Hajj Day 3 - November 6, 2011

Stoning and Sacrifice - Sacred Act #3

As the pilgrims leave Muzdalifah, they pass through Mina again. They head to the three pillars, which represent Satan coming to Abraham three times*, to tempt him to ignore the instructions of God concerning the sacrifice of Ishmael**. Muslims believe that Abraham threw stones at Satan. Using the stones or pebbles that they have collected, they throw them at the pillars, which represent Satan. In the stoning, pilgrims renounce evil and declare their willingness to sacrifice all they have to God.

After this victory over Satan, pilgrims will kill a sheep, a goat or maybe a camel in remembrance of God's provision of a sheep sacrificed instead of Abraham's son. This sacrifice ends the formal time of Hajj. It is on this day, as well, that Muslims all over the world will sacrifice a sheep or some other animal. This is the biggest Islamic feast of the year, called Eid el Kabir (literally the Big Feast) or Eid el Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice).

Key Scripture

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." John 1:29

Going before the Father 

• Ephesians 6 states "Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Muslims understand there is a spiritual battle caused by Satan. Throwing rocks at Satan during the day of stoning is meaningless apart from the Cross and Resurrection which defeated Satan.  Pray that they would see that only Jesus defeated sin, Satan, and death. May they know that in Christ, we have mighty weapons "for the tearing down of strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:4)
• Thank the Lord that Muslims see the importance of sacrificing an animal. In the Old Testament, it meant forgiveness of sins. After Jesus died on the cross, animals no longer were sacrificed, for His death covered all of our sins. Pray that they will understand the meaning behind it.
• Ask that God would overwhelm people with the truth and reality of Jesus' death on the cross. Ask that the Holy Spirit move in people's hearts so that they can receive this as truth.
• Ask God to give Muslims understanding that Christ has overcome all the powers of Satan on the cross and pray that they will experience the reality of that victory in their lives through spontaneous healings and deliverances by calling on Jesus' name.

What does the Bible say?

*The Bible does not talk about Satan visiting Abraham, nor stones, Genesis 22.

**The Quran does not actually say which son of Abraham it was. It is Islamic tradition that says Ishmael. The Bible says that it was Isaac, Genesis 22. 

Hajj Day 2 - November, 2011

Wuqoof - Standing at Arafat - Sacred Act #2
In the morning, after prayers, the pilgrims proceed to the Plain of Arafat where they perform the central ritual of the Hajj, the standing (wuqoof). In a shame and honor society (most Muslims come from this type of society), the seeking of the forgiveness of sins (shame) brings freedom. Abu Qataadah reported that Muhammad was said to say, "fasting on the Day of Arafat expiates (atone for guilt) the sins of the preceding year and the coming year.*"

The pilgrims face Mecca and pray from noon to sundown. These prayers are done in a prescribed way: they should remember God, ask for forgiveness and pray other Islamic prayers. It is believed that Muhammad delivered his final sermon from a hill above this plain, called Mount Arafat, during his last pilgrimage. Muslims believe that they leave this day cleansed of sin.

As the sun sets, the people are not required to quote any prescribed prayers. During these sacred moments, pilgrims are to be alone with God. They should ask that their sins and lifelong shortcomings be forgiven.

At sunset, a cannon sounds. Pilgrims leave Arafat going to Muzdalifah, where they sleep or stay up all night under the stars. On the way, many will pick up stones and pebbles. For Muslims not on the Hajj, many will fast on this day of wuqoof.

Key Scripture

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and all the people in your house. 

Acts 16:31

Going before the Father

• As the pilgrims head to Muzdalifah, may what happened to Paul in Romans 7:7-13 well up in them, that theirs sins would continue to overwhelm them. Pray for conviction of sin deep in their hearts and minds. Pray that God would reveal His heart - that He is grieved by our sin, but that He offers a way to receive His forgiveness. Jesus takes guilt and shame away which brings real freedom.
• Pray that God would reveal His heart of love for the people. He loves them so much. Pray that people will have encounters of God's love for them.
• Pray that God will speak to them in dreams and visions, as they spend the second night of the Hajj praying for their shortcomings and needs. Ask God for an open heaven for many who are genuinely seeking an encounter with God.
• Muslims pray five times a day "Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray." Pray that God will answer their prayer in such a way that they can grasp God's grace through Jesus Christ.

What does the Bible say?

*  The Bible talks about sins being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Matthew 26:28, Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:7

Hajj Day 1 - November 4, 2011

Ihram - Sacred Act #1
There are six different places to enter Mecca for Ihram (ritual cleansing), so it is at the Miqat, "a stated place," where Muslims actually enter into the Hajj. After performing this ritual, the pilgrims will wear white cloths, wrapped around them, a sign showing that all pilgrims are equal in Islam, kings and servants are all dressed alike. More crucial than wearing the white clothing, Ihram is the state of sacred purity the Muslim faithful must enter before conducting the Hajj.

From the Miqat entry point, most pilgrims head to the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque. As they enter Mecca, they will shout the Talbiyah, a Muslim prayer."Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy service and Thou hast no partners*. Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners*. 

"After the Kaaba visit, the pilgrims will walk to a tent city called Mina, continuing to quote the Talbiyah prayer. They must spend the night in prayer and meditation.

Key Scriptures

They will call on me, and I will answer them. I will say, you are my people and they will say, The Lord is our God. Zechariah 13:9b 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Going before the Father

• Purification rituals may cleanse the body, but they don't cleanse the heart. Only Jesus can cleanse our hearts and we can only do that through repentance. Pray that the Holy Spirit would issue a call to genuine repentance that seeking hearts hear and respond to.
• Thank Jesus that it is through His blood sins can be forgiven and pray that Muslims would understand that He is the only way to the Father. John 1:29, Hebrews 1:3, Acts 10:43
• Ask the Lord to bring to memory Scripture verses they may have heard over the TV or radio or internet about the white robes God provides for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 7:9). Pray they may understand and desire to be clothed with Christ's righteousness.
• Two to three million people come together from all over the world for the Hajj. Pray for physical safety (protection from stampedes and disease - like the "Mecca flu").

The Kaaba contains a black stone believed to have been given to Abraham by the angel Gabriel**, according to some sources. Others say the stone was simply part of the original structure of the Kaaba. 

In pre-Islamic times, the Kaaba was an object of pilgrimage, housing idols, jahiliyyah (the age of ignorance) and, according to Islamic tradition, was cleansed by Muhammad of idols and then dedicated to the worship of the one God.

What does the Bible say?

*     It would be in statements like these that Muslims would not allow room for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 10:21-23, Galatians 4:6

**   There is nothing in the Bible about Abraham receiving this stone.

The Hajj, 11/4-11/7

Prayer Update

Wonderful answer to prayer from our workers in Tunisia!!

Election
Update                                                              

Thank you for
praying for the first ever free elections here in our North African country on
October 23.   God heard the prayers of the many and answered.
The day of the elections, the process went smoothly and peacefully.  All
over the country people lined up outside schools and other public buildings
waiting their turn to freely vote for the person they individually chose.

The Islamic
party many were worried about did fairly win the majority of the seats in the
constitutional assembly.  They will be forming a new coalition government
that should be announced within the next few days to a week. Realizing fear
about their leadership has spread, they have made great attempts to calm the concerns
of the general population by publicly re-emphasizing their moderacy, and their
desire not to change the freedoms of women or the nonreligious law system of
the country.   There have been pockets of protests and disputes in
several places in the country, but overall the atmosphere is peaceful and
calm.  For months we have seen an increase in armed policemen around our
city, but have not felt our safety threatened in any way since the
elections.  Incredible how "strange" becomes the "norm"
after a while.  It is not unusual to now drive down the street to the
supermarket and pass a police officer with an uzi machine gun in his hands.

Though this new
Islamic leadership professes to remain moderate, we are wondering what longer
term changes will happen in the country.  We might see a completely
different country 10 years from now.  This re-emphasizes to us the reality
that we have an open window of opportunity in this country now that might not be
here in a decade.  But wow, what God can do in a country in a
decade!!!  Amen!

Hajj Introduction

Greetings! From November 4 to 7, you will receive from us prayer information focused on the Hajj. Please be praying for Muslims during this time.  Please watch this 5 minute video on YouTube about the Hajj: Hajj 2011  Hajj Introduction Young Muslim children grow up hearing passionate stories about the men and women who have gone on a Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. Young women are blogging asking if the Hajj will cleanse them of sins, not only their small common sins, but also their big serious sins. These women desire to be clean and they are told the Hajj, "when performed properly and sincerely for Allah, removes all sins."* (From islamonline.com they talk about two Hadiths that most Muslims scholars point to for the removal of sins by those going on the Hajj.) This year we have seen revolutions in the Muslim world. We have seen Muslims rising up against long-standing corrupt governments. Muslims desire freedom from these oppressive government leaders. They desire new freedoms. There is a hunger in their hearts for something that can really satisfy. For those of us that follow Jesus, we know that true freedom and peace is found in His life, death and resurrection.  Muslims are going on the Hajj to be cleansed of sin; we all desire to be clean of sin. We want to call on God to be merciful and intervene in their lives as only He can do, just like Paul's experience on the Damascus road**. When and What is the Hajj Hajj is the pinnacle of the lives of Muslims around the world.  They are commanded to make Hajj at least once in their life if they are able. It begins on the 8th day of the 12th month of Dhul Hijjah in the Islamic calendar. Because the calendar is based on the moon's cycle, the dates of the Hajj change each year. This year, the Hajj will start on November 4 and last for 3-4 days. During this time, Muslims from all over the world will flock to Mecca to perform sacred acts and follow the steps of Muhammad, their prophet. Each day they will perform a different ritual:        ·    Day 1: The ritual of IHRAM (cleaning) #1        ·    Day 2: The ritual of WUQOOF (standing) #4        ·    Day 3: The ritual of Stoning and Sacrificing #6        ·    Day 4: The ritual of Sa'y (running between) #7

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers  will worship the Father in spirit and truth,   for they are the kind of worshipers  the Father seeks.  John 4:23 What does the Bible say? *    The Bible does not state that we must go on a pilgrimage to be cleansed from sin.       It talks about sins being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Matthew 26:28,       Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:7 **  Paul journeyed to Damascus wanting to persecute men and women who were       following Jesus. Instead he met the resurrected Jesus, Acts 9.

The Hajj

During this year's Hajj, we have put together a guide for four days of prayer.
Our hope is that you all might fan the flames to increase prayer for those going on the Hajj and also for the Muslim world during these four days, from November 14 - 17.



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This is also on the PTAP web site: http://www.pray-ap.info/