Ramadan

You may think this is a strange title for a Christian Blog! Don’t worry I’m not about to promote the observance of Ramadan!

But today, the 22nd of August, is the beggining of the Muslim festival of Ramadan.

I was chatting to a good mate of mine from my cricket team after our game today (which we won!) His name is Uzman and he is a Muslim. He told me that Ramadan is a time where people refrain from things such as drinking and smoking, he said that he would have no physical/sexual contact with women during this time. Instead he will fast from dawn till dusk and pray more than usual. The whole aim of this, he told me, was so that they can repent of sins they have committed within the year, and gives them a chance to meditate and learn. If they observe Ramadan then at the end of the it there slate is clean and they are like new born children in Allah’s sight, with a clean slate.

It was interesting chatting about why he observed it. Ultimately it is so that they gain approval before Allah. We started chatting about some of the differences between Islam and Christianity. Basically the big difference is Jesus!

Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet, but it would be an unforgivable sin to say that Allah has a son. This is a major difference. Also, and I think this is so vital, is that we don’t have to observe anything like Ramadan in the Christian faith. We believe that Jesus Christ IS the Son of God, that He died on the cross as our once for all sacrifice and then was raised to life showing that death was defeated for all who would turn to Him! We don’t need to try and please God by doing certain things, such as Ramadan is for the Muslim. We believe that Jesus has done that for us and this is a glorious and life changing message!

Ramadan lasts for a month and most Muslims will be observing it. As followers of Jesus I think we need to be respectful, but also to realise that they need Jesus so much. They too are made in God’s image and it is a terrible thought that any should be cast out of His presence for Eternity, as it is with anyone living. What a motivation to spread the Gospel!