What does it look like to be part of a community that seeks to bless Muslim people?
Here at OMF we long to learn more about all the people God has made. What we learn helps us to love them better.
So what does it look like to bless Muslim people? It can seem daunting to connect with people of different faiths and backgrounds and it can be hard to know where to begin.
We’ve previously introduced four easy ways to get started so here are four more ways to bless your Muslim
neighbors:
1. Learn
In his book Engaging with Muslims, John Klaassen encourages us that learning more about our Muslim friends shows us that we really care about them.
We can sometimes be afraid of bringing up the topic of religion, but our Muslim friends and neighbors love to talk about their faith.
They’re usually delighted when people show an interest. Learning more about what Muslims believe helps us love them better – at Ramadan we can gain a deeper understanding of why our friends fast and what practicing it looks like for them.
Asking respectful questions can go a long way to growing a relationship.
Why not try…
Next time you meet your Muslim friend or neighbor, ask them about one of their spiritual practices. A
good way to phrase these questions is ‘I’m wondering why / how…?’
2. Spend time
This sounds obvious, but we spend time with those we love. Just being together is really
valuable. So make time to catch up with your Muslim friends.
Why not try…
Finding a time to catch up with your Muslim friends – what could you do
together?
3. Extend an invitation
The Bible encourages us to ‘practice hospitality’ (Romans 12:13). While it may be hard having someone we don’t know very well round to our house, and we might be worried about doing the wrong thing, the important thing is to have a go. Ask questions, do some research. The invitation can just be to do an activity together.
You may get invited to their house first. This is an honour, and as OMF’s UK’s ‘Ready for Ramadan?’ article points out, not something to be afraid of:
‘Be prepared to be invited to an Iftar meal as Muslims are very hospitable. This is a real honour, and not an invitation to be refused. We need not fear being involved in something that compromises our faith – we will not be asked to pray to Allah, or to join in Islamic worship. Generally Muslims have positive attitudes to Christians, especially those they know are faithful, friendly and respectful.’
Why not try:
A simple invitation to spend time together, perhaps after Ramadan you
could share a meal together.
4. Pray
Whatever else we do to bless our Muslim neighbors, a great blessing is to pray for them. We can do this on our own, but we can also offer to pray for our Muslim friends when we’re with them as part of our friendship. We can pray for God’s protection and blessing in their lives and mention any prayer requests they’ve shared.
Why not try:
Asking how you can pray for your Muslim friends and neighbors. You can pray simply in the name of Jesus.
Next steps
Will you be part of a community seeking to bless East Asia’s Muslim people?
