Praying for Muslims during the Hajj

As many as two million Muslims from around the world are set to converge in Saudi Arabia from May 25-29 for the annual Hajj, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

The ancient pilgrimage is considered one of the highest acts of devotion by Muslims who say they are seeking favor with Allah through the teachings of Islam’s prophet Muhammad.  

The five-day pilgrimage involves a series of rites and rituals, including prayers, lengthy journeys by foot, and animal sacrifices, with most of the meat given to the poor. 

On the first day of the Hajj in Mecca, pilgrims walk counter-clockwise seven times around a stone structure called the Kaaba, located in the Grand Mosque on the site Muslims consider the holiest spot on earth. 

Since the Hajj is of the five pillars of Islam, every adult Muslim is obligated to make the journey at least once in his or her lifetime, if physically and financially able. 

How can Christians pray for Muslims around the world during the Hajj?

1. Pray for Christian satellite programming, websites, and other gospel-based teaching to reach those seeking truth in the strict Islamic state of Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations.

2. Pray for the small number of Christians in Saudi Arabia to have a witness to Muslim neighbors, despite the significant dangers of sharing their Christian faith with others. 

3. Pray for Muslim travelers’ safety: The journey involves extensive travel for many, and a crowd of two million people gathering in a single site creates complicated conditions. War in the Middle East could make those conditions even more complex this year. 

4. Pray that God would protect Muslims who come to faith in Christ while living in Saudi Arabia and other countries where conversions are illegal and can carry severe punishments.

5. Pray for Radical’s work in Saudi Arabia, a nation where less than 1 percent of its 34 million citizens identify as Protestant. Pray for efforts to establish a gospel presence in Saudi Arabia through one-to-one evangelism among young Arabs.

6. Pray that the birthplace of Islam will become a place where many find new birth and Christ, and where Christ’s church grows. 

7. Pray for Christians around the world to seek opportunities to pursue gospel conversations with Muslim neighbors and co-workers.