Iftar Reflections

Just a minute ago I received a sweet text from a Muslim friend who will soon start cooking for Iftar, the meal with which Muslims break their daily Ramadan fast. She shared her mouth-watering menu with me. She’d probably invite me over if we weren’t in the midst of COVID-19 distancing. (Picture a sad face emoji here.

Ramadan is the month when Muslims reverence Allah’s initial revelations of the Qur’an to Islam’s prophet, Muhammad. They fast food, water and sexual relations from sun-up to sun-down, in an effort to receive forgiveness from sin and earn Allah’s favor.

When our family lived overseas, we cherished visits with our Muslim friends during Ramadan. We enjoyed quite a few iftar invitations. At the appointed time we would snack on dried fruit, nuts, shami kebabs and savory samosas before diving in to a larger, delectable fare. A cup or two of creamy, cardamom chai usually topped off the feast. 

We shared more than food during iftar. People told lots of stories. We learned volumes from listening to our Muslim hosts reflect on their lives—their hopes, dreams and their religion. They expected us to share our stories, too. They often inquired about our faith. 

Muslims have many crucial misconceptions about Christianity. Muslims are especially conflicted about the person of Jesus; the Bible’s proclamation that He is the Son of God who died and rose again to redeem humankind from sin is blasphemous to them. The Qur’an that Ramadan celebrates insists that Jesus was but a great prophet whom Allah rescued from a crucifixion death.

It’s almost unbelievable, right? That Muslims would believe such a tale? I confess that in my heart I have unkindly judged Muslims who would believe the Qur’an’s take on Jesus. Lately the Holy Spirit has corrected my arrogance and enlarged my compassion for them.

Even Jesus’ own disciples, who were with him when He foretold His own sufferings, sacrificial death and resurrection, were utterly confused and fear-filled when it all came to pass. So hindered was their belief that two of them walked and talked extensively with the resurrected Jesus without even recognizing him (Luke 24). What did it take for Christ’s own disciples to accept the truth they had heard explained so many times before? What did Jesus do? 

He showed up at dinner time! (Luke 24) He didn’t condemn his disciples for their fear or unbelief. He didn’t rake them over the coals for their poor listening skills. He simply gave thanks for the bread, broke it and gave it to them.  Their eyes then opened to the Truth. Over a meal they believed and rejoiced that Jesus who died now lives.

Our response:

Jesus, thank You for the way You revealed Yourself to Your unbelieving disciples, and through them, to me. I can hardly take it in! Will You do it for Muslims, too? Would You show up for them this Ramadan, in their spiritual longings, as they seek forgiveness and favor? Visit them in their dreams, and lead them to Your truth. Please use followers (me) to help them as they seek, so that they can see how near You always are. Thank You, Jesus, for loving the world so much, that You gave Your only begotten Son, so that no one would perish, but have ever lasting life. (John 3:16)