30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World | www.30-days.net » Cultural Issues http://www.30-days.net What Christians should know about Islamic background, history and culture. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:11:00 +0000 en hourly 1 Conspiracy Theories in the Arab World http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/conspiracy-theories-in-the-arab-world/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/conspiracy-theories-in-the-arab-world/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:18:58 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/muslims/?p=1953 Reading the Bible it is obvious that many of the world’s problems are due to hidden unseen forces that are largely hidden from our eyes. As John the Apostle writes: “We know … the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 Jn 5:19). Hidden forces are at work!

If one reads Middle Eastern newspapers, watches Arab television or simply talks with people fairly quickly hear things like: “September 11th was organized by the Americans and Israelis. The Arabs had nothing to do with it.” The Syrian journalist, Hassan Hamada, has said that the January 2010 Haitian earthquake was obviously something which the Americans had brought about by their technology in order to take possession of that poor island nation. Happily he was not taken seriously by most people! Some Middle Easterners have also been fascinated with a document about a Jewish world domination conspiracy called the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” which made its first public appearance in 1903. Several people have shown that the protocols are not true yet many people believe they are actually based on reality. Some Arab journalists and commentators have been active in recent years trying to unmask some of most greatly exaggerated theories.

Without Criticism

While one could be critical of Arabs concerning the conspiracy theories like those cited above, it is true that every Arab nation in the Middle East has been dominated by Western and Turkish colonial powers during the last 175 years. Often there were secret deals between countries which led to the division and occupation of territory. Sometimes, as has happened in many countries elsewhere, Arab leaders collaborated with the occupiers to obtain wealth. This has given many Arabs cause to be suspicious of the Western powers, their own leaders and Israel. Real exploitation and scheming has taken place in the past and is still present. This makes it easy to believe in conspiracy theories.

Daily Conspiring

Yet conspiring is not just at the level of politics or foreign affairs in the Middle East. At home women conspire with amulets and potions to manipulate their men. Men threaten to take a second wife in order to get their way. One sibling conspires against his / her siblings for parental attention. Officials conspire with a manipulated news media. For many Arabs this is part of daily reality. Indeed such experiences are not unknown in other regions of the world! When mixed with the daily frustration of sometimes difficult living circumstances, stressed family relationships and disappointments with government, job, and neighbours, many people start longing for a better life. Being aware of the scheming in their own circles, sometimes they will react by blaming others for their difficulties. Like all people’s around the world, Arab Muslims need the one who delivers from the ultimate schemer ( John 14:6 and 10:10-11).

Prayer Starters

  • Pray for profound healing where people have experienced injustice and exploitation (Isaiah 61:1-3).
  • Pray that the increasingly more numerous communities of believers in the Arab world would become havens of rest, healing, love, truth and honesty in the scheming world of manipulation and darkness.
  • Pray that there would be significant casting down of the numerous exaggerated lies and half truths which have become reality for many Arab Muslims (John. 8:31-32, 2 Cor 10:4-5).
Video: Fired Up: Does God speak your language? (2:51)

Fired Up: Does God speak your language? from BMS World Mission on Vimeo.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/conspiracy-theories-in-the-arab-world/feed/ 10 Muslim Fatalism and its consequences http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/fatalism/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/fatalism/#comments Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:29:39 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/reveal/fatalism/ Muslims believe that Allah’s moral character is ultimately unknowable, and Allah’s ways are beyond all understanding. One result of this is that even practising Muslims lack assurance of Allah’s forgiveness simply because they are not certain about God’s ultimate attitude or will towards them.

If God wills

Spend even a short time around Muslims and you will become aware that they continually use the Arabic phrase “In sha Allah”, which means “if God wills”. This phrase is used in a multitude of circumstances. In practice, it often means “whatever happens is God’s will”.

Muslims worldwide often live in a cloud of fatalism and uncertainty about their future. Muslims affirm with the Qur’an that Allah leads astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills (Qur’an, Surat 35:8). While the Qur’an also lays great emphasis on the free choice and moral conduct of individuals and communities, popular Islamic thinking and practice are often very fatalistic. For example, several years ago a Muslim woman in Paris told some Christians about the death of her son. Even though she knew that her son actually died of a drug overdose, she insisted that this was Allah’s destiny for him. She was deeply grieved by the loss of her son, despite affirming her conviction that her son died according to God’s will. This event affected her entire vision of God.

The Love of God

We can see similar manifestations of fatalism even in events which have international importance. In July 1990, a total of 1,426 Muslim pilgrims in Mecca died when a tunnel collapsed during the Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) at the end of the Muslim pilgrimage or Hajj. Many of the pilgrims died as a result of suffocation or were trampled to death in a frantic effort to escape as thousands of other pilgrims poured into the tunnel area. King Fahd of Saudi Arabia caused additional news coverage of the disaster by his remark that it was “God’s will” and “had the victims not died in the tunnel they would have died elsewhere at the same predestined moment.” (From the report of a debate in the UK Parliament.)

All Christians around the world agree that God’s will has been supremely manifested in Jesus. The death and resurrection of Christ are God’s means for dealing with sin, death and the devil. “Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38). While our sovereign Lord’s will may be mysterious, it is also very clear in many respects.

Prayer Guide

* Pray that Muslims will be set free from ideas which cause them to think of God in a fatalistic and manipulative way.

* Pray for God to give Christians understanding in helping Muslims to come out of fatalism. New converts especially need to see God in a new light and understand the consequences about God’s ultimate attitude or will and love for them.

* Fatalism has an impact in all aspects of Muslim society. From healthcare to economics, all is governed by the “In sha Allah” mentality, which often means simply to submit oneself to whatever happens. Pray for a healthy change of perspective.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/fatalism/feed/ 21 Muslims and the Spirit World http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/muslims-spirit-world/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/muslims-spirit-world/#comments Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:33:56 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1059 Deliver them from evil

Muslims worldwide are often afraid of evil coming from the spirit world. This fear is a source of profound unspoken anxiety for many. Islam has a complex and multifaceted set of beliefs about the invisible forces at work around us. Theses beliefs also vary greatly from one region and one people to another. Muslims not only believe in the existence of angels but also in Jinn (Djinn), who also populate this world.

Jinn, Muslims believe, are very similar to humans: they have their own social organisation and activities, yet they can also change their appearance and become visible or invisible at will. Most Muslim theologians believe that Shaitan (Satan, also called Iblis) belongs to the Jinn. These beings were supposedly created just before the creation of mankind. They do both good and evil. The term “Jinn” is related to the English word “genie” known through Arabian folk stories.

Prayer Starters:

  • Jesus is the true Lord of the world. All authority has been given to Him. Pray that Muslims would experience Jesus’ saving ability to deliver them from the powers of darkness. May believers be more able to help Muslims in this realm.
  • Pray for Muslims you know and others using the following texts: Matthew 8:16, 10:1 and Acts 5:16, 8:17.

Special Prayer for the Gayo Peoples of Indonesia

The Gayo people (pop. 300,000) live in the remote central highlands of the Aceh Province on the island of Sumatra. Their homeland reaches heights of over 2,000 metres, extending over hundreds of kilometres. The Gayo speak in two dialects but do not have a written language. They pass down folk tales and oral stories in the form of poetry. Their main source of income is farming, coffee, fishing and forest products. Their embroidery has colourful gold designs. They need medical workers to improve health conditions. Predominantly Muslim, most Gayo also worship and make offerings to spirits, saints, and ancestors. There are no known Gayo believers ands no one is specifically taking the Gospel to them. See Acts 26:18.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/muslims-spirit-world/feed/ 7 The Gospel and Culture http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/religious_cultural/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/religious_cultural/#comments Wed, 10 Nov 2010 09:17:58 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1031 Community and Communication Needs

While the religious differences between Christians and Muslims are significant, sometimes cultural differences can be even greater sources of misunderstanding and mistrust. Different perspectives can also be opportunities to learn from each other. Cultural differences may inhibit or enhance our ability to proclaim Christ, as well as a Muslim’s ability to receive our message. Below is a list some basic differences between Western culture and many African and Oriental Islamic cultures. (These characteristics are generalisations. There may be many exceptions in various nations and regions):

Western societies:

  • Individualism, independence and initiative are encouraged
  • Time oriented (exact times, for example: one arrives on time)
  • Future oriented (seeing opportunities and foreseeing problems)
  • Performance oriented (ability and accomplishments are important)
  • Freedom to show weakness
  • Egalitarian relationships / Direct communication
  • Analytical thinking / concept oriented

African and Oriental Islamic societies:

  • Community / group oriented
  • Event oriented (general times, example: arrival when an event happens)
  • Present oriented (enjoy the present, take action when crises develop)
  • Status oriented (class, age, family and reputation are important)
  • Fear of showing weakness or admitting failures (shame cultures)
  • Indirect communication (seeking to not offend or to dishonour)
  • Holistic thinking / experience / circumstance oriented

Simple questions

One very real difference between accepted Western and Islamic cultural norms can be found in simple conversation. In many Islamic societies a man is not permitted to inquire about the another man’s wife in direct conversation. One can ask about how things are “at home” instead of asking the question directly: “How is your wife?” In some contexts it can sometimes be deemed incorrect, impolite and even possibly a bit suspicious for a man to ask directly about another man’s wife even if the two men are friends.

The Barnabas Gospel

In Islam Jesus is considered to be a messenger of God, a prophet, who was sent to guide the Israelites. His message was given with a new scripture, the Injil (Gospel). The Qur’an affirms that Jesus was born to the virgin Mary (Maryam) by the decree of God. Jesus had the ability to perform miracles by God’s command. Like other prophets in Islam, Jesus is considered to have been a good Muslim (that is, someone who was submitted to God). Jesus preached to His people to live in submission to God’s will. For Muslims Jesus was actually preaching an earlier form of Islam.

In recent years many Muslims have cited the book “The Gospel of Barnabas” (available on the web) in order to show that Jesus was a good Muslim. Jesus is portrayed in the book as a prophet who prays, speaks and acts exactly like traditional Muslims.

The book seems to have been written in Europe sometime during the 14th–16th centuries. It includes geographical and historical inaccuracies as well as errors about Christian and Islamic beliefs. In the Gospel of Barnabas Mohammed is called the Messiah which means “anointed one” (Christ) while in normal Islamic belief Jesus is understood as being the Messiah. In several places the Qur’an itself proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah (see our article for day 22). In the Gospel of Barnabas Jesus is called the Christ (chapter 6). The author did not realize that The word Christ is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah. This is a significant error.

Here are quotes from chapters 96 and 97: Jesus answered: “As God lives, in whose presence my soul stands, I am not the Messiah whom all the tribes of the earth expect, even as God promised to our father Abraham, saying: ‘In your seed will I bless all the tribes of the earth.’ But when God shall take me away from the world, Satan will raise again … making the impious believe that I am God and son of God, whence my words and my doctrine shall be contaminated … God will send his messenger …. who shall come from the south with power, and shall destroy the idols with the idolaters … The name of the Messiah is admirable … Mohammed is his blessed name.”

It is an interesting distortion that Satan is portrayed as the one to claim Jesus as God. The author of the “Gospel of Barnabas” has rewritten the Biblical Gospel to make it agree with the Qur’an. The aim of the book is to try to convince people that Jesus was a Muslim and predict the coming of Muhammad. It is a direct distortion of the Bible. See “Gospel of Barnabas” at www.answering-islam.org

Prayer Starters:

  • Pray for those witnessing to Muslims to understand the cultural differences as well as the religious differences.
  • The Gospel is cross-cultural – pray that this truth be believed and acted upon by Christian workers.
  • Pray that believers will accurately be able to show that Jesus was always submitted to the Father but He was more than simply a good prophet.
  • May God give Muslims insights into the errors of the Gospel of Barnabas.
  • Meditate on these texts in prayer: Matthew 5:43-48, Hebrews 1:5-8.

_______________

Remember Libya

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Libyan Revolution which brought Colonel Muammar Qadhafi to power in Libya. Forty years ago very few people in Libya knew the Lord and this is very true today. Native Libyans who believe in Jesus probably number less than fifty people out of a population of 6.2 million. Pray for labourers who will sow, water and harvest. For more information write: pray4ly [Email address: pray4ly #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ]

Video: Wait A Minute

Arab / American Encounters from Wait A Minute on Vimeo.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/religious_cultural/feed/ 3 Shame-Based Culture http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/shame/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/shame/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:24:18 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/reveal/shame/ shame-30-days-net

Cartoons, Prophets and the Islamic Faith: Shame-Based Culture: by Roland Muller

In September 2005, not long before the month of Ramadan, a Danish newspaper decided to publish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Little did they realize that they were igniting an explosion that would ripple throughout 2006.

As Muslims around the world eventually began to protest in anger and outrage, more Western newspapers and magazines picked up the cartoon and republished them, claiming that they were defending freedom of speech. These publications invoked more outrage. Embassies and churches were burned and people were killed. In the West, we watched with puzzlement. Why were the Muslims so upset about these cartoons of Muhammad? After all, people have mocked Jesus for centuries, but we don’t go around killing people. Surely freedom of speech is far more important than a bit of scorn! After all, many in the West have fought and died to defend the right of free speech. Surely the Muslims realize this.

Shame-based cultures

In the East, the feelings are quite different. Most Muslims live in what are known as shame-based cultures. These cultures are based on shame and honour rather than right and wrong. Almost every decision that they make is made by considering what is honourable and what is shameful. Sociologists tell us that in the West we live in what are known as guilt based cultures where most decisions are made on the basis of right and wrong. Therefore in the West, when necessary, we will lay down our lives to defend our rights. In the East, people will lay down their lives to defend their honour. In addition, Muslims even have a legal term known as “honour killing.” They believe that the shedding of blood can wash away shame. Through this concept those who bring shame on a family or a tribe can be put to death, whether they are an enemy or an immediate family member. In some strange way, the Danish cartoons created a very volatile situation where the rights of the West and the shame of the East collided. Both sides are defending what they believe is of utmost importance. Both sides are willing to fight to the death.

Where do we stand as Christians?

Where do we stand as Christians? Jesus died on the cross, not only to remove our guilt, but also to take our shame. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden shame came upon all mankind. Some cultures are far more sensitive to this shame than they are to the guilt that Westerners often experience.

No matter, Jesus died to free us all from the stain of sin, and this includes both shame and guilt. The only way to really rectify the situation is for each side to recognize that the answer is in the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus is the only one who can both set things right and also restore the honour that was lost. Jesus took our guilt and our shame upon himself. The reason he was mocked and ridiculed was because our shame was being laid on him. If only we were as enthusiastic about sharing the gospel message as we are about defending our rights. What a different place the world would be! The Lord Jesus honoured the Father through his obedience unto death. He has removed our shame and guilt. Let us live in such a way that we honour the Lord in word and deed.

Source

Roland Muller is the author of numerous missionary books. His two books: Honor and Shame, Unlocking the Door, and MMC explore the topic of shame-based cultures further. http://rmuller.com (in a new window)

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/shame/feed/ 0 Customs and Behavior | Tips on how to behave in Muslim countries http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/customs/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/customs/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:12:52 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/reveal/customs/

Tips on how to act in a Muslim home or country

WHAT TO DO OR NOT TO DO :: Whether you are meeting at a Muslims home or doing business in a Muslim country, there are certain social graces, customs and behavior which, when understood, can help avoid unnecessary complications or hurts.

General Behavior, Attitudes and Demenour – The Golden Rule

Jesus said, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”. (Matthew 7:12)

The so called ‘Golden Rule’ of Jesus best sums up how to be prepared for going to any foreign country or to a neighbors house – despite customs and cultural differences. With regards to Muslims, it is intertesting to note that in an imitation of the golden rule, a hadith says: “A Muslim should treat others as he would wish them to treat him…Like for others what he would like for himself.”

Here are some important customs to watch when you visit Muslims anywhere:

Practice Humility: Have a demeanor which models kindness and forbids being harsh, rude, or even speaking loudly to others.

Seek Moderation: Many Muslims value deliberation, a careful consideration which focuses on the outcome of a matter. Moderation in speech, and avoidance of being nervous, highly strung or liable to sudden anger, characterizes many of those who “submit to God.”

Sincerity is Key: A kind, honest, humble approach–free of an arrogant and overbearing attitude–naturally opens the way for agreeable exchanges (Understanding Arabs, p. 112.)

Greetings and Contact

* Handshakes, though regarded as important, usually do not possess the same firmness as handclasps of many Europeans or Americans. We usually shake hands only the first time we are introduced to someone. Most Arabs shake hands every time they meet you and every time they leave you. This applies whether they meet you on the street, in an office, at a conference, restaurant, or at home. The customs and behavior in Saudi Arabia is to shake hands on meeting, chat a bit, and shake hands again on leaving–even if you meet ten times a day. If sitting, rise when shaking hands as well as when an esteemed person enters a room.

* Touching, long handshakes, grasped elbows, even walking hand in hand by two males is common place in the Arab world. A considerable number of Arabs touch more between the same sex, to show liking–not sex. They hold hands, hug each other, kiss if close friends. As Arab customs and behavior condones the outward display of affection between male friends, one may see Arab men, even officials and military officers, holding hands as they walk together or otherwise converse with one another. If an individual Arab does not touch you, he does not like you–or he may be trying to restrain himself because you are not used to being touched. A full body embrace, accompanied with hugging, should not be initiated until you are sure that the Arab is a close friend. If the Arab initiates it, participate and consider yourself honored and/or accepted. Contact between the opposite sex in public is considered close to obscene.

* Use the right hand to eat, touch and present gifts. The left is generally regarded as unclean.

Greetings and Conversations

* Small talk and ritual greetings is normal. Middle Easterners often greet each other with a number of ritual phrases and fixed responses. Ancient custom governs these interactions. To Western eyes, profuse greetings, inquiries about health and well-being, often take up inordinate amounts of time but it is important in establishing friendly relations. Remember, however, it is insulting to ask about a Muslim’s wife or another female family member.

* Eye contact during discussions–often long and direct–is important. Staring is not necessarily rude (except gazing at women).

* Be aware of appearing to be in a hurry when you are among Arabs. For example, during a business appointment or social visit with an Arab, do not look at your watch or otherwise act as if you have little time to talk. Arabs can be very offended by this. Time is much less rigidly scheduled in Arab countries than in western countries.

* Pointing your finger or a pen at anyone while speaking, or beckon anyone with your finger. It is considered a threat, and only animals are treated in this manner.

* Distance in talking with one another (body space) may be much closer with Middle East peoples than with Westerners.

Hospitality and Visits / Meals

* Hospitality and giving a warm reception to strangers goes back to the culture of the desert. Developed over centuries, where the desert environment bound traveling nomads to depend on the graciousness and generosity of others, hospitality enabled inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula to survive thirst, hunger and sudden raids/attacks. Many Middle Eastern peoples continue this custom of showing courtesy and consideration to strangers. Demonstrating friendliness, generosity and hospitableness become expressions of personal honor, even sacred duties.

* Take off your shoes at the entrance and leave them there before going in. Sometimes oversize slippers are provided for you to put on.

* Men should not wear shorts, and women should not go there wearing short sleeves or sleeveless dresses.

* Take care when sitting. Avoid stretching legs in front of or sitting up higher than others, sitting with the left hand behind the back, or positioning oneself so the shadows fall upon half of one’s body.

* Avoid putting feet on tables or furniture. Show respect. Refrain from leaning against walls, slouching in chairs, and keeping hands in pockets. Keep from pointing with the feet. Do not show the soles of the feet, as they are the lowest and dirtiest part of the body.

* Allowing your host to initiate discussion topics is a good policy. Expect handshakes from all personnel in a party. Sometimes Arabs use double meanings in conversation, which allows for all parties to feel good and not lose face. Such use shows the practitioner to be a person of culture.

* Do not talk loudly.

* Use the right hand to eat. The left is generally regarded as unclean.

* Expect the actual eating of a meal to come at the conclusion to an evening’s festivities. Touch food and pass it with your right hand only. In some areas, Middle Easterners consider it impolite to eat everything on one’s plate. Leaving food becomes a symbol of abundance and serves to compliment the host.

Outward Affection and Gestures

* Take off your shoes at the entrance and leave them there before going in. Sometimes oversize slippers are provided for you to put on.
* Men should not go into a mosque wearing shorts, and women should not go there wearing short sleeves or sleeveless dresses.
* Do not talk loudly.
* Do not walk directly in front of people praying.
* Do not take pictures of people in a mosque, particularly women.
* Mosques are considered to be shelters for homeless people.
* Do not be surprised to find mosques without furniture, except for the carpet. The “Islamic religion advocates a simple way of life for its followers.”

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/customs/feed/ 8 Reconciliation – Islamic Sulha / Musalaha http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/sulha/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/sulha/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:26:57 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/reveal/sulha/ The West has been made painfully aware that Muslim nations are in conflict with the world at large. At the forefront are the hostilities between Muslim ethnic groups and their surrounding Christian neighbours. Eighteen years of ethnic and religious conflict in Sudan have left 2 million dead. Tensions are high in other nations, such as Nigeria and Indonesia, and have escalated into violence.

One look beyond Muslim / Christian tensions reveals another level: conflicts within Muslim nations and people groups. Kurds versus Turks, Arabs, and Iranians; Berbers versus Arab Moroccans, Algerians, and Tunisians.

In the Middle East, society is fragmented. There are vast and often irreconcilable differences between city dwellers, villagers and nomadic tribes. Middle-Eastern society might seem a cohesive block of shared ideologies, lifestyles, religions, and attitudes, but that is far from reality. Conflicts in Arab society are frequent and require a means for resolution.

Reconciliation

A structure for resolving conflict has existed in the Arab culture for centuries. In the harsh environments of the desert, a beautiful pearl of reconciliation was forged. At the heart of Arab society, conflict resolution has been practised for centuries in the form of the sulha (settlement). Even before Islam, sulha came about as a means for settling disputes in the absence of a legal system. Musalaha (reconciliation) is reached in the step-by-step process of sulha, practised by both Muslim and Christian Arabs. According to Islamic law (sharia), “the purpose of the Sulha is to end conflict and hostility among the Muslims so that they may conduct their relationships in peace and amity.” In Jordan sulha is integrated in the judicial system; in Lebanon and the Palestinian areas it is not, yet it is widely practised.

Forgiveness

Given the severity of living conditions in the desert, competing tribes long ago realized that sulha is a better alternative to endless cycles of vengeance. Each tribe initiates the process of taking stock of its losses in human and material terms. Tradition has it that stringent conditions are set, to settle the tribal conflict definitively. The process is built on relationships, and forgiveness is required, but the penalties can be severe. One main condition is that the parties in conflict pledge to forget everything that has happened and to initiate new and friendly relations. The ritual process of sulha usually ends in a public ceremony of musalaha performed in the village square.

Musalaha might be a sought-after key to unlocking the Muslim mind for the Gospel. The Muslim understanding of reconciliation is a powerful illustration of what Christ did for humanity on the cross. As our sin separates us from God, He could demand justice from us: the wages of sin is death, and our death is the rightful sulha (settlement). Instead, Jesus is God’s provision of that sulha and we can live because in our place Jesus redeems humanity, and restores our relationship with the Father.

Prayer Points

* Pray that the ministers of the Gospel know how to use the keys to Islamic culture to unlock the hearts of those captured by bitterness and hate.

* Pray also for the West, that xenophobia will vanish and instead forgiveness, love, compassion and grace will flow through the hearts of those who believe in Christ the Saviour, especially to those from a Muslim background.

* Pray especially for those from a Muslim background who do not yet believe in Jesus as their “sulha” to the Father.

* Pray that the believers from a Muslim background will share the good news of Jesus to all their next of kin and their friends, to the glory of God our Father.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/sulha/feed/ 4 Ummah / Qibla – Community and direction http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/ummah/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/ummah/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:32:26 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/reveal/ummah/ Muslim societies and culture around the world are very group-orientated. The individualism of Western nations is in stark contrast to the Muslim group mentality. One can sense this easily in conversation, in family relationships and in religious activities.

Ummah

The ultimate corporate expression of Muslim community is called “Ummah”, an Arabic word meaning “people, generation, or community”. The Qur’an uses this word primarily to describe groups of people and especially those who were faithful to Mohammed and his teaching. Muslims around the world use this word to designate the worldwide Muslim community (nation). This community transcends nationality, race and status. Many Muslims have idealised the Ummah as an expression of God’s will for all humanity. However, Muslims are often aware of their worldwide lack of unity and infighting, leading some to be disappointed and disillusioned with the Ummah. According to some Muslims, “Much of the suffering, fighting, confusion, and dissension that exists in the Muslim Ummah (nation, community) is the result of our ignorance about Islam and about each other.”

For Muslims, the reality of the Ummah is especially experienced during the Muslim pilgrimage or Hajj to Mecca. Each year, this event, which lasts for 70 days and culminates with the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha), brings together people from around the world.

Qibla

While those who actually experience the pilgrimage are relatively few on a daily basis, the entire Muslim community worldwide turns toward Mecca to accomplish its prayer ritual. Many Muslims also sense their unity with the greater Muslim community through this daily ritual and Friday prayers at their local mosque. Around the world at designated times, the entire Ummah focuses its prayers in the direction of Mecca. Mosques even have a special indicator (the Qibla), which shows the direction of Mecca. Some individual prayer rugs include a compass to help establish the direction of Mecca.

During today’s time of intercession for Muslims, we encourage all Christians using this material to pray in the direction of Mecca. You can determine the general direction of Mecca by placing a string on a globe with one end at your location and the other at Mecca in Saudi Arabia, working out the direction, and then using a compass to ascertain which direction this is. Alternatively, you can establish the direction of Mecca using the following website: http://prayer.al-islam.com. You can also look at an atlas and try to determine the general direction of Mecca. If possible Muslims try to determine the right direction to Mecca with great precision: however, this is not necessary for our intercession.

Prayer Guide

* Worship the Lord with song.

* Be open for God to inspire you in prayer.

* Proclaim the Lordship of Jesus over all the heavens and the earth (including Mecca and the whole Muslim community Ummah) (see Matt 28:18, Rev 5:12-14).

* Remember that there are literally millions of Muslims around the world praying towards Mecca (Qibla). Identify yourself with them. You might pray something like: “Lord, you who know the heart and the mind of each Muslim person around the world, may you touch those who are kneeling in prayer at this time that they might turn to you and receive salvation through your Son.”

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/ummah/feed/ 0 Veils, Headscarfs and Muslim Clothing http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/veils/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/veils/#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:20:48 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/reveal/veils/

Veils and Head-Scarf’s – About the dress code of Muslims

Q & A Why do some Muslim women wear a veil while others do not? Why cover the head at all with head-scarf’s? What does it all mean? Here are some answers from Muslim women around the world. (With thanks to the River Garden Arts)

Written from a Muslim women’s perspective…

Many people ask me about Islam and what it is like to be a Muslim woman. The question most often asked is about my dress: many say “Why do you wear that head-scarf on your head?”

The whole stereotype that all Muslims are forced to dress like this is completely false. There are some Muslim women who do not choose to cover up, and this is their decision. There are however, many successful Muslim women who do cover up and have managed to become absolutely wonderful in their fields and still maintain the modesty that they chose to uphold.

Q: Why do you dress the way you do?

A: First and foremost, because Allah commands us to do so. In the Qur’an, Allah tells the believers to “lower their gaze and be modest.” Specifically, it says: “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their chests and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers…” [continuing list of family members and others in front of whom women are exempt from covering] (Qur’an 24:30-31)

Of course, Muslims believe that Allah has full Wisdom and knows what is best for us, so we strive to follow His guidance in every aspect of our lives. Muslims have also discovered other advantages to dressing modestly, including: being known for who you really are; not being judged by your beauty or lack thereof; being able to conduct business in an atmosphere of respect; being readily known as a Muslim; liberation; comfort.

Q: Aren’t you hot?

A: In many ways, covering the body protects it from the heat of direct sunlight. In loose, flowing clothing, the air around the body flows freely and cools more readily. The choice of fabric covering the body is more important than the square inches/centimeters exposed or covered. On severely hot days, we might be uncomfortable as is everyone else. During those times, we find comfort knowing that we are following the commands of Allah, and “the fire of hell is hotter.”

Q: Do the different colors mean anything?

A: Muslims are to dress in modest clothing, without attracting attention to oneself. For this reason, many Muslims choose earth-tone colors such as green, blue, gray, as well as the usual black and white. Beyond this, there are no specific meanings behind the choice of color. Some colors are more common in certain parts of the world, based on local tradition.

Q: Why are there differences in the specific styles of dress?

A: While Islam outlines a code of modesty, it does not command a certain style, color, or fabric. The range of clothing you find among Muslims is a sign of the great diversity among the Muslim community.

As a Muslim woman, I like knowing when I put on the Jilbab (a dress like an overcoat which covers from the neck down to the feet) that I am totally covered and no one can see what my body looks like. This was a personal decision that I made to cover and I am proud to have made such an important choice for my well being and myself.

Most Muslim women today do not wear a full face veil. It is more common to see women in hijab, loose clothing topped by a type of scarf worn around the head and under the chin. Women don’t share a common style nor have the same reasons for wearing hijab. For many it reflects the belief that they are following God’s commandments, are dressing according to “the correct standard of modesty,” or simply are wearing the type of traditional clothes they feel comfortable in.

Q: Do men have a dress code as well?

A: Absolutely. Both men and women are commanded in the Qur’an to “lower their gaze and be modest.” It is generally understood that men are not to expose the area of their body from the navel to the knee. However, many Muslim men would feel shy to expose a bare chest or bare legs in public. As with women, men are not to wear clothing that is tight or see-through. Indeed, in many Muslim societies the traditional clothing for men includes long, flowing robes, or long tunics that fully cover the body.

Q: What about the legal issue?

A: Regarding the question as to whether countries (examples include France and England) should ban head scarves or not, it is interesting to note how TIME magazine portrayed this issue. Time wrote, “Though the proposed law, which is expected to pass easily, would forbid students from wearing Jewish yarmulkes and large crucifixes, its main purpose is to stop the increasing use of the hijab, or head scarf, among Muslim schoolgirls.”

Well okay and fine, but does any born-again Christian who really reads the Bible honestly believe that Satan wants to ban Muslims from wearing head scarves? Could it be that Satan, who hates God, wants much more to ban Jewish yarmulkes and any signs of the cross he can? The cross and especially the Jewish people are the points of his greatest hatred and animosity. If he can hid it all with something like banning head scarves anywhere, is that not his wisest plan? Let us wake up – Satan does not hate Moslems more than he hates himself, but his fight is against God, not against Muslims. He simply uses everyone as tools of hatred.

Q: What do these Islamic clothing terms mean? Hijab, khimar, niqab, abaya, jilbab, burqa, shalwar khamis…

A: Different terms reflect different styles of dress. Often the same clothing has various names depending on what area of the world it is worn. Here is a list and description of typical clothing worn by many Moslems:

* Hijab – clothing that follows the laws of Allah
* Khimar – triangular or circular head-scarf
* Niqab – facial veil
* Abaya – cloak over garment which covers body
* Jilbab – robe or coat that cover the whole body except head and hands
* Burqa – a garment that covers body from head to toes
* Shalwar khamis – roomy pants with a dress
* Chador – similar to a burqa
* Dupalta – a large shawl

Courtesy of Islam at About.com (opens in a new window)

Video: Women Behind the Abaya

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/veils/feed/ 17 The Importance of Arabic Names http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/namethem/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/culture/namethem/#comments Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:07:09 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/reveal/namethem/

What’s in a Name?

An individual’s name is related to his family and cultural heritage. It is a significant part of one’s identity. God sometimes uses human names to identify Himself, as in Exodus 3:6 “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. Each of these names has a special significance.

Arabic Names

Arabic names form the basis of many Muslim names around the world. Many of these names have significance drawn from the Islamic understanding of the God of Abraham. While the Islamic understanding of God is incomplete, it is not totally devoid of truth. Given names and family names based on the 99 names of God used in Islam are quite common among Muslims from many nationalities. Many of these names sometimes give accurate insights into God’s activities, nature and character.

99 Names

Some examples of the 99 names are:
* al-Malik, the King, who is King of kings.
* al-Alim, the Knowing One, who is well aware of everything.
* al-Haqq, the Truth.
* al-Hakim, the Wise, who is both wise and well informed.
* al-Halim, the Kindly, who is both forgiving and kindly disposed.
* al-Hamid, the Praiseworthy, to whom all praise is due.
* as-Salam, the PeaceMaker, whose name is Peace.
* al-Hadi, the Guide, who leads believers in the straight path.
* al-Nur, the Light, illuminating both earth and heaven.

The Structure

There is a logical structure to the Arab naming, often used in the Middle East, which makes it possible to understand a person’s recent ancestry. For example… an individual’s name is Hamid bin Muhammad bin Abdul Al-Mansur. He is called Hamid by his friends and family. His family name is Al-Mansur. What does bin Muhammad bin Abdul mean? This means that he is the son of Muhammad who is, in turn, the son of Abdul. Bin means “son of”. The entire name indicates his given name, his father’s name and his grandfather’s name, plus the family name.

The meaning of the name of Muhammad is “He who is worthy of praise”. It is estimated that more than 15 million people in the world bear the name Muhammad. This name also has many variants- Ahmed, Mahmoud, and so forth. If one also counts all those who use it as a middle or family name, the number rises to perhaps more than 60 million people. This makes it one of the most used names in the world, if not the most used.

Women’s Names

The names of Muslim women are similarly significant. When being introduced to a Muslim woman it is a well-received and a polite gesture to enquire the meaning of her name. A woman will almost always be able to tell you and will appreciate your interest. An enthusiastic conversation will often follow! A woman may be named after a significant and important Muslim character such as Amina, who was Muhammad’s mother, or Fatima, who was Muhammad’s daughter. A woman is also commonly named after an honoured character trait such as the name Djamila, which means beautiful.

Praying by Name

Let us cite the people by name specifically before the Lord in prayer, “Lord, remember the ones who are named Muhammad, etc.! May Your kingdom come in their lives!” There are literally millions of people around the world who have the names listed on this page. Perhaps you can think of many more Muslims by name. Pray for their salvation. Some common Muslim names include: Hassan, Hussein, Ali, Jabbar, Aziz, Rachid, Mahmoud, Abdul, Mehmet, Khalid, Safir, Safira, Fatima, Fatiha, Akila, Rachida, Halima, Djamila, Amina, Khadija, Bassem.

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