Middle East/North Africa (MNN) — Reflection is just beginning for Hajj returners. An estimated 1.7 million Islamic pilgrims traveled to the holy city of Mecca this year. Yet many come back disappointed and open to being discipled by the Gospel.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every Muslim who is physically and financially able is obligated to make the religious journey once in their lifetime. There are many rituals along the multi-day pilgrimage, the most famous of which is circling the Kaaba seven times.
Nehemiah of Forgotten Missionaries International (FMI) says that for many people, this represents the pinnacle of a Muslim’s spiritual journey. Upon returning home, pilgrims are referred to as “Hajji” or “Hajja” by their community, a mark of honor and respect.
But many Hajji come back wrestling with questions about their faith and disappointment that the journey did not meet their expectations for a holy event.
(Image courtesy of FMI)
“Sadly, in Islam, there is no assurance of forgiving of sins. There is no concept of eternal life, or forgiveness of sins, of grace, or a fatherly relationship with God and his creatures,” Nehemiah says.
That is where Nehemiah and his partners come in, sharing the hope they have in Jesus.
“This is where the Gospel offers something profoundly different. Jesus does not invite people to earn God’s favor through religious performance. Instead, he offers grace, forgiveness, and personal relationship with God.”
Maqbool, one of Nehemiah’s partners in ministry, talked to a man who returned from this year’s Hajj in a deep depression because he could not be sure that his sins were forgiven.
“Our brother in Afghanistan is helping him to understand that Jesus is the only way,” Nehemiah says. “As of right now, he has not followed Jesus Christ, but he’s very close and asking all the questions, reading the Word of God almost every day on his own.”
Pray for Muslims
(Image courtesy of FMI)
Maqbool shared John 8:12 with the Hajji: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
He asks that we would pray for Muslims to seek truth and find Jesus, the light of the world.
“Please pray that Muslims returning from Hajj would experience a deep spiritual hunger that only Jesus Christ can satisfy,” Nehemiah says.
Also pray that Muslims looking for forgiveness would discover the infinite grace of Jesus, and that the Holy Spirit would open their hearts to understand God’s love and redemptive plan. FMI equips people like Maqbool to evangelize to people in their own culture. Pray that local Christians can reach Muslims who have now returned home from this year’s Hajj.
“Pray that those carrying burdens of guilt, fear, shame, or uncertainty would find freedom, healing, and hope in the gospel,” Nehemiah says.
Header image courtesy of FMI.
