March 2, 2026

"I am fasting every other day,” the Afghan woman told my wife. “I am trying to get my older children to fast, so that’s why I fast, even though my health is bad.” 

We didn’t tell her that, according to Islam, her approach is not an authorized way to fast during Ramadan. Technically, Muslims must fast each day, consecutively, throughout the whole month for it to count. One can fast every other day at other times of the year, but not during Ramadan.

This woman, we will call Dukhtar, and her children are failing at the only way that Islam provides for them to earn favor with God. They must meet the Five Pillars of Islam perfectly in order for Allah to accept them. They must say the creed, keep the fast, go on Haj to Mecca, give to the poor, and say their daily prayers. 

Muslims have special beliefs surrounding Ramadan. Prayers prayed in a mosque during this month carry more weight than those offered at any other time. Furthermore, prayers during the last ten days and nights carry additional blessings. And finally, prayers during the Night of Power, the night when Muslims believe Mohammed received the first verses of the Quran, are the most rewarding prayers of the year.

No one knows when the Night of Power comes, but tradition has marked the 27th day or night of Ramadan as the most probable time. Many Muslims will spend this whole day and night at the mosque. I have been in mosques at 1:00 pm during Ramadan, and sleeping bags and bedrolls are common items in the prayer room!

One time, I was surprised by a clumped-up bedroll opening up as I walked by and a man’s head popped out. Well, actually, he was more surprised than I was. I asked our host, “Why are so many people sleeping at the mosque?” I was told that they were seeking a special blessing for praying during the Night of Power at the mosque.

This is most unfortunate for women, for they are hardly permitted to visit the mosque for prayers, let alone sleep there. Thus, they would never be able to receive the double blessings that the men were able to seek.

Pray for Muslims seeking spiritual blessing during this month that they would have visions or dreams of Jesus. Muslims give great importance to dreams and in fact, many Muslims have come to Christ through a dream or vision! Islam has such a hold on their life that many times, it takes something extraordinary to break the chains of darkness.

You might consider being sensitive about eating in front of your Muslim neighbors and work colleagues until Ramadan finishes on the 19th or 20th of March. You also might consider inviting them or joining them for a meal when the sun goes down. Mealtime often provides a more relaxed setting where you could ask them to explain why they fast. You could also ask if you could share a passage from Isaiah 58. These are challenging passages where God asks why the people expect blessings from fasting when they are oppressing the poor and turning away the needy.

Other interesting things you can talk about or consider: Christian fasting is meant to be private not public, whereas Islamic fasting is public, with the whole community checking on each other. For both Christians and Muslims, fasting is done to seek holiness and to help us focus on God. You could share a time you have fasted and for what reason. You could ask them if they have ever had a dream or vision of someone in dazzling white during Ramadan or any other time. You could explain that in the Bible, God often sent angels to give direction, and if they have a dream like that, it means that God is trying to get their attention.

Prayercast.com is a great place to find short helpful videos of Muslim peoples that need Jesus. These three- to four-minute videos also work well for Sunday service mission plugs.