{"id":12030,"date":"2020-04-24T11:00:40","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T10:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=conexion&p=12030"},"modified":"2020-04-28T11:07:39","modified_gmt":"2020-04-28T10:07:39","slug":"five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan","status":"publish","type":"conexion","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/","title":{"rendered":"Five ways to love Muslim students during Ramadan"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

For Muslims around the world, this time of year is normally characterized by the sounds of family and friends bursting through a lively home filled with delicious smells. Loved ones gather to celebrate Ramadan, a holiday which commemorates Allah giving the Qur’an to the prophet Muhammad. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

During this month-long celebration, Muslims focus on prayer and fasting during the hours of sunlight to practice self-discipline and to remember the poor. At sundown, communities gather for prayer. Afterward, they break their fast with a feast called an \u201ciftar.\u201d These evenings are an important time to enjoy company with loved ones.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Yet in a time of COVID-19, this year\u2019s fast will look different. Families and friends will be unable to gather in large groups. Evening meals may consist of more modest amounts of food as those affected financially will be unable to afford the usual feast. Mosques will be closed for prayers. International students may feel especially lonely, as they will be isolated from loved ones in other countries. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Each year the spiritual implications of\u00a0Ramadan\u00a0offer opportunities for Christians to engage in meaningful discussions with their Muslim friends.\u00a0Here are\u00a0five\u00a0ways\u00a0to\u00a0love\u00a0your Muslim friends as they walk through a\u00a0very different Ramadan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

1. Check in<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

What is an easy way to support your friends during Ramadan? Ask them how they are doing. Don\u2019t be afraid to start the conversation. Asking thoughtful questions is a meaningful way to acknowledge that this may be a difficult time. Here are four questions to begin with: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
  • How will your celebration plans be different this year?  <\/li>
  • How is fasting going? <\/li>
  • What is the most difficult part of celebrating during Covid-19? <\/li>
  • How can I pray for you? <\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
    \n

    As you check in with your friends, consider calling them via phone or video chat instead of texting them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

    \n

    2. Join the feast<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
    \n

    Joining your Muslim friends\u00a0for an iftar\u00a0meal\u00a0in the evenings is a great way to\u00a0learn about their traditions\u00a0and spark good conversation.\u00a0If you wish to show greater\u00a0solidarity, you\u00a0might\u00a0consider\u00a0choosing one\u00a0day to fast with your\u00a0friend and break the fast\u00a0together at the end of the day. Though this year will\u00a0require\u00a0major adjustments to evening feasts,\u00a0video calling\u00a0still makes\u00a0it possible to share a meal together. In fact,\u00a0many students\u00a0are\u00a0taking part\u00a0in online \u201cpeace feasts.\u201d\u00a0During the feasts,\u00a0Muslim and Christian students will gather online to share a meal\u00a0over a video call\u00a0and\u00a0to discuss\u00a0different topics related to Islam and Christianity.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

    \n

    3. Start a conversation<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
    \n

    Since Ramadan creates a heightened awareness of spirituality for Muslims, it provides good opportunities to have conversations surrounding faith. However, the key to successful conversations is to keep them as discussions and not debates. Approach the topics as a student with a genuine interest to learn. Ask questions that will spark a discussion about their own spirituality. For instance, \u201cHave you ever experienced God talking to you personally?\u201d or \u201cWhat do you experience when you fast?\u201d  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

    \n

    Effective conversations can also happen through reading and comparing the Bible and the Qur\u2019an. A movement in Paris is seeing great success as they establish groups which invite Muslim students to discuss a common theme with Christians based on a reference text in both books. In the case of Ahmed*, a student who came from Djibouti to study in Paris, examining both texts under the theme of prayer proved life changing. Ahmed was astounded to learn that Jesus encouraged his followers to pray to God as Father. Discussing this topic helped him understand that it is possible to have a close relationship with God, who will answer our prayers and listen to us. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

    \n

    With\u00a0the current pandemic,\u00a0many of these groups have moved online. Students are keen to participate in online discussion groups\u00a0to find community, especially during Ramadan.\u00a0During this season, consider how you can find avenues for\u00a0conversations\u00a0with Muslims, whether it be through a peace feast, internet caf\u00e9, or simply calling up your friend.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

    \n

    4. Share some scripture<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
    \n

    As you are reaching out to your Muslim friends online, consider sending blessings from scripture. Though the Bible is not their holy book,\u00a0many\u00a0Muslims will recognize its words as meaningful to their lives, especially if they are used as encouragement from a friend. Aim for beautiful words of inspiration or exhortation from the Psalms or Old Testament. Though\u00a0these verses\u00a0provide just a small snapshot from the Bible, it will get Muslims engaging in scripture,\u00a0and\u00a0may spark curiosity. While sending a private message to your friend may be the more personal approach, you\u00a0could\u00a0also\u00a0post\u00a0a daily blessing on your timeline during Ramadan.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

    \n

    5. Pray\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
    \n

    As important as it is to find creative ways to love our friends, there is nothing we can do that will replace the power of prayer. Our incapacity to physically be with our friends this year is a humbling reminder of God\u2019s ability to reach where we are unable. Ultimately, he is the one who changes hearts. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

    \n

    Pray that God would reveal truth and hope to your Muslim friends. When dialoguing with them, end the discussion by asking how you may pray for them. Instead of promising to pray later, offer to pray on the spot. Muslims\u00a0respect the power of prayer and often will not reject prayer from a Christian.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

    \n

    What are you going to do?\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
    \n

    Don\u2019t miss the opportunity to get involved in a significant time in the life of your Muslim friends. What creative ways can you connect with them in the time of Ramadan? Check in with them, join the feast, start conversations, share scripture, pray for them, and show God\u2019s love as they navigate a very different Ramadan this year.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

    \n

    *name changed <\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":12031,"template":"","area":[],"theme":[],"class_list":["post-12030","conexion","type-conexion","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFive ways to love Muslim students during Ramadan · IFES Conexi\u00f3n Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For Muslims around the world, this time of year is normally characterized by the sounds of family and friends bursting through\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Five ways to love Muslim students during Ramadan · IFES Conexi\u00f3n Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For Muslims around the world, this time of year is normally characterized by the sounds of family and friends bursting through\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"IFES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-04-28T10:07:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/hobi-industri-tVQrPJ9Ysck-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/\",\"name\":\"Five ways to love Muslim students during Ramadan · IFES Conexi\u00f3n Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/hobi-industri-tVQrPJ9Ysck-unsplash-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-04-24T10:00:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-04-28T10:07:39+00:00\",\"description\":\"For Muslims around the world, this time of year is normally characterized by the sounds of family and friends bursting through\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/hobi-industri-tVQrPJ9Ysck-unsplash-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/hobi-industri-tVQrPJ9Ysck-unsplash-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Conexi\u00f3n\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Five ways to love Muslim students during Ramadan\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/\",\"name\":\"IFES\",\"description\":\"A movement of students sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ. Locally. Nationally. Globally.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#organization\",\"name\":\"IFES \u00b7 International Fellowship of Evangelical Students\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/ifeslogo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/ifeslogo.png\",\"width\":262,\"height\":262,\"caption\":\"IFES \u00b7 International Fellowship of Evangelical Students\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Five ways to love Muslim students during Ramadan · IFES Conexi\u00f3n Blog","description":"For Muslims around the world, this time of year is normally characterized by the sounds of family and friends bursting through","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Five ways to love Muslim students during Ramadan · IFES Conexi\u00f3n Blog","og_description":"For Muslims around the world, this time of year is normally characterized by the sounds of family and friends bursting through","og_url":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/","og_site_name":"IFES","article_modified_time":"2020-04-28T10:07:39+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/hobi-industri-tVQrPJ9Ysck-unsplash-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/","url":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/","name":"Five ways to love Muslim students during Ramadan · IFES Conexi\u00f3n Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/hobi-industri-tVQrPJ9Ysck-unsplash-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2020-04-24T10:00:40+00:00","dateModified":"2020-04-28T10:07:39+00:00","description":"For Muslims around the world, this time of year is normally characterized by the sounds of family and friends bursting through","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/hobi-industri-tVQrPJ9Ysck-unsplash-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/hobi-industri-tVQrPJ9Ysck-unsplash-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1707},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/five-ways-to-love-muslim-students-during-ramadan\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Conexi\u00f3n","item":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Five ways to love Muslim students during Ramadan"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/","name":"IFES","description":"A movement of students sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ. Locally. Nationally. Globally.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#organization","name":"IFES \u00b7 International Fellowship of Evangelical Students","url":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/ifeslogo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/ifeslogo.png","width":262,"height":262,"caption":"IFES \u00b7 International Fellowship of Evangelical Students"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/conexion\/12030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/conexion"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/conexion"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area?post=12030"},{"taxonomy":"theme","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/theme?post=12030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}