Picture : breaking the fast in Benghazi.
It’s morning in Libya and everyone is sleeping. Children are stretched out on the cushions around the carpeted living room. Much earlier (about 4AM), their mother woke them up to eat Suhoor before dawn and the morning prayer. Some of the adults and teenagers have stayed up all night – visiting with neighbors, going out shopping, watching TV, eating fruit and desserts and drinking cups of tea.
About noon the younger children wake up, dress and walk to the neighborhood mosque where there are summer Islamic lessons. There will be verses in the Koran to memorize and recite the next day. The smaller ones will be encouraged to fast for as long as they can each day. Older children are expected to fast the entire day like grownups. People watch special Ramadan programs and serials on TV most of the day to make the time pass quickly.
The women in the household will spend much of the day going shopping and cooking several main dishes, salads and desserts for Iftar – the evening meal after sunset. The mosque will signal the end of the day of fasting with a call for prayer and the family will break their fast eating together. Relatives often eat the evening meal at one another’s homes so the entire month is a great time to socialize. Companies and charities also put on large dinner parties for their workers/members. Restaurants are generally closed all day and only open for the evening meal.
The devout try to read the entire Koran during the month and faithfully keep all the prayer times. In the evenings, the men and children walk to the neighborhood mosque to pray. Women usually pray at home or in a special section of the mosque.
Fasting for Ramadan is one of the requirements of Islam. People believe that if they do not fast, they will not go to heaven.
“The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” John 14:6
Ramadan in Libya – Pray for :
- A stable government to bring order and peace to the country.
- Protection and strengthening of ALL believers who live there.
- Libyans to “find” Christian programs on satellite TV and the internet and begin to search for the truth.
- Dreams and visions of Jesus as people seek to please God.
- Seekers to connect with believers who can bring them to Jesus.