Ramadan Day 28 - Mysore, India

30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World

The Muslims of Mysore, India

Population: 877,000 (2005)
Muslims: about 250,000

Mysore is an historical city situated in the southern India State of Karnataka. It is religiously and culturally conservative. Historically the Muslims have had a major influence in Mysore. Present day Mysore has several Muslim groups with significantly varied practises. Most Muslims in Mysore are Urdu speaking.

A recent survey of Muslims in Mysore revealed that only 18% of Muslim male adults do their five daily prayers; less than half attend the Friday prayers, which is an obligation for Muslims. Several Islamic organizations in the city are involved in politics and are active in social work and propagating Islam to non-Muslims. There are 120 mosques and 180 schools where religious instruction is imparted to 10,000 children.

The city has 300 people who have completely memorized the Qur'an (they are called Hafiz). Many Muslims in Mysore follow Sufi traditions, including visiting the tombs of Muslim saints, mystically praising Allah through songs, and focusing on attaining unity with Allah through meditation, chanting, and music. None of the almost 100 churches in Mysore are currently reaching out to the Muslim community in an organised and active way.

Let’s Pray:

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* May God reveal Himself to the Muslims as a personal God even as they seek to experience Him through their Sufi traditions.

* Pray that they will see that Jesus is the only way through whom they can attain “unity” with Allah and not through their meditations, chanting, music, or visits to the shrines.

* Pray that the churches will take up their responsibility to reach out to the Muslim community in ways that are culturally sensitive to the Muslims.

* Pray that the new Muslim background believers will have the courage to walk with Jesus and to be witnesses of Him in their community.


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This is an excerpt from our 30-Days Prayer Guide ISBN 2-9514163-8-5. Encourage others to pray with us - pass this on.
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