Why Pray For Muslims?

Believers in the Messiah, Jesus, have many beliefs and

values in common with Muslims, not only concerning

faith-related issues but also moral values. People from

both faith communities agree that our world has become

a dangerous place. Believers in Jesus and Muslims can

both be in agreement concerning the following text in

2 Timothy 3:2-5:

“... Men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,

boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,

unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,

without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors,

headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers

of God.”

Believers in the Messiah and Muslims share similar

common values for daily living: faithfulness (to

God and in relationships), honesty, compassion, honour,

humility, chastity, self-sacrifice, mercy and love.

Muslims and Christians believe that there is one

God, but are we worshipping the same God in word

and deed? One might also ask: In a time when many

people think that all roads and all religions lead to the

one true God, why should one pray for Muslims to come

to salvation? Does it make any difference? Are they not

already accepted by God?

Certainly Muslims are loved by God. Without doing

anything they are loved by Him. God counts Muslim

children and adults as precious. He loves every aspect of

their languages, food, attitudes and daily life which are

truly good and right. However, this does not mean that

Muslims have entered into eternal life or have had their

sins forgiven.

Muslims are not inspired by the hope of a new world

in which Jesus, the crucified and risen Messiah, reigns

as King. Most Muslims have actually been trained not

to believe that Jesus died and rose again. In general they

know little of His forgiveness. They believe that Jesus was

a prophet sent from God but they generally never think of

Him as God’s appointed King who reigns over the nations

(Mt 28:18-20). It is precisely “believing the Gospel of the

Kingdom” which is a problem. Like all people everywhere

and in all cultures, Muslims are called to turn from evil

and believe the Gospel of the Kingdom. Most Muslims

around the world have not even had an opportunity

to hear the Good News of Jesus’ death for sins

and His resurrection, which liberates us from the

power of sin, death and demonic bondage.

For various reasons which will be discussed

later in this booklet, Muslims do not believe that

Jesus is the Son of God. Believers in the Messiah

are always rejoicing that “God has sent His only

begotten Son into the world, that we might live

through Him. In this is love, not that we loved

God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be

the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:9-

10).

Jesus has come so that we can have life and

have it in abundance ( John 10:10). Therefore let

us pray for Muslims so they can enter into that

life in the Messiah’s eternal kingdom.