Let’s Learn
Though exceptions for medical needs are allowed in Islam, many Muslims who struggle with health issues still participate in fasting. They believe that their extra effort will earn them even more favor with Allah. Even many nursing and pregnant mothers, who might not be required to fast during Ramadan, push themselves to do so anyway.
Western Baloch of Turkmenistan
The Baloch minority in Turkmenistan foster a profound sense of solidarity. Family is central to their culture, and they are forbidden to marry outside the Baloch community. It’s hard for Baloch to seek truth outside of Islam because their community would see that as being disloyal.
From the Word
Mark 7:15
There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.
Let’s Pray
Holy God, I pray many Baloch in Turkmenistan will have the opportunity to meet a true follower of Christ. Please open their eyes to the truth about what can defile people and what can make them clean.
Use these resources to help pray specifically each day.
Let’s Learn During Ramadan, people are given exceptions from fasting for things such as travel, medical necessity, and when people are believed to be unclean, like during a woman’s monthly period. However, these days should be “made up” before the next year’s Ramadan fast. Still, Muslims worry about making up the missed days, wondering if<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Across the Muslim world, believers who have left Islam to follow Jesus face heavy external pressures of persecution—rejection from family, social isolation, difficulty finding a job or a spouse, physical abuse, imprisonment, or even death. Many of these believers are afraid to tell others about their faith or meet with other Jesus followers.<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn As the sun sets across the Muslim world, Muslims wait for the call to prayer. When they hear it from a nearby mosque, their cell phones, or television, they know they are finally free to eat! In many parts of the world, restaurants and cafes stay open all night while people enjoy the<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn While fasting, Muslims seek Allah, especially on the Night of Power, which they are taught is a special time when they can ask him for anything in prayer. Some believe that on this night, Satan is bound and they will receive extra rewards for their good deeds. Many Muslims will say extra prayers<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn During the second half of the month of Ramadan, devout Muslims commemorate the night they believe Muhammad, the prominent Islamic prophet, received the initial portion of the Quran. This year the event known as Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Power, will be observed around March 26. No one is certain about which<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn While Ramadan is a time to fast during the day, the nights are filled with celebration. Even in parts of the Muslim world where there is a lot of poverty, Muslims still feel great pressure to entertain their family and guests throughout the month. Tajiks of European Diaspora Tajikistan is one of the<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Though exceptions for medical needs are allowed in Islam, many Muslims who struggle with health issues still participate in fasting. They believe that their extra effort will earn them even more favor with Allah. Even many nursing and pregnant mothers, who might not be required to fast during Ramadan, push themselves to do<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Instead of eating, drinking, or giving into other cravings, they are taught to think about Allah and meditate on their responsibility to please him. Fasting for Ramadan is all about working to please Allah and hoping to earn his favor. Bisa of Cote d’Ivoire The<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Ramadan is a time when many Muslims are very aware of dreams and visions. They believe dreams are a way that Allah reveals himself to people. During this time of heightened spiritual focus, Muslims pray to Allah for a special message or revelation. In past Ramadan seasons, God has answered His people’s prayers<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Christian and Muslim fasting both show that spiritual hunger goes beyond physical needs. Both religions recognize that there’s something more important than simply satisfying our immediate desires. However, Christians and Muslims approach fasting from fundamentally different perspectives. For Christians, fasting isn’t about earning spiritual favor, but about reflecting on Christ’s completed work—something our<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Islam is considered by many to be the fastest-growing religion in the world. Some of the ways Islam is growing include high birth rates, migration, and radicalization. Muslims are in desperate need of Jesus, but many don’t know that God has already provided a way for them to be made right with Him.<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Despite the resistance to Christianity in many parts of Northern Africa and the Middle East, Christians have lived there for centuries. Today, Christians continue to live among their Muslim friends and neighbors as loving witnesses. It is not easy. Believers often deal with persecution, resistance at the mention of Jesus, and cultural differences<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn During Ramadan, Muslims are supposed to concentrate their energy and minds on awareness of Allah and on a life of pious worship. They believe they can cultivate taqwa, awareness of Allah, by doing things like fasting, giving alms (finances), and participating in public readings of the Quran. Wolof of Mauritania The Wolof are<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Participating in Ramadan can make people very tired. They have stayed up much of the night eating and drinking to nourish their bodies, and they are hungry and thirsty during the day. In many countries, work schedules shift during Ramadan, allowing people to sleep later during the day and, in some cases, to<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Every year, Ramadan is a non-negotiable. Any adult Muslim who is able to fast and chooses not to is seen as someone who is not serious about their faith. Since being faithful to fast during Ramadan is one of the five core doctrines that define Islamic life (the five pillars of Islam), devout Muslims<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Because Muslims are more sensitive to spiritual things during Ramadan, they are often more open to spiritual conversations with Christian friends, especially while sharing the evening meal, called iftar. They might even invite Christian friends to feast and celebrate the end of Ramadan, called Eid al-Fitr. In this setting, Muslim hosts often welcome<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Many locations in Central Asia are difficult to access and are spiritually dark. Cultural pressures often make those curious about Jesus afraid to read the Bible or enter a church. Even so, the gospel is advancing. God is building His Church in Central Asia, and the gates of hell will not overcome it<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Even though opportunities for gospel conversation abound during Ramadan and more people are focused on spiritual ideas, sometimes it can be challenging for believers to take those opportunities and share their faith. Many believers in Muslim countries face persecution from their friends, family, and government. Reaching Muslims with the gospel requires believers to<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn In the Muslim world, the entire dynamic changes for Ramadan. Since people don’t eat or drink from sunrise to sunset, they often eat throughout the night. Women, especially, often work extra hours preparing traditional food for their families. Yazeed of Sudan Typically, Yazeed women and children in Sudan stay in their family camps,<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Reading, chanting, or listening to the Quran is especially important to Muslims during Ramadan. Many Muslims strive to read the Quran in Quranic Arabic, a form of Arabic that is different from what people speak at home or on the street. A group of North African immigrant women take a Quranic Arabic class during the<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn The heart-wrenching reality is that every day, Muslims are dying without Jesus. Some have been presented with the truth of the gospel but have rejected it, while others have never had the chance to respond to the good news. Deaf of Gambia Most Deaf of Gambia are Muslim and have no access to<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn A stab of hunger pain—it’s hours until iftar, the meal when the fast is broken. A dry, scratchy throat, raspy for a drink of water. Saliva will have to do unless you are very devout and don’t swallow your spit at all. From sunrise to sundown, Muslims fast from food, drink, smoking, and<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Throughout the year, Deaf people gather at StoryOne camps around the world, including Muslim countries. These week-long camps provide training for the Deaf as they study and translate Bible stories into their own sign languages. After translating a story, they record, edit, and upload their work to the Deaf Pathway Bible app. God<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Jesus promised that He would build His Church—even in the Muslim world (Revelation 7:9-10). And He’s doing so in some difficult Muslim-majority areas of Southeast Asia. House churches there are small, dedicated, and bold in their witness. They are thriving, despite threats from neighbors, Muslim religious leaders, and the government. Mariri of Indonesia<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn During Ramadan, Muslims seek to experience taqwa, a heightened consciousness of Allah. To get closer to Allah and be more aware of his presence, Muslims listen to the Quran at public readings and during the late evening hours when families are together reciting the Quran. Khunsari of Iran The Khunsari follow Islam and<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Ramadan and Zakat (giving alms) are two of the five pillars of Islam (the five core practices and beliefs of Islam). Giving alms is required throughout the year, but Muslims often give more during Ramadan in hopes that Allah will give them more favor. When Muslims give alms to the poor during Ramadan,<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Small children are not usually expected to participate in the Ramadan fast. Usually, people begin fasting when they go through puberty. To prepare children for the discipline of fasting, many parents encourage them to fast a few days each year before the fast becomes obligatory. Hajjam (Bengali-speaking) of India Pray for the Bengali-speaking<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Muslims around the world observe Ramadan in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. When Muslims fast, they believe their self-restraint shows their submission to Allah and their longing for him to accept them. For Christians, fasting is different. It shows our longing for Jesus, who already secured our acceptance when “he<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn The beginning of Ramadan is traditionally spent with family. This is a challenging time for many believers from Muslim backgrounds because they are often isolated from their family and even persecuted by them. These believers face pressure from their families to participate in Ramadan and shame if they don’t. Deaf of Afghanistan There<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read
Let’s Learn Have you ever experienced fasting? Imagine no food or drink during daylight hours—for 30 days. What if your social standing and status with God depended on how well you did with this task? For Muslims around the world, this is their reality for the next month. This year, Ramadan starts on the evening<a class="excerpt-read-more" href="" title="Read"> ... Read more » </a>
Read