Ramadan 2009 / 1430: August 22 - September 20
Muslims in Malegaon, India
Monday, 14 September
"Loving Muslims Through Prayer"
Malegaon is a city of about a million people located in the hot, north eastern part of Maharashtra, India (220 kilometres northeast of Mumbai). Known for its textile industry, the city is divided both physically and socially by a river. In the Muslim district, several large Qur’anic schools educate boys aged of 6-25 in Islamic faith and practice. Mufti Ismail, one of Malegaon’s Muslim leaders, is part of the influential council that governs Qur’anic schools throughout the country.
Most local Muslims belong to the “Ansari” people group. Many Ansaris are employed in the city’s textile factories – dark, hot warehouses where raw cotton and polyester is processed, spun into thread, dyed and woven into cloth. The only known Christian presence in the city consists of a very small struggling Christian community. May God encourage and transform these believers to truly live out their faith and be a light across the whole city.
Prayer Starters:
- Muslims in Malegaon hold firmly to the traditions, the teachings and counsel of their leaders. Even when tactfully presented with the Gospel in 2008, many Muslims would not even consider the claims of Jesus Christ nor would they read the New Testament (Injil). Pray for the salvation of their community leaders like Mufti Ismail.
- The average Muslim on the street in Malegaon remains in ignorance concerning some of the basic questions of belief in God. May God give them enlightenment.
- Some are seeking for more understanding. One Ansari truck driver was asked what to do about his shame and guilt, knowing he has sinned against God. He paused, bowed his head and then looked up saying in a sincere tone, “I do not know.”
- In 2008 some Muslims did ask for tracts and Bibles. Pray that this openness could be directed toward personal contact with God.
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