2022 RAMADAN PRAYER FOCUS - for our Canadian Muslim neighbours - Loving Muslims Together
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2022
RAMADAN PRAYER FOCUS
for our Canadian Muslim neighbours
www.lovingmuslimstogether.ca
For information or questions please email info@lmtn.ca
10/10 PRAYER INITIATIVE
At a global consultation in late 2017, a resolution was agreed to pray and fast for 10 years, from
January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2027, that 10% of the Muslim world would be saved. We are now
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halfway in this prayer focus. Since there are over 1.9 million Muslims living in Canada, that would be
about 190,000-200,000 new believers.
Let’s pray as one with our global family for a global harvest. May the harvest reach its fullness here
in Canada, including in your neighborhood.
MOVEMENTS
Around the world, movements of Muslims are collectively choosing to follow Jesus Christ in large
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numbers. Now is an unprecedented season of harvest in the Muslim world.
Pray that many Canadian Muslims, connected to these movements through family and friends,
would become part of this global harvest. Pray also for such movements to begin here and spread
to other parts of the globe.
Islam rests upon five “pillars”. Let’s pray for our Muslim neighbours as they practice these PILLARS.
PILLAR 1 – SHAHADA (PROFESSION OF FAITH)
“There is no god but Allah” and “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah” are the two halves of the
Shahada, or profession of faith, which is uttered five times every day during prayer. It is the first
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thing said to a newborn and the last to a dying person. Uttering this statement with the intent to
convert is all that is required to become a Muslim.
Pray your Muslim neighbours would come to realize “there is one mediator between God and
mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5) and worship Him as the Living Word of God.
PILLAR 2 – SALAT (PRAYER)
Five times daily—dawn, noon, afternoon, evening and night—Muslims are called to pray. After
washing hands, face and feet, they repeat the ritual of prayer, which includes prostrating
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themselves towards Mecca, affirming that Allah is merciful and compassionate, asking for guidance,
and reciting the first chapter of the Quran.
Ask the Holy Spirit to convict Muslims of their sin and to reveal Jesus Christ as God’s merciful
answer to their need for a Saviour. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide them toward accepting His
gracious gift of suffering on the cross in their place.
PILLAR 3 – ZAKAT (ALMSGIVING)
Muslims are instructed to give 2.5% of their income to support their local mosque or to care for the
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poor and needy. They believe this act of giving purifies the rest of the giver’s wealth.
Pray that your Muslim neighbours would be confronted with the generosity of God, who did not
withhold giving his only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the debt of our sin. Pray they would experience
the joy of giving because of His generosity to us.
PILLAR 4 – SAWM (FASTING)
The month of fasting, Ramadan, is marked by the prohibition from dawn to dusk of food, drink,
sexual intercourse, and smoking. Muslims strive for spiritual renewal by seeking God’s forgiveness,
acknowledging their dependence on him, thanking him, and increasing their generosity to the
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needy. During Ramadan, Muslims exert greater effort to follow Islamic teachings, refraining from
anger, envy, greed, lust, gossip, etc.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to your Muslim neighbours that their good works will never be
enough to satisfy God’s righteousness. Pray for true spiritual renewal that is based on them
believing in the efficacy of Jesus’ shed blood.
www.lovingmuslimstogether.caPILLAR 5 – HAJJ (PILGRIMAGE)
A pilgrimage to Mecca during the 12th month of the lunar calendar is prescribed for all adult
Muslims— who are healthy enough and can afford it—once in their lifetime. Pilgrims wear a simple
white cloth and complete a series of rituals, including walking seven times around the Kaaba,
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touching the Black Stone, travelling seven times between two mountains, and symbolically stoning
the Devil. Those who participate in the Hajj hope to be enlightened.
Pray for true enlightenment for your Muslim neighbors. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of
darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory
displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
COMMUNITY
“Ummah” is the Arabic word for community. It describes the powerful, unifying pull of the Islamic
community to conform and remain within the boundaries of Islam. Any Muslim who is considering
the call to follow Jesus must wrestle with the cost of leaving the Ummah. The loss of family, friends,
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community and identity are powerful forces working against any potential decision for Christ.
Pray for Muslim neighbours who are counting the cost of following Jesus. Ask God to send angels
to minister to them (Hebrews 1:14). Pray they would embrace Jesus’ promise of “a hundred times as
much and…eternal life” to replace what they are prepared to ive up (Matthew 19:29). Pray that as
they make the decision to follow Jesus Christ, those they love would follow them.
MEN
In Islam, men are invested with authority. Their role is to protect and provide. They bring and
restore honor to the family through their public reputation and through handling any threats to the
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family name.
Pray for Muslim men to humble themselves before the Most High God, giving Him all the honor
and glory as they come into right relationship with Him through Jesus’ work on the cross. Pray
they would be loving, respectful and gentle in their interactions with their wives and children.
WOMEN
Experiences of Muslim women vary significantly depending on a wide range of religious, cultural
and social factors. Women are under the authority of their father, brother or husband. They are
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responsible for preserving the honor of the family and home and for raising the children. Many are
burdened with shame.
Pray for Muslim women to find shelter, comfort and value in Jesus Christ. Pray they would be
able to flourish and develop their God-given potential. Pray they would be loving, respectful and
gentle in their interactions with their husbands and children.
MARRIAGES
Transitioning from Eastern to Western contexts puts tremendous strain on Muslim marriages. In
Canada, women have greater rights and options to exercise them, and men are held accountable to
laws and standards unfamiliar to them. Already stretched by external stresses, spouses find the
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internal adjustments even more challenging. Many marriages do not survive, leaving women and
children vulnerable.
Pray for Muslim marriages that are stressed and troubled to find healthy supports and counsel
within the Christian community. Pray for Christian marriage counsellors and neighbours to walk
alongside and point to the only true Mediator and Peacemaker.
www.lovingmuslimstogether.caCHILDREN
Children in Canadian Muslim families navigate living in two cultures—one in their home and
mosque community and the other in their schools and neighbourhoods. Many of those children
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have experienced significant transitions. Those who came to Canada as refugees and immigrants
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may have experienced trauma. Studies have shown that many adult followers of Jesus made that
decision between the ages of 4-14 years.
Pray Muslim children will have the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ and make a decision to
follow him from their earliest youth. Pray that Christian classmates would lovingly share their
faith while being living testimonies of God’s goodness and grace.
YOUTH
Teenagers and young adults are faced with a complexity of decisions, opportunities and growing
independence compounded by normal developmental and hormonal turbulence. Muslim youth
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often are torn between the expectations of their families and religious communities and the
freedoms that Canadian culture seems to offer.
Pray that in the turbulence of these teen years, Muslim youth would find Christian friends and
community. Pray for Christian teens to boldly and lovingly share their lives with Muslim teens.
FAMILIES
We often think of family as consisting of parents and children. Muslim families extend to aunts,
uncles, cousins and beyond. When God sent Peter to speak to God-fearing Cornelius, the Holy Spirit
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fell upon the whole household, and they all believed! (Acts 10:1-11:18)
Pray that whole families and clans would hear and believe together so that they could be
discipled into obedience to Christ without having to abandon the natural relationships that are so
significant to them.
BELIEVERS FROM MUSLIM BACKGROUND
New believers from Islam often struggle with being excluded from the social life of the Islamic
community during Ramadan. They can feel pressure to join in the celebrations and then find
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themselves being drawn back into Islam.
Pray their Christian friends and churches would love them intentionally and well during this time.
Pray the evidence of transformation in their lives, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, would
satisfy them and lead them to pray for more Muslims to experience adoption into God’s family.
FACTORS important to the journey of Muslims who chose to follow Jesus Christ after coming here. *
*Fruitful Practices Research North American Muslim Diaspora: A Mixed Methods Study (2017) Rick Kronk, Gene Daniels, Mark Chapman & James Watson
FACTOR 1 - AN EXPERIENCE WITH A LOCAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The local church is very significant in the journey of Muslims to faith in Jesus Christ. However, many
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local churches are unprepared to provide a hospitable welcome.
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Pray that local churches would evaluate their ability to welcome into their midst Muslims who
are curious about Jesus Christ or open to relationships with Christians. Pray that your church
would be willing to make helpful changes and be ready to welcome Muslims.
FACTOR 2 - A CHRISTIAN FRIEND
Muslims seeking answers to their questions as they seriously consider Christ’s claims need to
journey with faith-filled, trustworthy Christian friends as they learn about and experience the truth
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of the Gospel.
Pray for Christians to make room in their hearts and lives for Muslim friends. Pray Christians
would courageously share the hope they have in following Jesus Christ. Ask God to bring a
seeking Muslim into your life.
www.lovingmuslimstogether.caFACTOR 3 – THE BIBLE IN HEART LANGUAGE
Most Muslims grew up speaking a language other than English. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of
God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul
and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Scripture must be
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understood in order to “penetrate to the soul and spirit”. What languages does your church offer
Bibles in?
Pray that every Muslim in Canada would have access to God’s Word in the language they hear in
their heart. Pray for your church to make Scripture available in the heart languages of your
neighbours.
FACTOR 4 - TIME TO CONSIDER THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST
Years. That’s how long many Muslims take to distance themselves from the teachings of Islam, to
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wrestle with the teachings of Christ and to consider the cost of potentially losing their family and
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community if they choose to follow Jesus.
Pray for the wind of the Holy Spirit to blow, accelerating the process for Muslims who are
wrestling with these decisions. Pray Christians would demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit as they
journey with their Muslim friends throughout this process.
FACTOR 5 – IN A SITUATION TO EXPLORE NEW IDEAS
Muslims in Canada find themselves, perhaps for the first time, in a situation where they can explore
new ideas and question assumptions upon which they have founded their lives.
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Pray many Muslims would be curious and courageous as they explore new ideas, including who
Jesus Christ really is. Pray for opportunities for exploration that are safe—emotionally, socially
and physically. Pray you could be a safe person for your Muslim neighbours and for opportunities
to engage in meaningful conversations with them.
FACTOR 6 – MULTIPLE FACTORS INVOLVED
Each journey to Christ is unique and includes a combination of factors in the individual’s situation,
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family and experiences that play a role in the decision to leave Islam to follow Jesus.
Thank the Holy Spirit for working in every situation to uniquely choreograph the journey! Ask Him
to draw your Muslim friends forward on their journey to Jesus Christ.
FACTOR 7 – A SUPRA-RATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Muslims are convinced they have the truth and know the right path. Even after a long journey of
discovery, it is extremely difficult to make the decision to leave Islam to follow Jesus. It usually
requires some unusual experience—a dream, a vision, an answered prayer—that demonstrates the
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power and truth found in Jesus alone.
Pray for extraordinary evidence of the truth of the Gospel. Pray for dreams, visions, answered
prayers and other encounters that tip the scales in favor of following Jesus Christ. Expect that as
you pray for your Muslim friends in Jesus’ name, they will have specific, game-changing,
supernatural encounters as a result.
www.lovingmuslimstogether.caREFUGEES
Many refugees are Muslims—the latest wave arriving from Afghanistan. They’ve been displaced
because of calamities and wars far beyond their control and ripped from community, country, family
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and home to start over in a strange land with many unfamiliar customs.
“…I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and
you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me…” (Matthew 25:35-36a)
Pray Christians would see Christ in these vulnerable ones. Pray that Muslim refugees would see and
be drawn to Christ through the love of those who help them.
EMPLOYMENT
Many refugees come to Canada with excellent education and skills but with unrecognized
credentials. The familiar mechanisms for advancement are not available to them. Others arrive with
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no transferable skills relevant to the Canadian economy. Financial stability is core to family stability.
Pray for opportunities for retraining and employment. Pray for Christian employers to be quick to
offer jobs to Muslims and to help them transition to the Canadian system. Pray that Christian
employers would demonstrate the values of the Kingdom of God in their work environment.
FOLK ISLAM
The core teachings of Islam do not provide answers to the challenges of daily life or the power to
overcome them. A complex array of rituals and activities have arisen in response. Amulets, curses,
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mediums and shamans are employed against sickness, infertility and other problems. When
relationships go sour, fear of retaliation through sorcery can destroy enjoyment of life.
Pray for your Muslim neighbours to be set free from fear and bondage and enter into the
freedom that only Jesus can give. Pray that Christians would be bold and expectant in praying for
their Muslim friends who are facing such challenges.
MUSLIM INFLUENCERS
Today's media is salted with Muslim millennials (age 26-41) and Gen Zs (age 10-25) very skilled in
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telling their own stories. They regularly protest: "Islam is not a monolith". They don't want to be
seen the way Muslims were stereotyped in the wake of 911. They want to be seen for who they are.
Pray that Christians will see Muslims for who they are. Pray that Christians will recognize and
repent of stereotypes and unhelpful filters and instead choose to see with the eyes of Jesus.
LAYLAT AL-QADR (NIGHT OF POWER)
Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammed on this night and that it
is the only night when sins can be forgiven, and prayers answered. They pray for mercy,
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forgiveness, and salvation. Some stay awake, praying all night.
Pray that, on this night, Muslims would have a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ, the only
one who can forgive sin and save them. Ask God to follow up this experience with encounters
with Christians who can tell them the Good News.
POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS
University is an opportunity for Muslim students to grow, learn and experience new environments
and to explore new ideas. Many Muslim students come to Canada from other nations for advanced
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education. Very few are ever invited into a Canadian home.
Pray that every Muslim university student in Canada would have a Christian friend and
experience Christian hospitality. Pray that many Christians would open their homes and hearts to
Muslim students and freely share their faith.
www.lovingmuslimstogether.caEDUCATION
Learning, questioning, and debating threaten the unity and stability of the Muslim community.
Some Muslims who choose to explore freely may find themselves at odds with their leaders; some
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choose to reject much of what they have been taught about core Islamic values and beliefs; still
others filter out information that contradicts their worldview.
Pray that Muslims of all ages would develop a curiosity and boldness to learn, to doubt, to
question and to discover what is true and real. Pray their questions lead them to the one who
claims to be “the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life.” (John 14:6)
APPEARANCES
Islam places a high value on success and the right guidance to achieve it. The daily prayer call invites
Muslims to “Come to success!” The definition of success is often based on social status, wealth,
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generous hospitality, and the appearance of family cohesion. The pressure to appear successful to
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the surrounding community can lead to over-extension.
Pray that God would send Christians to help overextended Muslim families without amplifying
their shame. Pray the Holy Spirit would guide these families toward finding their identity and
status as beloved children of the King.
EID AL FITR
Ramadan fasting ends in a feast! In a spirit of festivity, the Muslim community gathers at the
mosque for special prayers and a communal meal, and money is given to the poor.
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As Ramadan comes to an end, continue praying for your Muslim friends, neighbours and those
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who worship at the mosque nearest your church. Pray that one day these would find their way to
the feast Jesus described in Matthew 8:10-11, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel
with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west and will take
their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”
www.lovingmuslimstogether.caThank you for praying!!!
We invite you to keep praying throughout the year for Muslims in Canada.
Gather a group from your church to pray for those who gather at the mosque nearest
you. Jesus exhorts us to love our neighbour as ourselves. Mosque communities are often the target
of hate and racism, but we are called to love. Perhaps the most loving thing we can do is pray.
There are 650 mosques across Canada, scattered in our neighbourhoods. Our vision is that each
mosque across Canada would have at least one group of Christ-followers, perhaps your church,
praying regularly for their community.
• If you need help identifying the mosque nearest to you, we can help. Email us at info@lmtn.ca.
• Use the monthly prayer points provided by the Loving Muslims Together network. This year
they’re being provided by those who have left Islam to follow Jesus Christ.
Subscribe at www.lovingmuslimstogether.ca/monthly.
• Register your prayer commitment so that we can track progress!
www.lovingmuslimstogether.ca/mosque.
• Follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit to build relationship into this community. Tell us your
stories so we can rejoice with you!
Subscribe to one of our prayer blogs and join others in praying weekly or monthly
for Muslims in Canada. Find the blogs at www.lovingmuslimstogether.ca/pray
Find an already existing prayer group. Groups are scattered across Canada and have
continued to meet online during the pandemic. To find one, email info@lmtn.ca.
Join us! Membership is an invitation to join a network where you can:
Learn what you cannot learn anywhere else.
Connect with people and ministries with a shared passion.
Belong to a community like none other.
Find your way in at https://lovingmuslimstogether.outreach.ca/Membership
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