Fasting in Islam

As Muslims around the world wrap up a month of fasting called Ramadan, you may be wondering: how is fasting in Islam different from fasting in Christianity? Let’s look at the two types of fasting, their foundation in the respective religions, and the purpose for each one.

For Muslims, fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam found in the Hadith, a collection of religious texts about the life of the prophet Muhammad. As one of the five pillars, it is an essential deed in the life of a Muslim as a way to be forgiven by Allah. This fasting, or sawm, takes place for 30 days during Ramadan, and requires that no food or water be consumed between sunrise and sunset. There are a few exceptions: young children, elderly, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and women on their period are exempt, though the latter categories are encouraged to make up their fast at a later date. 

To prepare for the day, women will wake up an hour or two before sunrise and prepare a large breakfast meal for their families to be eaten before the sun rises. Once the sun rises, no more food or water can be consumed. After the evening prayer, families and friends will break fast together. Typically, they start by eating a date or other small snack and then celebrate with a large meal and fellowship. At the end of the thirty days, people travel to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri, the holiest day in Islam. 

So why do Muslims fast for thirty days? This season is a practice of self-discipline and devotion to Allah as they abstain from food and water. It is also a way to earn forgiveness of sins from Allah, though there is no certainty that following the five pillars of Islam will be sufficient to enter heaven – this is only known after one dies. How does this compare to fasting in Christianity?

Fasting in Christianity

Fasting is seen in both the Old and New Testaments and typically involves abstaining from food for a certain amount of time as a reminder of one’s dependence on God. In the Old Testament, Israelites fasted as a sign of repentance on the Day of Atonement. Daniel completed a partial fast of only fruits and vegetables for 21 days. Esther called upon her people to fast and pray with her before she asked the Persian king to save the Israelites from annihilation. In each case, the individual or group fasting was doing so to seek God and demonstrate earnestness in their prayers. 

In the New Testament as well, we see several examples of fasting. Even Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness before starting His ministry. He cautioned His followers against fasting so others could see their devotion, but encouraged them to fast privately so only God could see (Matthew 6:16-18). When Jesus taught on this, He said “when you fast,” assuming that His followers would continue to fast.

In the book of Acts, we see the early church fast in several situations, including before Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey (Acts 13). The church was already worshiping and praying together when the Holy Spirit instructed them about Paul and Barnabas, and then they continued to fast and pray before sending them out. In none of these situations is fasting mentioned as a prerequisite for salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 affirms that our salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not through works like fasting. Romans 3:28 says that our justification is through faith, not works. Philippians 3:9 and Galatians 2:16 affirm this as well, in addition to many other verses in the New Testament. 

Is Fasting a Means for Salvation?

So while fasting is a commonality for Muslims and Christians alike, there is one major difference that affects our eternal fate. Fasting for Muslims is a means of salvation, but fasting for Christians is a way to grow closer to God and not a way to salvation. 

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

How to pray:

• Pray that Muslims and other religions would realize that fasting and other works are insufficient to save them
• That Indonesians would find hope and assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ alone
• Pray that Indonesian Christians would have plenty of opportunities to share about this hope and assurance with their communities

The post How is Fasting in Islam different from Fasting in Christianity? first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.

Prayer is the most powerful thing we can do. It’s amazing how we can talk to God wherever we are and intercede for a whole nation. No prayer request is too big for God! Start taking a few minutes out of your day to pray for Indonesia. God is listening and has promised He will answer our prayers if it aligns with His will (1 John 5:14-15). His desire is for everyone to be saved! (1 Timothy 2:3-4)

Pray for Indonesian believers to be strengthened in their faith and rise up to take the gospel to every part of Indonesia. Pray for the people living in unreached areas to have access to the gospel through media ministries and people sharing with them. Ask God to move in a powerful way in Indonesia so that millions of Indonesians place their hope in Him. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get daily prayer requests for Indonesia. 

2. Go on a short term trip to Indonesia

There are many ministries working in Indonesia and most of them host short term teams to come and join the work for anywhere from a week to months at a time. Pray about going on a short term trip this year to Indonesia. Short term teams can help long term teams immensely as they partner with them to share the gospel and find persons of peace in Indonesia. These trips will open your eyes to the lostness in these unreached areas and break your heart for people who are in spiritual darkness. You can greatly impact Indonesia by going and proclaiming the Good News to people who desperately need to hear!

3. Pray and fast for Muslims during Ramadan

Every year Muslims will spend a month fasting from sunrise to sunset. This month is called Ramadan. Ramadan 2023 will be from March 22 – April 21.  Fasting during Ramadan is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. They will seek blessings and rewards from God as they fast each day. Around 220 million Muslims in Indonesia will be celebrating Ramadan this year. This is a crucial time to be praying for them! We can pray as they are seeking God this month that they find the Truth in Him and a relationship through Jesus. Consider fasting one day that month or once a week for Muslims in Indonesia to encounter Christ through dreams and visions and have an opportunity to hear the gospel.

The post 3 Ways You Can Impact Indonesia in 2023 first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.

1. Profession of Faith (Shahada)

Muslims bear witness to the oneness of God by reciting the phrase “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.” This is the foundation of a Muslim’s belief and expresses their commitment and complete acceptance to Islam. Usually written in Arabic, the Shahada is featured in architecture and a range of objects including Islam’s holy book, the Qur’an.

2. Prayer (Salat)

Muslims are obligated to pray 5 times a day facing the direction of Mecca. The times to pray are at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and after dark. They can pray in the neighborhood mosque where the mosque leader (imam) leads the prayers or at home. Most public areas (malls, restaurants, parks) have a musholla where they can pray as well. They recite the memorized prayers in Arabic.

Every Friday at noon, the men gather in the mosque to pray and listen to a short sermon focused on a passage in the Qur’an from the imam. They then are led in a discussion of a particular religious topic.

3. Alms-giving (Zakat)

In accordance with Islamic law and social responsibility, Muslims donate a fixed portion of their income (2.5%) to community members in need. Wealthy Muslims will build mosques, schools, fountains, and hospitals as a religious duty. When they give zakat, they believe they are securing blessings and rewards from Allah.

4. Fasting (Sawm)

One of the 5 pillars of Islam is fasting. Every year they do what is required of them during the month of Ramadan. Muslims will abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from sunrise to sunset each day in order to please God (Allah) and seek forgiveness for past sins.

They usually wake up at 4:30 am to share a meal together (sahur). But the women will wake up earlier than that to cook the meal! They will then break fast at sunset by first eating dates and drinking water (recommended by Muhammed). Then they will eat a meal together. After that they will go to the mosque to pray. The end of Ramadan is observed by 3 days of celebration called Eid-al-Fitr. It is a time for family reunion and giving gifts.

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)

If a Muslim is financially and physically able, they must take a religious pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, in present day Saudi Arabia. This is the peak of their religious life. They walk around the Ka’ba 7 times on the 8th and 12th days of the final month of the Islamic calendar.

The Ka’ba is the black cubic structure at the center of the Haram mosque in Mecca. Muslims believe that this is the house Abraham built for God and they face its direction when they pray. The Hajj attracts 3 million pilgrims from around the world every year. In Indonesia, usually you have to be on a waitlist for 10-20 years before you can make the Hajj!

The post What are the 5 Pillars of Islam? first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.

One day they were walking in the the mall and saw a couch in a small furniture store that they liked. They went back the next day and brought their team leader, Agus, (who is an Indonesian) to help translate for them so they could buy the couch.

As they looked at the couch in the furniture store, Agus struck up a conversation with the lady working there. He started the conversation by asking, “Are you fasting today?” (this was during the fasting month, Ramadan). The lady replied that she was and asked him if he was fasting. He then steered the conversation into a spiritual conversation and answered, “I do fast but not today. I am a follower of Isa Al Masih (Jesus the Messiah). Have you ever heard of Isa Al Masih?”

“What is Easter?”

This opened up an opportunity to share the gospel with her. The whole time, the lady was engaged and interested. She asked “Easter was this weekend… what is that holiday celebrating?” Agus continued to share with her why Jesus came to die for our sins and raise three days later from the grave.

She then had more questions about sacrifice, John the Baptist, Mary and other topics about the Bible. After answering her questions, he shared Romans 10:9-10 with her.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

He then asked her “Do you accept Isa Al Masih as your Savior?” And she said yes! Agus asked her again to make sure her answer was genuine. She said she truly believes that Jesus’ sacrifice covers her sins. He was so amazed at her softened heart to the gospel! He then prayed with her.

Justin, Susan, and Agus are trying to follow up with her to read the Bible and continue discipling her. She works long hours so it is difficult to find a time to meet with her. Justin and Susan are still learning the language so they need an Indonesian to follow up with her. Agus cannot meet with her alone since he is a man. Please pray they can introduce her with a Indonesian sister who can disciple her.

This is fruit from your prayers!

This is one story out of many of how God is moving this Ramadan. Why are we seeing more fruit this month? It’s because there are thousands of people praying for Muslims this Ramadan. We have covered Indonesia in prayer every minute of the last 30 days. There are many faithful intercessors praying for Indonesians to know the love of Christ.

We may not see all that God is doing in the hearts of Indonesians this Ramadan until we get to heaven. But we can trust He is moving and leading many Muslims to Himself all over the world. Thank you for praying with us for this spiritually dark country. Let’s continue to pray for Indonesia even as the fasting month has ended. God hears our prayers and is “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

The post Indonesian Woman Asks About Easter and Ends Up Believing in Jesus! first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.

What is the Night of Power?

Muslims celebrate the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr) during the last 10 days of Ramadan. They believe that on this night God revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel in 610 CE. It is one of the most sacred nights in the Islamic calendar.

But no one know when this night is. They only know it is on an odd day during the last 10 days (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, or 29th night). They believe that the Night of Power is a special night and there is a special hour that only God knows about. 

During that time, if Muslims are reading the Quran or doing something good, they will be blessed a thousand times. The blessing or reward is multiplied a thousand moons which is a thousand months worth. “The Night of Power is better than a thousand months,” (Qur’an, 97:3).

Muslims want to get this great blessing so on the odd nights they try to read the Qur’an, pray and do good deeds. Muhammad said, “Whoever prays on Laylatul Qadr out of faith and sincerity, shall have all their past sins forgiven,” (Hadith, Bukhari and Muslim). But Muslims won’t know if they received this blessing or if God forgave their sins until they die.

What is Mudik?

During the last week of Ramadan, Indonesians will “mudik”- return to their villages and spend time with their family. They have to return home for a minimum of 3 days. Some are able to get the whole week off, but most can only take off those 3 days. This holiday time is like Christmas to Muslims. Those who live in the cities usually only see their families once a year during this holiday.

Right before they ‘mudik’, Muslims will pack the malls to buy new clothes and shoes. They want to be seen as holy and new at the end of Ramadan so they all wear new clothes. Indonesians will also go to the bank to withdraw money to give to family members. They do this to show that God has blessed them this year.

This is the first year since the pandemic in 2020 that Indonesians are allowed to travel to their hometowns at the end of Ramadan. The pandemic was hard on Muslims living away from their family. They couldn’t celebrate Ramadan with their loved ones.  President Jokowi restricted travel because too many people would be leaving all at once, increasing the spread of COVID19. Now in 2022, Indonesia is allowing people to ‘mudik’ again and gather for the Tarawih (Ramadan evening prayers).

What is Idul Fitri?

Idul Fitri is the holiday on the last two days of Ramadan. Indonesians spend these days visiting houses of neighbors, family members and friends. On the first day, they will visit relatives that are closest to them. Then on the second day they will visit neighbors and other family that live far away. If you visit someone after these few days, then they are considered less important.

When you enter someone’s home during Idul FItri, they always provide lots of snacks and drinks. Everyone shakes hands and greets each other with the saying “Mohon maaf lahir dan batin.” This means, “I ask for your forgiveness physically and emotionally.” They then spend time chatting and catching up while eating snacks.

On these last nights of Ramadan, kids in the villages will walk around with torches and drums all night long (takbiran). This is another way they celebrate the end of the fasting month and give thanks to God. They chant “Allahku Akbar” (God is great) over and over again. Some Indonesians will be in the mosque as well all night chanting “God is great.”

In the cities, Indonesia has restricted these celebrations in recent years out of respect for non-Muslims. They now can’t use the mosque loud speaker after 12 am. City leaders want to be mindful of others now that major cities are made up of people with a variety of religious beliefs.

This last week of Ramadan is a crucial time to pray for Muslims. On the odd nights they seek the blessing and reward that is multiplied a thousand times. Pray for Indonesian Muslims to know the love and grace of Jesus during this last week. Let us pray fervently for Jesus to reveal himself to millions of Muslims during the Night of Power and Idul Fitri!

The post Night of Power and End of Ramadan Celebrations first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.

Sweet Treats First!

As it gets closer to the time to break fast (usually around 6pm at sunset), Indonesians will begin to prepare their “breaking fast” food. Some will go out to buy the food and bring it home. Many businesses give out free snacks and water on the side of the road (takjil).

Muslims have to break fast with a sweet treat and water. Some will eat a few dates like Muhammad did, but most will have a sweet snack or sweet drink. A popular snack is “Kolak” which is coconut milk mixed with a variety of fruit. They also enjoy sugary ice drinks with fruit (Indonesians love their sweets!) These snacks allow their stomachs to get used to food again after fasting for 12 hours.

In the cities, younger Indonesians will meet up with their friends at a café or restaurant to break fast. Around this time cafes are packed! They have to make a reservation beforehand to ensure they have a place to break fast. The cafes will prepare the tables with dates and water and then they can also order snacks.

In the villages (desa), Indonesians will break fast with their families at home. There are no cafes or restaurants in villages but some will hang out at a “warung” (a side of the road shop that provides food and drinks). Men will go here at night to smoke with friends.

Time to Pray

After breaking fast with something sweet, Indonesians will then head to a mosque to pray. They can also pray in a mushola (area to pray in a public place) or in their house. This is the 4th prayer time of the day (Maghrib). Everyone will hear the mosque loud speakers blaring as the imam or mosque leader says the prayers.

When Muslims pray, they first have to wash their face, hands and feet. They do this to cleanse themselves from dirt and impurities. Mosques and musholas will provide an area where they can take off their shoes and wash themselves. They can then enter the mosque, roll out a prayer mat, and start praying on their knees. Muslims have a set prayer that they have to recite at each prayer time of the day. Women and men are separated and women have to cover their heads to pray. Every time they pray, they have to face Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam.

Finally the Feast!

When Muslims finish praying, they can then get ready to eat their big meal of the day. Their stomachs are all grumbling at this point and they are excited to eat with friends and family. Most people will eat with their families in their homes for the evening meal. Others will stay at the café or go to a restaurant with friends and family. They will also plan dinners with neighbors and make it a big event to break fast together.

However they break fast, they want to enjoy it with people they love and thank God together for all that He has provided for them. They prepare an extravagant spread of food each day. Usually they cook meat, rice, vegetables, tofu, fried snacks, and desserts. It is a wonderful time to gather and to enjoy good food after fasting all day!

Ramadan is the biggest holiday for Muslims. One of the pillars of Islam is to fast during Ramadan. They fast to please God and ask forgiveness for their sins. They celebrate as they break fast by eating a sweet snack, praying and enjoying a meal with family. This month is a crucial time to pray for Muslims to find a relationship with God. Join us in praying for Indonesian Muslims this Ramadan!

The post 3 Interesting Ways Muslims Break Fast first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.

Nur slowly wakes up to the sound of the alarm. It is pitch black outside. The house is quiet as her family is still asleep. She rolls out of bed and groggily walks outside to the kitchen. She begins making rice, cooking chicken and cutting vegetables. Nur reminds herself that the fasting month is only 30 days. This is day 10. Only 20 more days of waking up this early to cook for her family.

3:00 am:

The loud speaker at the village mosque begins blaring. This is the village wake up call. She hears her 3 kids and husband begin to stir as they wake up. The chicken is almost done cooking.

3:30 am:

Nur serves her family breakfast (sahur) and gives an extra portion to everyone so they can have enough energy throughout the day as they fast. They eat slowly and listen to her youngest daughter, who is 10, chatter on and on about her plans for the day. No one else feels up to talking this early in the morning.

4:00 am:

After they finish breakfast, they begin to change into their prayer clothes. Her husband and 2 sons put on their peci (black hats) and sarung (covering that looks like a long skirt) and walk to the mosque. Nur and her daughter put on their hijab (head coverings), roll out their prayer mats and begin the Subuh prayer. This is the first prayer of the day.

5:00 am:

Nur starts doing the dishes from breakfast as her husband and oldest son leave to work in the fields. They grow vegetables and spend most of the day harvesting potatoes and cabbage. They sell the produce to the village market. The other kids go back to bed to get some more sleep before school.

6:00 am:

Nur wakes up her kids and gets them ready to school. Then the three of them squeeze on the motorbike and she drives them along the dusty village road to school. She stops by the market on her way back home to pick up some more rice, meat and tofu for dinner.

12:00 pm:

The mosque blares again to remind them it is now time for the 2nd pray time (Dzuhur). The men pray at the mosque, while the women pray at home. Nur continues her chores; sweeping, washing and hanging clothes and watering the plants.

3:00 pm:

Nur picks up her kids from school and everyone prays again for the 3rd prayer time (Asar). Afterward the kids play soccer in the street with their friends. Nur walks next door to her cousin Indah’s house. They chat outside with the other women in the neighborhood. This is her favorite part of the day. The afternoon activities (ngaburburit) distract them from their hunger and thirst. “Only a few more hours,” Nur reminds herself.

4:30 pm:

Nur and the other women go home to begin preparing dinner. She cooks duck, rice and tofu. The food looks so tempting but she resists eating it.

6:00 pm:

Nur’s husband and son return from work and take a shower. She had already showered herself and bathed her two youngest kids. When everyone is ready, they break fast together by eating a sweet snack and drinking water. After that, they they go and pray for the 4th time (Maghrib).

6:30 pm:

Finally they get to eat the big meal together and talk about their day. They have been looking forward to this moment all day. They grab the rice and meat with their hands and eat the pieces together. The fried tofu is Nur’s favorite part of the dish.

7:00 pm:

Again the mosque loud speakers go off and they pray for the 5th time (Isya).

8:00 pm:

Nur’s kids play as she finishes up cleaning. Then the whole family goes to the mosque for Tarawih. It’s an extra prayer time only during Ramadan. Most of the village goes and they pray together. Nur and her daughter pray with the rest of the women, separate from the men.

9:00 pm:

After they get home, Nur spends time with her friends again in front of the house as the kids play in the street. Her oldest is inside watching TV and her husband is at a warung drinking and smoking with friends. He usually gets back right before bed.

11:00 pm:

Everyone is finally quiet in the house and getting ready to sleep. Nur is thankful for another day of Ramadan. She hopes God accepts her fasting, praying and good works and saves her on Judgement Day. She worries about that day every night before bed. Nur finally drifts off to sleep only to awake again in a few hours.

The post A Day in the Life of an Indonesian During Ramadan first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.

They used to enjoy this day, visiting family and eating good food. But this year was different. They were the outcasts of their family now. Instead of family greeting and welcoming them, they distanced and shamed them. This was the price Adam and Eva paid for becoming followers of Jesus.

As Muslim background believers, Adam and Eva experience persecution. They were secret believers for a while. But after telling their families they were no longer Muslims, they wanted nothing to do with them. For many years, their families didn’t speak to them.

But this year, Adam’s mom surprisingly invited them for Idul Fitri. They knew relationships would be strained as they had brought so much shame to their family. It would be easier to never interact with them again and run away from the persecution. But Adam and Eva wanted to share the love of Jesus with their family.

The Good News

After Adam and Eva came to faith, they rejoiced that God had broken the chains of bondage in their life. Islam blinded them for most of their lives making them believe they had to do enough good works to erase their sin. Slowly they realized that would never be enough to get them to heaven.

God brought followers of Jesus in their lives who shared how Jesus came to restore us back to God. He paid the debt we could never pay by His perfect life, death and resurrection. After hearing the Good News, they trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. Their lives were forever changed.

Adam and Eva’s hearts break for their families. They see that they are lost with no hope. God gave them the gift of salvation and they wanted to offer that to their family members as well.

As they walked into the house, they received cold stares and hushed voices. Some people greeted them awkwardly while others ignored them. As the celebrations continued, they felt left out by the way they were treated.

During this holiday, everyone asks forgiveness from one another (sungkem). When someone asks forgiveness from their parents, it is always an emotional experience. Everyone cries when they bow before their parents to honor them. However, Adam’s mom didn’t even allow him to do that this year because of the great shame he brought to his family.

Jesus Said This Would Happen

Adam and Eva grieve the fact that they bring shame to their families. But they would never turn back from following Jesus. They expected this to happen for Jesus said:

 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.'” Matthew 10:34-36

As they left the family get together that night and drove home on the motorbike, Adam prayed. “Shine through us, Jesus, and reveal Yourself to my mom, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins. They are lost and have no eternal hope. Use us Lord, to share with them.” He was comforted and felt the peace of God wash over him as God reminded him of this verse:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

The post Muslim Background Believers Share Experience During Ramadan first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.

More Prayer for Muslims

As shocking as it sounds, God answers prayer! In the past, prayer for Muslims was unheard of. However, 23 years ago a small band of Christians began praying for Muslims during Ramadan (30 Days of Prayer).  As a result, 87% of Muslim movements in the world have occurred in the past 23 years. God answers prayer!

Now there are hundreds of thousands of faithful Christian intercessors for Muslims. This Ramadan there are almost 100 prayer movements for Muslims happening all over the world. Christians are seeing what God is doing among Muslims and are praying more for the them. Islam has blinded Muslims their whole lives, but now God is leading His lost sheep to Himself. He is using the prayers and evangelism of faithful saints.

Increased Evangelism

As more Christians have been praying for Muslims, they are also sharing the gospel with them after years of fighting with or ignoring them. Muslims are now hearing the gospel from a true believer who loves them. (Not someone who claims to follow Christ and forces them to convert to Christianity.) God is opening their hearts and they begin to live for Christ and trust in Him for the forgiveness of sins.

There are now thousands of organizations sending missionaries to every country. Frontiers and Pioneers are two of the largest ones who focus on reaching Muslims. Local believers are being trained to become church planters among their people. The glory of Jesus is spreading at an incredible rate. People are learning how to share with Muslims and flights are more accessible.

Exponential Increase in Bible Translations

There are now many tools available to help people translate the Bible. Wycliffe Bible Translators completed their first translation in 1951 and their 500th in 2000. Now they have a new goal to see a Bible translation project started in every language needing one by 2025! There are still 1,800 languages that do not have their own Bible.

YouVersion and illumiNations are translating the New Testament in every language by 2033. We have seen the fruit of these faithful brothers and sisters who have spent their lives translating the Bible. More and more people groups have the Bible in their heart language now. That has helped to spread the Word to many Muslims who didn’t have the opportunity to read the Bible before. Let’s pray with these ministries that every language would have a Bible in the next decade!

Technology

Another huge influence for Muslims turning to Jesus is technology. More and more ministries are now using technology and media to spread the gospel. There are radio and television programs sharing the gospel or Jesus Film. In recent years ministries are using social media in unique ways.

Media is a strategic way to spread the Word to many people at once. Ministries such as Media to Movements are using social media to spread the gospel to the least reached areas of the world. They use ads on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. to share about Christ to hundreds of thousands in a single week. Most people in the world now have smart phones and are able to access information they didn’t have before. Even if someone wanted to know more about Jesus, they could search online and find a plethora of answers.

Intertwining of Muslim and Christian Populations

It is more common now to have populations that consist of Muslims and Christians. In large cities, there are places of worship, neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces that are not 100% Muslim anymore. Many Muslims can say they have friends, neighbors, family or co-workers that are followers of Jesus. They are exposed to Christianity and are able to hear the gospel from someone close to them.

But, there are still 7,414 unreached people groups (~3 billion people) who have very few to no Christians among them. These are people groups that are hard to get to or more resistant to the gospel. Many remote villages, islands, and mountain areas are among the unreached in Indonesia.

The Qur’an

For centuries the Qur’an was only available in Arabic. The Qur’an was revealed in Arabic and says meaning would be lost and the verses wouldn’t be explained in detail if translated to another language. And if We had made it a non-Arabic Qur’an, they would have said, “Why are its verses not explained in detail [in our language]? Is it a foreign [recitation] and an Arab [messenger]?”  (Quran 41:44) Many Muslims were taught how to read and recite the Qur’an in Arabic, but they could not understand it. They only learned about it from the Iman (Mosque leader).

In 1982, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia began the project to translate the Qur’an to all the languages of the world. Now the Qur’an is in many Muslim languages and for the first time Muslims are able to understand it. After reading the Qur’an themselves, they realized they were lost and demystified their holy book. Muslims began to search for the truth and ended up finding Jesus.

Trauma from Islamic Violence

David Garrison (author of A Wind in the House of Islam) interviewed MBBs all over the world. He found that the violence that plagued Islam’s religious history traumatized Muslims. Many left Islam after 9/11 (2001), the Iranian Revolution (1979), the Algerian Civil War (1990s), or the Bangladeshi War of Liberation (1971). They saw the true face of Islam by the extremists who were doing what the Qur’an said to do.

Dreams

For some reason, God chooses to reveal himself to thousands of Muslims through dreams. There are countless of testimonies of people who dreamed of a man in white who they knew for sure was Jesus. Some dream that a person would come to them and give them the Holy Book. The next day a Christian gives them the Bible.

A Persian migrant who arrived at a refugee center at 6 a.m., told his story to a Persian pastor. During the night he saw someone dressed in white raise his hand and say, “Stand up and follow me.” The Persian man said, “Who are you?” The man in white replied, “I am the Alpha and the Omega. I’m the way to heaven. No one can go to the Father, except through me.”

He began to ask the Persian pastor: “Who is he? What am I going to do? Why did he ask me to follow him? How must I go? Tell me.”

In response, the pastor held out his Bible and asked, “Have you seen this before?”

“No,” he replied.

“Do you know what it is?”

“No.”

The pastor then opened to the Book of Revelation: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” The man started crying and said, “How can I accept him? How can I follow him?” So the pastor led him in prayer and peace came over him. The pastor then gave the man a Bible and told him to hide it, since the Muslims in the camps could cause him trouble.

Communicating the Gospel in Non-Literate Means

At the end of 20th century, the West started disengaging their colonial empires. Missionaries then began turning their eyes to the Muslim world. They realized many Muslims were illiterate in their own language. This began the movement to communicate the gospel in non-literate means through the Jesus Film, storytelling, and audio Bibles. Laura and her team are one example of how missionaries communicate the gospel in non-literate means. They share through storytelling among Arab Nomads.

How can we respond?

As you can see there are many factors for why there are millions of Muslims turning to Jesus. God is doing an amazing work among Muslims and He is using us to be apart of it!

If you want to get involved in this movement, you can start today by praying for Muslims. Choose a Muslim country to pray for. Adopt an unreached people group. Pray fervently for Muslims to know Christ. Join the movement to pray for Muslims during Ramadan. Choose a 15 minute time slot to pray each day of Ramadan. Many Muslims are more spiritually open during this time so it is a crucial time to be praying for them!

Be intentional in the city you live in to reach out to refugees, Muslim communities and international students. Show the love of Christ to Muslims around you by inviting them to your home and developing a friendship with them.

If you would like to go on a short-term trip or become a missionary in a Muslim country, there are many organizations who have teams all over the world. There is still so much work to do. Only 10% of missionaries are actually working among an unreached people group. 3 billion people still have never heard about the love and grace of Jesus. Pray today and ask God how you can take part in the Great Commission – to make disciples of all nations, and see more Muslims turning to Jesus!

The post Why are Millions of Muslims Turning to Jesus? first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.

Basically every Muslim (who practices Islam) sticks to the main rules of fasting from sunrise to sunset the whole month of Ramadan. Each country differs in ways they enforce the fasting, what non Muslims are allowed to do during Ramadan, and how they break fast. Let’s look the ways Indonesians celebrate Ramadan differently from Muslims in the Middle East.

1. Religious Police in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is one of the most strict Islamic countries in the world. They are under the Sharia law and interpret it harshly. Sharia means “the way” and is a broad set of rules that Muslims must follow to live an ethical life. The Qur’an and the Sunnah (tradition) of Muhammad are the nation’s Constitution. If anyone’s behaviors do not abide by Islamic principles, they are criminalized in law.

During Ramadan in Saudi, the religious police patrol the streets to enforce fasting. Anyone who is not fasting is breaking the law. Non Muslims in Saudi (mainly expatriates) are prohibited from worshipping in public and from eating and drinking in public during Ramadan. They can worship and eat and drink in private. 

Indonesia is not under Sharia law (only the autonomous special district of Aceh is) and there are 6 recognized religions in Indonesia. The way Indonesians celebrate Ramadan looks a bit different. There are no religious police roaming the streets and non Muslims can eat and drink in public. Actually Muslims can also eat and drink in public if they choose not to fast, but most restaurants cover the windows so Muslims won’t be “seen” breaking the fasting rules.

2. Rules for Non Muslims in Oman

Oman is another country that is more strict than Indonesia. In Oman, non Muslims must refrain from eating, drinking and smoking in public during Ramadan just like in Saudi Arabia. Other than large hotels with screened areas, most restaurants, cafes and shops are closed during the day.

Many businesses will close for the whole month of Ramadan in Oman. If Omanis are not working, they will usually sleep during the day and wake up when it is time to break fast. The women cook the meals in the afternoon, then families will break fast together in their homes. After that, the streets come alive as many people go out shopping, to the parks and cafes at night.

Most Indonesians do not have time off from work except during the last week of Ramadan. During that week (or sometimes they just have 3 days off) they will return to their villages and celebrate the end of Ramadan (Idul Fitri) with their families. They will visit family member’s houses, eat together, and give money to show how God has blessed them that year.

Even though the streets are quieter during Ramadan, many restaurants, cafes and shops are still open and Indonesians are still going on with their normal routine. Non Muslims and Muslims are allowed to eat, drink, and smoke in public.

3. Indonesians aren’t very strict

As stated early, many Muslims in Indonesia don’t adhere to the fasting rules during Ramadan. Why is that? Mainly because fasting is not enforced as a law in Indonesia. There are also many who don’t celebrate Ramadan that practice one of the other religions officially recognized by the government. This gives people the freedom to do what they please during Ramadan.

There are a wide range of Muslims in Indonesia. Some are very strict and follow the Qur’an like many in the Middle East. Some are religious but also practice syncretism (a mix of beliefs) from their ancestors who were not Muslim (belief in witch doctors and spirits). There are also many Muslims who are just culturally Muslim. They don’t pray 5 times a day, they don’t go to the Mosque and they don’t fast during Ramadan.  Muslims are given freedom in Indonesia to practice Islam they way they choose. 

4. Javanese Visit Graves

On the island of Java, many people visit the graves of their loved ones to pay their respect during the month of Ramadan. As Ramadan approaches, Javanese honor the dead by bringing food offerings to their families’ burial site. This Javanese tradition is called Nyadran. They begin by cleaning the graves and scattering flowers. Then they will pray and have a communal meal with family. This tradition is unique to the island of Java. No other Indonesians or Muslims in other countries hold this tradition during Ramadan.

The Javanese believe the souls that are dead are in another atmosphere where they wait till the end of time (similar to purgatory). They receive torture for all their sins while they are waiting. They believe during the month of Ramadan the souls come back to their homes and are not tortured during that time because the door to hell is closed and Satan is chained. At the end of the month, the Javanese go back to the graves, with sadness in their hearts, because they know their family will be tortured again.

5. Breaking Fast with Dates?

Most Muslims in the world, and especially in the Middle East, break fast by eating dates and drinking water. This is because the Sunnah records that Muhammad broke fast that way. However, Muslims have freedom to break fast with food other than dates.

In Indonesia, Muslims usually break fast with sweet drinks and snacks. A popular snack is “Kolak” which is coconut milk mixed with a variety of fruit. They also enjoy sugary ice drinks with fruit. These snacks allow their stomachs to get used to food again after fasting for 12 hours. Usually Indonesians will get together with friends and family to break fast as a social event. The younger Indonesians like to meet up with friends at cafes to break fast.

These are just 5 ways Indonesians celebrate Ramadan differently than Arabs. There are many more unique traditions they practice that are not mentioned in this article. One fun tradition is making Ketupat (leaves woven in the shape of a cube and filled with rice) during the end of Ramadan when they celebrate together for finishing the fasting month.

The post 5 Intriguing Ways Indonesians Celebrate Ramadan Differently than Arabs first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.