example move the hearts of many. I’m planning on chucking one meal a week. (I’m pretty spiritual that way!) Would you join me in skipping lunch on the Fridays of Ramadan? If you’re in, shoot me an email and we can pray for each other (as well as for Muslims). Thank you.

9. Post a greeting on Facebook.

Direct this greeting to your Muslim friends. If you don’t have any, simply say, “As a Christian, I’d like to wish Muslims everywhere a blessed Ramadan. May God fill you with joy, keep you safe, and answer your prayers for forgiveness and new life.” Here and here are two examples from a couple of friends I respect a great deal.

10. Ask a question.

We honor someone when we ask about her experience and opinions. Aim for easy-answer, low-offense questions like, “Can you tell me what your family does for Ramadan?” or go deeper with, “I’d love to hear what Ramadan means to you.”

11. Go to an iftar.

The fast-breaking meal each evening during Ramadan is called iftar and is a wonderful time to connect and celebrate with local Muslims. Google “Islamic center” and your town, then call or email to see if a visit is possible. Since you’re the one reading, you’re the designated group leader! Thanks for stepping up and gathering a small cadre to go with you.

12. Hand out welcome cards.

Ramadan is a great time to pass out cards to Muslim newcomers, letting them know you’re glad they’re here. Check out welcome cards here and maybe grab some for yourself and your church.

13. Plan to give a gift at Eid.

Eid al Fitr is the celebration at the end of Ramadan. Families get together for food and fun. In some situations, gifts are a part of the festivities. A simple gift of chocolates, flowers, or a plant would likely be received as a kind and thoughtful blessing. Eid will happen on or around June 3rd of this year. If you want to sound like the cool kids, learn to say, “Eid Mubarak!” That basically means “Happy Eid.”

Conclusion

Okay, so you have a life and probably would have plenty to keep you busy even if it weren’t Ramadan. Fair enough. God is certainly not asking any of us to do all these things. In fact, he may not ask you to do any of them. We are people of grace, not works, after all.

If, however, you do take up any of these suggestions, particularly the more public ones, you will join a growing group of Christians who want to act like Jesus toward Muslims. Together we will reaffirm that Christians do not hate Muslims, but on the contrary, though falteringly and sometimes hesitantly, we love them. And we want for them, as for ourselves, every bit of the forgiveness, hope, and abundant life Jesus came to bring.

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