Ramadan: What is it and Why does it Matter?

As a traveller in East Kenya many years ago, I first observed the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. A few years later, as a high school teacher in Afghanistan, Ramadan took on special meaning to me as my students dragged into class everyday parched and hungry.  During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn till dusk.  This year, Ramadan began on July 20.

But for Christians living in the Muslim world, it can be a dangerous time. Generally, Christians can blend into the population. But during Ramadan, when Muslims are not eating or drinking during the day, Christians stand out, making them easy targets for persecution. Historically, Christians in Muslim-dominated countries experience a severe increase in persecution during Ramadan. 

After a year of Muslim uprisings, the tension may be worse than normal. The Arab Spring and increased terrorism have sharpened hostility toward Christians, especially in Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Syria, and Nigeria. During this month of Ramadan, let us remember to pray for the safety of our Christian brothers and sisters who live in Islamic strongholds around the world.