15 June 26
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 ESV
the above picture is from beno.com
Viewpoint:
*The Islamic New Year, also known as Hijri New Year, marks the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD. The Islamic year is 11-12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, so the date varies annually, the date also varies slightly between Arabic countries depending on the moon sighting. Muharram is a sacred month of remembrance, observed with rituals and prayers by Muslims worldwide. *According to reports by the Islamic Info Center, the Islamic New Year 2026 will begin on either June 16 or June 17, according to the results of official moon sightings. The occasion marks the first day of the Hijri year 1448 AH. *Qatar is the only Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries that does not celebrate Islamic new year as an official holiday.
How people choose to celebrate varies from place to place. Some bigger cities do different things; *the Islamic New Year celebrations in Dubai differ from the December 31st celebrations which feature energetic performance events. Families use this holiday season to spend time together and catch up, hotels and restaurants provide special packages including staycation deals, afternoon tea service, family dining options and wellness treatment packages.
*For Shias: mourn the passing of Hussein, Prophet Muhammad’s grandson
*For Sunnis: contemplate peace and new beginnings
*For everybody: remember that all people are the same
The Islamic New Year isn’t like the American New Year where there are parties and count downs until the new year, *the Islamic New year is very quiet and somber, reflecting and contemplating their mortality.
*https://nationaltoday.com/
*beno.com
*www.middleeastbriefing.com
Prayer Points:
Use these resources to help pray specifically each week.
22 June 26 Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. – 1 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV Viewpoint: The world Cup (June 11 – July 19) is taking place […]
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15 June 26 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 ESV the above picture is from beno.com Viewpoint: *The Islamic New Year, also known as Hijri New Year, marks the first […]
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9 June 2026 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? – Mark 8:36 ESV Viewpoint: Amir was so excited as he had been saving since he was a youth to go on Haji. Now an adult who has lived a very full life according to the […]
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26 May 2026 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son – Hebrews 11:17 ESV Viewpoint: Eid Al Adha, the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice, begins around May 26th. It commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son […]
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22 May 2026 You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am […]
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11 May 26 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 ESV Viewpoint: Fatima was raised in a traditional, conservative family, yet she enjoys modern music, Western films, Instagram, and YouTube with her […]
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4 May 2026 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8 ESV Viewpoint: Umrah is the “lesser pilgrimage,” but it attracts more Muslim pilgrims to Mecca each year than the Hajj. While the Hajj is a religious requirement and […]
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1 May 2025 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV Viewpoint: Iman, a believer in the Arabian Peninsula, longs to worship openly and share her faith. Yet she fears persecution—family ostracism, arrest, even death. She dreams of moving abroad where she could […]
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29 April 2025 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 ESV Viewpoint: Samira heard the gospel from a friend and, after months of contemplation, decided […]
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18 April 26 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name… Philippians 2:9 ESV Viewpoint: In Arabian culture, Muslims believe that Allah has 99 names, which are found in the Qur’an. Reciting and memorizing these names is thought to improve one’s chances of entering paradise. However, […]
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10 April 26 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9 ESV Viewpoint: Maira* enjoys meeting her American friend Alyssa*, who is a follower of Jesus. Maira has always […]
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3 April 26 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” Mark 11:9-10 ESV Viewpoint: Imagine being a believer in a country where few share your faith. […]
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25 March 26 Then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:6 ESV Viewpoint: In the desert there isn’t a lot of water or rain. Several of the countries in the Arabian Peninsula […]
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19 March 26 “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude…crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready…’” –Revelation 19:6-7 ESV Viewpoint: […]
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16 March 26 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” Genesis 37: […]
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9 March 26 Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. – Genesis 6:9 ESV Viewpoint: “Oh yes, we know the prophet Nuh [Noah],” an Arabian would tell you. “He was a messenger sent from Allah and perfect, just like all the other messengers from Allah.” The Quran’s version of […]
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7 March 26 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… Romans 5:1 ESV Viewpoint: “I want you to know that Muslims are not all like the terrorists you see on TV,” Sara told her Christian friend. “Islam is a religion of peace and love.” Sara, […]
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2 – March – 26 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 ESV Viewpoint: Fran was apprehensive when she first saw the Arabian couple moving in next door. Fran knows and loves people from many cultures, but in this case, she wondered […]
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23/Feb/26 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our […]
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18/Feb/26 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 ESV Viewpoint: In many Arabian Peninsula nations, everything is overseen […]
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14/Feb/2026 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! – Psalm 96:2-3 ESV Viewpoint: The beginning of Ramadan starts around February 18th this year. Because Muslims use a lunar calendar for the months. So, Ramadan […]
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4/Feb/26 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV Viewpoint: The number of people using social media across the Arabian Gulf is growing. Since COVID-19 it has grown even more. Beyond entertainment and social connections, social media […]
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27/Jan/26 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33 ESV Viewpoint: Moza has been asking a lot of questions lately. Her Islamic education taught her that Christians are immoral and idolatrous, and that their book has been changed. But lately she has begun to […]
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22/Jan/26 ‘And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the […]
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17/Jan/26 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed through the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” – Matthew 24:14 ESV Viewpoint: You’ve likely heard of the “snowball effect”: a tiny spark that grows until it’s unstoppable-think avalanches, epidemics, viral marketing, and today, political uprisings. Social […]
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5 Jan 26 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. Luke 18:1 ESV Viewpoint: At Arabian Viewpoint, our desire is to see people from the Arabian Peninsula come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Every week, we provide stories and information about the […]
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31 Dec 25 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV Viewpoint: In the Arabian Peninsula, most of the population follows the Islamic calendar, which is based on lunar cycles, and therefore they do not typically celebrate New […]
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25 Dec 25 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 ESV Viewpoint: In many countries, the […]
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23 Dec 25 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14 ESV Viewpoint: Growing up, Eman never heard the Gospel of Jesus. Eman now has a friend who is a follower […]
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11 Dec 2025 ‘ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ‘ Isaiah 9:6 ESV Viewpoint: Merry Christmas, please continue to pray for Arabians in the […]
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2 Dec 2025 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns.’ Revelation 19:6 ESV Viewpoint: This week marks the 54th celebration of National Day […]
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30 Nov 2025 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 ESV Viewpoint: Advent: according to The Bible Project, is a four‑week season in the […]
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24 Nov 25 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV Viewpoint: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people…This is good, and pleases God our Savior, […]
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18 Nov 25 ‘…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. ‘ 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV Viewpoint: Oman: November 18th is Oman’s national day! On […]
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10 Nov 2025 ‘…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”’ – Matthew 28:20 ESV Viewpoint: Years ago, a young Westerner gave his Arabian friend a Bible. It sat around his house, unused, until one day the young Arabian man’s […]
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3 Nov 25 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. – Psalm 3:3 ESV Viewpoint: Amina sits in her room, heart pounding. What will happen when her mother tells her father about the Bible and other material on Amina’s phone? If her parents ask whether […]
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And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door […]
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30 Oct 25 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. – 2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV Viewpoint: Halloween is not widely celebrated on the Arabian Peninsula. Most people there view the holiday as contrary to their beliefs and oppose its observance. In recent years a few […]
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22 Oct 25 As you pray for Oman, enjoy this video and get a glimpse of what Oman looks like.
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21 Oct 25 The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Psalm 11:5 ESV Viewpoint: As new believers emerge in a dysfunctional society, they often face persecution and struggle to trust others beyond their family. Having suffered mental, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, they must navigate […]
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13 October 25 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 ESV Viewpoint: Samira heard the gospel from a friend and, after months of contemplation, decided […]
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10 Oct 25 Hundreds of Omanis study abroad. Many also go outside the country for medical care. Pray that Christians in these countries will reach out to them with hospitality, care, and love in Jesus’ Name. Omani international students have already come to Christ in these countries. And a few Omani university students in Oman […]
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8 Oct 25 The Lord make his face to shine upon you & be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you & give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, & I will bless them. Num 6:23-27. Here’s a song in Arabic & English from […]
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6 Oct 25 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. – Numbers 6:24-26 ESV Viewpoint: الله يابرك لك (God bless you). الله يابرك فيك (May God bless you). These […]
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2 Oct 25 7 Key Areas to Pray Enjoy this quick video about Oman from Britannica as you pray.
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1 Oct 25 ‘…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. ‘ 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV Viewpoint: On the Arabian Peninsula, a diverse landscape unfolds, […]
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21 Sept 25 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns.’ Revelation 19:6 ESV Viewpoint: All Gulf countries have a national or Independence Day. […]
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15 September 2025 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3 ESV Viewpoint: Amina waits in her room, her heart pounding. What will happen when her mother tells her father about the Bible and other materials she discovered on Amina’s phone? If her parents […]
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8 September 2025 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 ESV Viewpoint: Schools have resumed in the Arabian Peninsula, with many public schools emphasizing Islamic studies. While some countries require international schools to have Islamic studies for non-Muslims as […]
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Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns.’ – Revelation 19:6 ESV Viewpoint: On September 23, Saudi Arabia will celebrate its National Day for the 17th […]
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