For Muslims, Ramadan is a month of spiritual cleansing and purification. During this time, increase their worship, good deeds, and acts of charity. Ultimately, they seek to cleanse their souls from sin through these good deeds. The last ten days and nights hold even greater significance as they believe that Allah shows greater mercy to His creation during this time. These days are a chance to benefit from the immense blessings of Ramadan and seek salvation before the month comes to an end.
The Night of Power occurs on the 27th of Ramadan (April 28, 2022), the next to the last night of the month of fasting. It is one of the most sacred nights of the Islamic calendar. During this night, Muslims participate in extended worship, prayer, recitation of the Quran, and visiting the mosque.
According to tradition, the Night of Power commemorates the night when Muhammad received the first revelation from the angel Gabriel. The festivities of the night recall the fateful moment when Allah revealed his power and sent down the first verses of the Quran. Keep in mind that Muslims do not believe Allah revealed himself or his nature in the Quran; He only revealed his law and his will. Christians, on the other hand, believe that in the Bible, God reveals himself.
During the Night of Power, some Muslims participate in dhikr (remembering) during which they repeat or remember the name of Allah for the entire night. According to a strong tradition (alBhukari), Muhammad said, “Whoever prays during the night of Qadr [power] with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven.”
The spiritual focus, which intensifies during the last ten days of Ramadan, reaches its climax on the Night of Power. Many Muslims will spend the entire evening in prayer while others will assemble together, often in great open-air meetings, while religious scholars and clerics reflect on Quranic themes. According to hadith and the Quran itself (7:2-5), prayers offered during the Night of Power are believed to be more effective than praying for a thousand months of other nights. Muslims believe that the angels and the spirit descend on the Night of Power and that there is peace until the rising of the sun. For every Muslim, it is a night of deep emotion, but especially so for mystical Muslims. Many Muslims think that on this special night God not only forgives their sins, but also gives heed to their requests. Consequently, many Muslims are open to dreams and visions as they seek guidance and revelation. With this as a backdrop, it is no wonder that Muslims have great expectations for answered prayer and forgiveness of sins on the Night of Power!
Many Muslims, especially those preparing to take part in hajj, pray all night, repeating a routine of numerous repetitions of prostration rituals. The desire to cleanse one’s soul seems to be borne out of a desire to please Allah and palliate undetected culpability for sin. Their unrecognized need for a Savior expresses itself as they attempt to atone for their evil deeds through good works. The fast of Ramadan seeks to teach Muslims self-control. Some Muslims think that if they can master the basic desires for food, water, and sex, they can master any temptation throughout the rest of the year. Fasting, for Muslims, serves as a way of submitting to Allah.
For a Christian, fasting dulls the senses for the physical so one’s spiritual senses are sharpened. The Christian fast has nothing to do with forgiveness of sin or eternal salvation. Fasting reminds the Christian of just how much he or she depends upon God for everything. It is God's grace that enables us to abstain from sin—not good works. Fasting also sharpens our spiritual senses so that we can listen to the voice of God and discern His guidance.
As Ramadan comes to a close for 2022…
Pray that Muslims will see the futility of earning their salvation through good deeds, such as fasting, charity, and daily prayers. The reality is that no one can ever do enough good deeds to satisfy the penalty for sin. Scripture clearly teaches: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). Salvation can only be found through believing in the death of Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for sin, and His resurrection from the dead. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Pray that the eyes of Muslim people would be opened to the Truth of Jesus Christ. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4).
Pray that Muslims will hunger for and seek the Truth. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near” (Isa. 55:6).
Pray that God will give seeking Muslims a vision of himself that will lead them to find a follower of Christ who can share the message of salvation with them. Be ready! God might want to use you!