Preparations for Prayer

30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World Ramadan 2010 / 1431: August 11 - September 09


Preparations for Prayer - Friday Prayer Focus

For Friday 20 August, Ramadan 2010. "Loving Muslims Through Prayer"

Today again, Muslims worldwide will be preparing themselves for Friday prayer. Indeed, all week long, practising Muslims do these ritual washings in order to be pure for prayer. Ritual cleansing is very important to Muslims, as well as the specific times. This differs significantly from Christian teaching about prayer. In Islam it is impossible to pray correctly without the ritual cleansing with water, or in the absence of water, with sand.

Islamic instruction about prayer is filled with long passages on exactly how to go about the cleansing process. None of the steps can be sidestepped or done in an improper way otherwise Islamic prayer loses its merit and validity. Unfortunately, no one can be saved or sanctified by ritual cleansing.

Prayer Starters:

* While some aspects of the ritual washing may be helpful as a reminder about how sinful we are as human beings, ultimately the ritual cleansing does not lead Muslims to true righteousness or holiness.
* Pray for Muslims to discover the depths of sin and God’s holiness so that they may forever be freed of the idea that water can ever make them fit to meet God. Pray this for people that you may know, pray for Muslims in your city and elsewhere (Heb 8:9-12).
* Pray for the Muslims who will be praying at the Jama Masjid in Delhi, India (above). There are possibly 1.5 million Muslims in The Delhi/New Delhi urban area (11%). Followers of the Messiah are less than one percent. Pray for believers to seize opportunities to proclaim the Gospel.

Complete article, video and comments: http://www.30-days.net/muslims/featured/preparations-for-friday-prayer/