Proven ways to connect during Ramadan

Ramadan has begun for your Muslim friends! From April 2nd to May 2nd, the Islamic world is fasting between sunrise and sunset in order to complete one of the mandated Five Pillars of Islam! Fasting during the month of Ramadan is supposed to erase a Muslim’s sins and please Allah.
This is an important month for connecting with and evangelizing to your Muslim friends. If you don’t know much about the month of Ramadan, we recommend reading “The Truth about Ramadan” and then come back to read the rest of this post!
6 Questions to open up a conversation
Ramadan is a great time to have a deeper conversation with your Muslim friend. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about this month of fasting. Your Muslim friend is probably more than happy to answer them, and it can open up a chance for you to have a quality spiritual conversation:
- Why do you fast during Ramadan?
- How old were you when you started fasting during Ramadan?
- What is the hardest part of Ramadan?
- What does fasting mean to you personally?
- What is it like living in a non-Islamic country during Ramadan?
- I learned that Ramadan is about fasting to erase your sins, isn’t that a lot of pressure on you? (Once they answer, you can ask to share about how Jesus’ grace paid for your sins and their sins)
3 Practical Steps
To do more to connect with your Muslim friend, here are 3 tangible and practical steps:
- Bring them a gift! Ramadan is equivalent to the Christmas season for your Muslim friends. Taking them a gift, like a plant or dessert, is appropriate in the evening when the feasting takes place. This opens up a door for conversation.
- Accept the invitation to feast with them! If your Muslim friend invites you to break the fast with them, accept and go with the attitude of learning about their culture and growing the friendship further. Who knows, maybe this will open the door for you to invite them to a church event later.
- Do an easy activity together! This isn’t the month to invite your Muslim friend on a hike on a hot day. Instead, try out a new hobby with them in a cool, air conditioned place. You could paint and talk together, or walk around your local mall.
Prayer during Ramadan
Jesus, I believe you are sovereign, even over a Muslim holiday. Use this month to bring the lost sheep home. Give them a spiritual hunger within them during their fasting that cannot be satisfied by Islam. If given the opportunity to share the Gospel with them, let the words I use reflect You and Your unfailing love. Amen.