Our friends in Chad, as well as all Muslims around the world, are now in their most religious month of the Islamic calendar – Ramadan. This is a time for followers of Jesus – you and me – to pray fervently for God to work in the hearts and lives of many who are following a false religion and have a false sense of hope that their sins may be forgiven. This year, Ramadan will last from May 27 – June 25.

What is Ramadan?

Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islamic faith. Ramadan is the holy month where all Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and feast in the evening and early morning hours. In addition to the other pillars, fasting is practiced in hopes that Allah will have pity on the Muslim and forgive him of his sins. Of course, as those who follow Jesus and the teaching of Scripture, we know that this is false hope. The only hope any of us has for forgiveness of sins is by faith alone in Jesus – apart from any works.

What does Ramadan look like in Chad?

I recently messaged a friend online to ask her if she was fasting. Her response to me was, “Yes, WE are fasting.” It is very much a communal practice. We have observed men and women who will not even swallow their own saliva (at least in public) in an effort to prove to others around them that they are following the rules perfectly. We hear stories of people who secretly “cheat,” but we haven’t seen this firsthand. We know pregnant women and nursing mothers who choose to fast during Ramadan, because otherwise they must make up the 30 days of fasting during the rest of the year on their own. Despite the difficulties this creates for the unborn or young child, it is easier for the mother to fast while everyone around them is doing it.

How can we pray during Ramadan?

  • Pray for the very few believers in our town who will not be fasting, but will experience much scrutiny, shame, and even persecution (name-calling, etc.) Ask God to strengthen their faith and unity among one another.
  • Pray for those who are genuinely seeking for Truth to feel the emptiness of this fast. Pray that they would long for a Savior that can take away their sins once and for all.
  • Pray for the health of those who are fasting – temperatures are soaring above 100 degrees F these days and many will suffer from not drinking or eating during the day.