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Important:
See the following web site for more information on the children prayer calendar: http://www.30-days.net
A special youth multimedia “30 Days” site can be found at http://www.30daysfire.net
Why Pray for Muslims?
Getting Started 3
Understanding Islam ...
Preparation for Prayer
Muslims say Islam has its origins with Adam. adored by the Arabs and Mecca was a ma-
But Mohammed is revered by Muslims as the jor centre of idolatry in the region. Muslim rely on traditions called “Hadiths” about the Mohammed proclaimed that the
greatest prophet of the religion. Moham- historians indicate that even as a boy Mo- life, teachings and practices of Mohammed. Qur’an was the final and superior rev-
med is revered among Muslims. His name hammed detested idol worship and lived a These traditions influence the daily life of elation from the One Supreme God. He
actually means “The Praised One”. morally pure life. most Muslims to one degree or another. banned the worship of idols, and taught
According to Muslims at the age of 40, During his life, Mohammed met many that a Muslim’s life must be wholly com-
The Life of Mohammed: Mohammed became very concerned about people who called themselves Christians, mitted to Allah, with ritual washing before
Mohammed was born AD570 in Mecca, the state of his fellow countrymen and spent though it is debatable how many of them the five daily times of prayer facing Mecca.
a city in Saudi Arabia. He was a member of much of his time in meditation. During the were really in the faith. Mohammed also Friday became the appointed day for cor-
the Hashim clan of the powerful Quraysh month of Ramadan, Mohammed often learned many aspects of Jewish religious porate worship.
tribe. His father died before he was born, retreated to a cave on Mount Hira, several customs from the various Jewish clans Before the end of Mohammed’s life
and his mother, Amina, died when he was kilometres from Mecca. It was during one which were living in the region. Eventually Islam had become the religion for much
only six. Mohammed went to live with his of these times in AD 610 that Mohammed he became the political and religious leader of Arabia. Within one hundred years of
grandfather, who was the guardian of the supposedly began to receive revelations and of Medina, a city north of Mecca which had a Mohammed’s death Islam had spread as
Kaaba which is the most sacred building in instruction that he believed were from the significant Jewish population. Mohammed’s far as Spain in the West and to India in the
Mecca. Two years later his grandfather also archangel Gabriel. These “revelations” form role as prophet was not accepted by the Jews East. Later it spread through out Southern
died, so from the age of eight Mohammed the basis of the Qur’an. At the beginning of Medina leading to serious conflict. Jewish and South East Asia. Mohammed died of
was brought up by his uncle, Abu Talib, who Mohammed even doubted that he was a and Christian ideas, concepts and history are natural causes in AD632 in Medina, Saudi
was a merchant working along the great prophet. But eventually he became con- very present in the Qur’an though they are Arabia.
camel trade routes. vinced. In addition to the Qur’an Muslims often distorted.
4 Understanding Islam
The name “Mohammed” Islamic beliefs :
means “The Praised One.”
One God, the Creator of all things
Angels and evil spirits
Prophets (Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Mohammed)
Mohammed was the last and greatest of the prophets.
A page from an ancient Holy books (Injil, Zabur, Qur’an)
version of the Qur’an. The Day of Judgement
The Bible has been corrupted and modified.
Jesus was conceived miraculously in the womb of Mary.
Jesus is only a prophet.
Mohammed’s Family:
Jesus was actually a good Muslim.
Mohammed was employed in his early years by Khadija and Mohammed were married for 25
Khadija, a wealthy widow, to manage her caravan years. Later, after Khadija died, Mohammed prac- Jesus taught an earlier form of Islam.
trade. He became known as “Al-Amin”, the trust- tised polygamy. According to some sources Mo- Jesus did not die on the cross.
worthy one. At the age of 25 he married Khadija. hammed eventually married 15 women but only Jesus went to heaven.
Their marriage produced three children including consummated his marriages with 13 of them (in Jesus will come again, marry, have children and die.
two sons who died in infancy and one daughter addition there were some concubines). Apparently Jesus will be judged like all men at the Last Judgement.
named Fatima who was very highly treasured by Mohammed never had more than nine wives at any Jesus is the Messiah and the Word of God in Islam.
her parents. The three daughters of Khadija’s de- one time. Mohammed said that God permitted him (Yet Muslims do not really understand either concept).
ceased sister also lived in the household. Shortly to have numerous wives but his followers were only
after Mohammed moved to Medina, Mohammed’s allowed to have a maximum of four (depending on
cousin Ali married his daughter Fatima. Ali would their ability to provide for their wives). While these
eventually become the fourth Caliph (successor of numbers often sound shocking to modern Chris- Muslims do not believe :
Mohammed). Ali and his son Hussein have a sig- tians, Muslims are quick to point out that David,
nificant place in Shi’a (Shiite) Islam. The present Solomon and many other famous biblical figures That it is possible to know God as in John 17:3.
rulers of Morocco and Jordan are from the Banu had many wives. (They only think that they can know about Him).
Hashim, or “clan of Hashim” (descendants of the God is a Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
great grandfather of Mohammed).
Jesus is the Son of God.
Understanding Islam 5
The famous Black
Stone is surrounded Arab and Islamic traditions ...
by a silver casing. It is
mounted on the lower
Southeast corner of
the Kaaba.
Al Haram Mosque
One can see pictures of all these things close (The location of the Kaabah)
(Important: the Bible does not teach
up on various web sites. We recommend: any of the following erroneous ideas
http://www.hajinformation.com The Kaaba
about various Biblical characters).
(The official Saudi site)
The City of Mecca
Safa
The Kaaba M uslims say that the original Para-
dise was in the heavens. According
to Arabian traditions, when Adam and
Zamzam spring Eve were cast out of Paradise they fell
Marwa to different parts of the earth; Adam on
the island of Sri Lanka, and Eve in Arabia, buried in Mecca. Eve was supposedly
near what came to be the port of Jeddah. buried at the place which still bears
Adam and Eve were separated from each the name, Jiddah (Jeddah), meaning
other for 200 years. Finally God permitted maternal ancestor in Arabic.
them to come together again at Arafat, Muslims believe that Hagar and
near the actual city of Mecca which Ishmael went to the valley of Becca
was previously called “Becca or Bakkah” in Saudi Arabia after they had to
meaning “narrow valley”. According to leave the household of Abraham.
The Al Haram Mosque Muslims Adam supposedly built the small It was there that Hagar discovered
This mosque is built on three cubic building in Mecca called the Kaaba a spring called “Zamzam” with the
levels. Over 800,000 people as a place of worship. The original Kaaba help of an angel as she wandered
can pray there at one time. was eventually destroyed in the flood of between two small hills in the Becca
Noah. Adam is said to have died and been valley named Safa and Marwa.
6 Muslim beliefs
Jabal Al Nur Mountain The rocky hill “The Mountain of Mercy” where
Mohammed gave his farewell address in 632 AD
Hira Cave Stoning of Satan site The Roots of Islam ....
Testimony from North Africa and France to show her the face, however, her mother did not would be wonderful, unfortunately, Islamic law
see anything. This happened for three consecutive forbids us to do that.” This was extremely frustrat-
Algiers p. 10
IRAN
Tunisia p. 17 IRAQ
Beirut p. 11
Kuwait p. 15
SAUDI
EGYPT
Nile Delta p. 14 ARABIA
The minaret of the Hassan II Mosque on the waterfront of the Atlantic Ocean
in Casablanca, Morroco is over 200 metres high. Riyadh p. 12
Qatar p. 16
Page 9 - Focus on the Middle East and North Africa
Day
01
Sept. 13, 2007
Call to Prayer in Algiers
Islam explained
Nile Delta
of the Nile Delta region, but not included in it, are Cairo, universities in the Delta, but the overall literacy rate is low. Egypt
Alexandria, and Port Said. Despite urbanisation, most Egyptians in the Delta are farm-
As one of most densely populated areas of Egypt and the ers. Egypt is one of the world’s top rice producers, almost all
Middle East, the Delta is home to approximately 32 million of which is grown in the Delta.
people living in several large towns and thousands of villag- The overwhelming majority of the people in the Delta
es. The region includes twenty cities, each with populations are Muslims. However there is a significant minority (about PRAYER REQUESTS
of between 90,000 and 500,000 people. The local popula- 3%) who identify with the Coptic Church, which traces its
tion increases by about 500,000 people each year. Covering origins to Mark the Evangelist, the writer of the Gospel. A
22,000 square kilometres this small area is home to 12% of tiny minority of Christians in the Delta are Evangelicals. Pray for boldness for all believers (both current and
the world’s native Arabic speakers. (The total population of new believers) resulting in the Gospel being shared
For more info see: http://www.peopleteams.org/niledelta
the 22 countries of the Arab world is 323 million but only thousands of times daily.
272 million have Arabic as their native tongue.) The Delta is filled with a spiritual atmosphere of fear,
confusion, fanaticism, and magic. Pray that people
will get to know the real Jesus, despite any errors they
Also pray for ... may have been taught.
Pray for the numerous Egyptians living in the UK. Pray for entire families to come to Christ so that they
Many of them are Christians. Pray for them to be will devote their homes, as well as their hearts, to the
strengthened in their faith and to be effective wit- Lord.
nesses to Muslim Egyptians and others. It is amazing Pray for people to listen to and watch the Christian
to think that people from Egypt believed in the Mes- radio and satellite broadcasts which can be heard in
siah even on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). the Delta.
K uwait is a very small nation compared to the surround- be able to disciple, train and equip those who are dis-
ing countries of Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Kuwait’s oil • 85% Muslim covering Christ. Pray that they will become imitators
(of which Sunni are 70%, Shi’a 30%) of God, as dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1).
wealth has attracted people from many parts of the globe • 15% Christian, Hindu and Parsi
and now half of its 2.5 million people are non-nationals! (The Parsi faith is Zorastrianism) Pray that the Lord will continue to build among believ-
The earliest inhabitants of Kuwait were originally from the ers a mentality which is centred on the Kingdom of
Al Aniza Bedouin tribes who migrated from central Arabia to God rather than on the activities of individual churches
escape drought in the early 1700s. Attacks from the Wahhabi Many Christians in Kuwait believe that the Lord (Mt 6:33a).
tribes in the interior caused them to seek protection from has called them to be a lighthouse to the surrounding Pray for Christlike leadership of the churches (1 Timo-
Great Britain. Kuwait eventually became a British protector- nations. Some pastors say the Lord reminds them to thy 3:1-13).
ate in 1897 and gained its independence again in 1961. be a Bethlehem – where salvation came to the world.
One pastor in Kuwait writes, “We have seen that during Pray that Kuwaiti believers will exhibit godly values
A hundred years ago, Christians came to Kuwait and through their business activities with non-believers.
the last nine years, the Lord started a deep process to
helped the people by providing medical services. Positive (Colossians 4:5).
fulfill the destiny of this country through gathering
Christian contributions to Kuwaiti society continue today. Pray for committed godly Christian women to minister
the pastors from many congregations. The pastors are
In addition, the Kuwaiti government not only allows Chris- to Kuwaiti and non Kuwaiti women (Titus 2:3-5).
not just concerned with their local congregation, but
tianity to flourish, but also provides meeting facilities for
instead are looking for the godly transformation and Pray that God will reveal himself to the younger gen-
Christian worship. In any given week, various congregations
blessing of Kuwait.” erations of Christians and non-Christians. Some have
amounting to 40,000 people use the facilities to hold church
services and other meetings. Christians have freedom to opportunities to meet committed Christians through
worship, as long it is not outside of the church walls. travel and extensive studies abroad (perhaps a bit like
the man in Acts 8:26-40).
Also pray for ... Thank God for the authorisations which have been
granted to build some church buildings.
The Kuwaitis are very concerned about what is hap- In 1951 many Christian bookshops were shut down.
pening across their border in neighbouring Iraq. Pray It would be helpful if opening Christian bookstores
for wisdom and courage for the Kuwaiti authorities would again be permitted.
concerning the situation.
Focus on the Middle East and North Africa 15
Day
06
Sept. 18, 2007
Shifting Sands in Qatar
A hlee, an Indonesia woman living in Taiwan was regularly attending some Chris-
tian worship services. Three years previously, she had gone back to Indonesia to
visit her hometown. A neighbour encouraged her to obtain a special amulet from
A group of Christians was asked to pray for
the sick at a Kyrgyz hospital. After some
initial difficulties the group was allowed
is my room. One year ago I was laying in my
bed and a man walked through the wall and
came and stood by my bed. He said, “My name
a sorcerer for her protection. As a result Ahlee still went to church and read her inside the gate. The administrator said, “I is Jesus. You don’t know me now, but in one year,
Indonesian Bible, but she grew very little in her faith. However, one day she met cannot allow you inside our hospital build- I will send my servant and he will tell you about
a former Buddhist in church. He explained to her how he had also had an amulet, ing, but I cannot pass up the opportunity me.”The lady said, “Today is exactly one year ago
but he eventually he threw it away when he realized that it was hindering his life that some of these people might be healed. and now you have told me about Jesus. But I am
with Christ. Afterwards his life was transformed. Ahlee followed his advice to throw Therefore many patients were brought out a Muslim. If I receive this Jesus, my only family
away her amulet. She put her faith in Christ alone and found real life. of the hospital and placed under large trees. left will turn against me.” Someone in the group
Among them there was an old woman who said to her, “But Jesus will give you eternal life.”
Two Testimonies from Xinxiang Province, China: attracted the group’s attention. She pointed Finally the lady repented, turned to Christ in
A Christian studying in Xinjiang in 2006 was housed with a local young man in a
dormitory. His local roommate had just recently become a believer because he
had met Jesus in a dream, however he did not understand the Bible. So the Christian
to a window on the 2nd floor and said, “That faith and was also healed.
became his mentor and teacher. Every day, they immersed themselves in the Truth. Kazakhs in Mongolia p. 20
Then in 2007 the Christian went back to Xinjiang and he discovered that the man Balkh Province p. 21
had already started a group of believers, however he was afraid that his Muslim Uyghurs p. 22
family would find out about it and would kill him. Please pray for him! Dongxiang people p. 19
Nuristan p. 23
A Christian met a Uyghur brother in Xinjiang. The Uyghur man said when he read
Matthew 6:12 “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,” he
gathered together his debtors and told them: “ Since Jesus Christ forgives my debt,
CHINA
I will forgive all your debts too.” Immediately all his debtors believed Jesus. INDIA
Taiwan p. 24
18 Focus on East and Central Asia
Day
08
Sept. 20, 2007
The Dongxiang of China
Muslims in Guyana p. 29
Muslims in Georgia p. 26
Focus on Africa 39
Day
25
Oct. 7, 2007
Dreams and Visions ing the next 48 hours, that many will really meet the Lord The next day Mohammed told a Christian acquaintance
in visions and dreams. about his dream. Afterwards Mohammed suffered greatly
Chittagong p. 42
Firozabad p. 43
Nasik p. 45
INDIA
Another testimony from India:
closest large city to Agra which is a major tourist attraction. centre. Several hundred Muslims attend Friday prayers at the Pray for God to raise up workers to go to this city and
When the rare tourist does come to Firozabad, traffic literally mosque and it runs a Qur’anic school for large numbers of share the Gospel message (both short term and long
stops in the streets. young boys. It is still not certain if the Muslims in this city term workers). Pray for discernment as they do re-
Firozabad has been called the glass capital of India. Lo- are religiously Muslim or simply culturally Muslim. The Jains search and minister.
cal artisans and factories produce glass bangle bracelets, do not believe in a supreme being but in the natural laws Pray for God to speak to the city’s youth through His
drinking glasses and other glassware, with dozens of shops governing the universe. They stress monistic spirituality, Word and Christian television programs.
in the markets selling nothing but glass bangles. Some have and have an emphasis on non-violence. May people become dissatisfied with Hinduism, Jain-
observed that the people of Firozabad do not breathe air There are no known believers in this city. Some Chris- ism and Islam and long to really meet God.
but glass.Thousands of children work in poor conditions for tians who visited the city recently saw God open doors for Pray for the many children used as cheap labour in the
low wages in the 300 glass factories, polishing and painting the Gospel with four Muslim young men. They gave a Bi- glass factories and for real solutions to the pollution
bangles. The city suffers from poverty and low literacy, and ble to one of them, who is now sharing it with the others. problems.
there is significant pollution linked to the glass industry. Through follow-up phone calls and e-mails it is known that
they continue to read the Bible. The young Muslim men are
discovering more about Jesus. These men are being prayed
for daily. Hopefully Christians visiting the city in the future
Also pray for ...
will continue to find men and women open to the Gospel.
More than three million people were left home-
less by the October 2005 Kashmir earthquake. Dur-
Firozabad Statistics
ing the winter of 2006 about two million survivors still
• 50% Muslim did not have adequate housing. Continue to pray for
• 50% Hindu and Jain (believers in Jainism) the reconstruction efforts.
N ashik (also Nasik) is a medium-sized, fast-growing It was not until the establishment of regional Muslim (mostly city dwellers)
city on the river Godavari not far from Mumbai. The kingdoms in the 14th and 15th centuries and the arrival
temples and steps on the river banks make Nashik one of of Muslim missionaries that the Muslims in Nashik began
the holiest places for Hindus all over the world. Once every to form a distinct community. The two leading Muslim Many Muslims in Nashik live in congested areas with
12 years the city hosts millions of Hindus participating in missionaries in Nashik were Khunmir Hussaini (1520) and poor city infrastructure. At this time there are no known
the pilgrimage festival of Kumbh Mela (the Urn Festival). Syed Hussaini (1568). It is believed that both came with ministries reaching out to Nashik’s Muslims with the Gos-
In Hindu mythology, Nashik got its name when the sister zealous preaching and the power to heal the sick, and so pel. However this does not mean God is not at work among
of the demon Ravana proposed to marry the god Rama. many Hindus readily converted to Islam. Devotion to these them. Many Christian believers in Nashik have been pray-
Hearing this, Rama ordered her nose - ‘nasika’ in Sanskrit Muslim saints continues to this day. ing for the Muslim community. But some are fearful of
- to be cut off. The Muslims in Nashik live surrounded by The vast majority of Muslims in Nashik (as in all of India) Muslims as well, caught up in historical Indian prejudices
ancient Hindu tradition and culture. are Sunnis who have been influenced over the generations between religious communities.
by Hindu religion and culture. Some of the Muslim peoples
living in Nashik district are the Sayyed, the Pathan, the
PRAYER REQUESTS
Malik, Muslims from Rajasthan, the Lakarharas (or wood-
sellers, a mixed population of Shaikhs), and a Shiite sect Pray for God to send labourers into the streets, alleys,
called the Dawoodi Bohra. The majority of Muslims in the homes and families of Nashik to proclaim Christ to the
city are from the Sayyed group. Muslim community (Mt 22:9-10).
Pray for God to help the Christians in the area to move
beyond prejudices to really loving and caring for the
Also pray for ... Muslim community.
There have been repeated charges of corruption Pray for God to pour out His Spirit, giving the Mus-
concerning the funds and goods given for the Kash- lims a hunger and thirst to know God and His Word
mir earthquake reconstruction efforts. Pray for wise (Luke 24:27-32).
and effective supervision and distribution of relief
funds and materials.
Focus on South Asia 45
New
Moon Day
30
Oct. 12, 2007
The Zikri Baluch of South Asia
Important:
Muslim Sites:
Islamic religion:
http://www.submission.org
http://www.answering-christianity.com/ac.htm
http://www.islamicity.com/
http://www.al-islam.org New Multimedia Web Site: http://www.30daysfire.net
http://www.hajinformation.com (Saudi Ministry of Hajj)
http://www.understanding-islam.com/
UK & MIDDLE EAST
Other Sites: 30 Days Prayer Focus - English and Arabic
Islamic History: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/islam/islamsbook.html PO Box 90, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 4JH, UK
Muslim perspective on the Middle East : http://www.memritv.org/ FAX: 44-1582-7687-048
General info about Islam: http://www.oxfordimap.org/index.htm E-mail: 30days@myrealbox.com
Viewpoints of former Muslims: http://www.apostatesofislam.com/ * Note: 30 Days International does not necessarily
© Copyright 2007
endorse or agree with all the arguments, ideas or at- 30 Days International
titudes presented by the web sites listed on this page. BP 49
30 Days Online: http://www.30-days.net These sites contain at least some valuable material. 26131 St. Paul-Trois-Châteaux
A prayer calendar designed for children and families is also available It is possible that they are not the best sites available France
this year in some languages. Check our main site for details. but the editors are simply familiar with them.
ISBN: 978-2-9514163-9-0