Five Pillars of Faith
Muslims live out their faith through five foundational pillars:
- The Shahadah: the Muslim profession of faith
- The Salat: the ritual prayer movements five times a day
- Zakat: giving to the poor and needy
- Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan
- The Hajj: a five-day pilgrimage to Mecca and the surrounding area
The Sawm is held during the month of Ramadan; it is the time when Muslims are the most spiritually sensitive. For 30 days, Muslims will fast from food, water, sexual relationships, and sinful behavior and speech. The Quran states, “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who were before you, in order that you may learn taqwa (piety)” (Surah 2, verse 183). Muhammad believed that fasting was a shield that protected people from sin and lustful desires.
Praying for Muslims during Ramadan
Praying for Muslims during the Sawm is very strategic. As Muslims spend 30 days seeking after Allah, trying to please him, and in order to have a better chance at heaven, followers of Jesus should be praying that God would remove their blindness so that they may be drawn to the glory of Christ in the gospel (2 Cor 4:4).
Ramadan begins the evening of May 5 and ends the evening of June 4, 2019.
Two great resources to guide you in your prayers for Muslims: (1) 30 Days of Pray for Muslims and (2) Prayercast.com.
Please join us in praying for 1.8 billion Muslims during Ramadan.
