The month of Ramadan holds significance because Muslims believe it was the month when the angel Gabriel brought the first revelations of the Quran to Muhammad. It is called the blessed month since Ramadan is the month of mercy and forgiveness. The benefits and rewards of doing any good deed during Ramadan are significant. When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of Jannah (paradise) are opened, the gates of Jahannam (hell) are closed, and the devils are chained. For Muslims, this means that during Ramadan their devotion to Allah through fasting, prayers, and good deeds holds greater weight and helps them gain favor with Allah and entrance into paradise.
To mark the significance of this momentous month, Muslims abstain from drinking, eating, and certain other sensual pleasure from sunrise to sunset each day. Mosques offer special times for prayer each night—particularly on Laylat al-Qadr, the night the Quran was revealed on the 27th day of Ramadan. Throughout the month, Muslims are encouraged to read through the Quran. Quite often, devout individuals will go to the mosque to perform extra prayers and to recite the Quran. In homes, women can be found reading and teaching the Quran to the children. To facilitate the reading of the Quran, it is divided into thirty equal parts for each day of the month. Muslims revere the Quran’s Arabic and words as sacred to the point of deification. Infidels and unbelievers should not touch the Quran.
As we think of our Muslim neighbors during this month, Christians can respect their dedication to the Quran. However, our hearts yearn for them to know the true and living word of God, Jesus Christ. The Bible is the infallible Word of God, but we do not deify the language, words, and pages of the Bible. Muslims believe that the Quran is God’s best revelation to mankind, but from the first book of the Bible, we see that God desired a relationship with His highest creation—people. God created man in His image. He desired to fellowship with Adam and Eve in the Garden, but they disobeyed and sin separated them from that relationship. So, God sent his Son to be the sacrifice for our sins so that fellowship could be restored. The revelation of the Bible is not about the descent of a book to give us guidance, as Muslims believe about the Quran. The Bible is the Word of God, which gives the revelation of the Living Word of God—Jesus Christ!
If you have a Muslim neighbor or friend, be ready during the month of Ramadan (April 2 - May 1) to share the Living Word (Jesus) with them. How can you do this? Have a Bible ready to give to them. One of the most effective ways to reach a Muslim for Christ is through placing a Bible in their hands. The Word of God is living, active, and convicting (Heb. 4:12)! Build a relationship with a Muslim and then, when questions arise, you can give them a Bible and read it with them. Be like Philip with the Ethiopian eunuch and share the Good News about Jesus (Acts 8:26-40).
The ultimate goal of God’s revelation is not a book, but rather that people will come to know Jesus in a real and personal way and have eternal life, as stated in 1 John 5:13 (NLT): “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know you have eternal life.” God took the initiative to make himself known to His creation. We must take the initiative to make Jesus known to Muslims. There is no better time to share Jesus with a Muslim than during Ramadan!