Articles

Articles

The night when angels and the Spirit come down ... Really?

In Islam, ‘Laylat Al Qadr’ – the night of power, is traditionally celebrated during the last nights of the month of Ramadan, particularly on the odd nights (ie. the 23rd, 25th and 27th). Muslims worldwide spend the last ten nights of Ramadan in solid devotion, retreating to the mosque to read the Qur'an (i'tikaf) and reciting special supplications (du'a). Many Muslims pray continuously during the night to God for mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. This practice is also sometimes called Ihya’ – (revival, and to spend the night in prayer).

Fasting: The Jesus Way

The traditions of Islam teach that during this month, God gives Muslims a chance to double their rewards to have a much wider chance of getting into paradise. Muslims ask for His pardon for their past sins and conduct other meritorious behavior. Every act of kindness, prayer, giving, fasting, and anything else a Muslim can do to please God is expected. Since there is no assurance of salvation by grace for the 1.9 billion Muslims on earth, they hope to do more work as prescribed in Islamic law to have more chances on the Day of Judgement.

How should I share the Gospel message with my Muslim friends?

Sharing the Gospel with Muslim friends requires love, respect, and understanding. Here are some key approaches to keep in mind:

1. Build a Genuine Relationship

Care for Immigrants, Borders & LGBTQ+ and a Biblical approach

During an inaugural prayer service, a spiritual leader from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington addressed the U.S. president in her sermon. She urged him to reconsider his policies on immigrants and the LGBT community, emphasizing the biblical principle of "love thy neighbor." This story gained global media attention, leading several of my Muslim friends to ask for my thoughts on her interpretation.

Light of the World

Around Christmas, I often receive e-mails with comments to persuade me that I should not celebrate as it is a pagan celebration. Their criticisms remind me of a very dear Muslim friend’s question. He wrote: “As a Muslim, I see Christmas Tree and Christmas Eve celebrations as pagan rites. You used to be a Muslim. How do you now, as a Christian, make room for such a pagan celebration?”