A Call to Prayer During Ramadan

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is an Islamic holiday during which Muslims pray and fast for thirty days. It shifts based on the lunar calendar, but this year Ramadan starts on Tuesday, February 17, and ends on Thursday, March 19.

From sunup to sundown, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, sexual relations, and sinful behavior. They’re technically not even supposed to drink water during the daylight hours. In addition to fasting, Muslims also spend extra time reading the Qur’an and praying. They do all of this with the end goal of pleasing Allah and having a better chance of securing a spot in Paradise. Ramadan culminates in a festival at the end of the month called Eid al-Fitr, when Muslims gather with friends and family to celebrate.

Why should Christians know about Ramadan?

Ramadan is an important season for Muslims, and they are especially sensitive to spiritual matters during it. Knowing the basics about Ramadan can help believers intentionally engage Muslims during these thirty days. Getting into a spiritual conversation can be as simple as asking a Muslim what Ramadan is. Asking follow-up with questions about how and why they fast and you’ll be able to bridge to the Gospel. You can check out this episode of The Sent Life podcast to learn more about engaging young Muslims in America and this CGCS article for tips about reaching Muslim women.

Knowing the basics about Ramadan can also help Christians pray specifically. As Muslims get down on their knees and pray to a false god in the direction of Mecca, may we also fall on our knees and cry out on their behalf to the one, true God. Will you commit this Ramadan season to pray for the billions of Muslims scattered around the globe?

How can we pray during Ramadan?

Praying for Muslims during Ramadan can be done both corporately and individually. Consider praying as a family or with your small group. Last year, my friends and I gathered over a Middle Eastern meal at the start of Ramadan and spent the night praying together for Muslim friends. Another idea is to pray the following requests with a group or in your personal prayer time.

1. Pray that Muslims would seek to know Truth.

Pray that the fasting and prayers to Allah would feel meaningless and lead them to desire more. Pray that they themselves would pray to know truth.

2. Pray that God would reveal himself to Muslims.

As they seek to know truth, ask God to reveal himself to them. Ask God to give Muslims access to the Bible so that they might encounter him in the Word. Pray that Muslims would have dreams and visions of Jesus.

3. Pray that believers would share the Gospel truth.

Pray for believers in Islamic regions to be faithful Gospel witnesses during Ramadan. Ask that those who have dreams and visions would be led to believers who can share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Pray for the church to be strengthened and boldened.

4. Pray that Muslims would believe in Jesus as the only way to salvation.

Pray that Muslims would repent and put their trust in Jesus for salvation. May God open their hearts to believe the words of John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

Ramadan Prayer Resources

Here are a few resources to guide your prayers this month:

IMB Ramadan

Sign up to receive a downloadable copy of the International Mission Board’s 2026 Ramadan Prayer Guide. The guide includes specific prayer requests from the field for a different Muslim people group each day.

Muslims Prayer Plan – Prayercast

Prayercast has videos that will guide you to pray for the Muslim world. You can sign up to receive daily emails straight to your inbox. The videos are a few minutes long and provide visual aids for a guided prayer time.

30 Days of Prayer

This downloadable prayer guide includes stories, pictures, and prayer requests. You can even choose between an adult and a kid version of the guide.