Day 3 - Mecca's Working Class

Mecca is the spiritual centre of the Islamic world. The religious sites that are visited by the Muslim pilgrims each year bring to life Mohammed's teachings and activities. Each day, millions of Muslims turn toward Mecca five times each day during their daily prayers. Thousands of people work in Mecca managing, maintaining and cleaning hotels; working as guides; and selling gold jewelry and souvenirs. Many more work in the transportation industry, driving buses and taxis.

The banking industry is important as well because the millions of pilgrims visiting annually need cash. All types of public health activities (doctors, nurses, inspectors, ambulance personnel and trash pick-up workers) are present trying to assure good health and safety for these visitors. (One of our "30 Days" coordinators actually studied in university with some of the men who became public health administrators for the pilgrimage.) In recent years, construction has been transforming the area around the Grand Mosque with it's sacred Ka'aba build in order to facilitate more pilgrims. People who come to Christ in Mecca are rare, but some have been known to find the Lord in this city of 1.7 million people. 

The Dates for Ramadan

The dates for the Islamic Ramadan follow the lunar calendar of 354 days. Starting 11 days earlier each year, the Islamic calendar takes about 33 years to go through all the seasons. In 2011, Ramadan will be from about August 1 through 30th. This can vary slightly from country to country. The fasting period normally begins and ends with the sighting of the crescent moon. For more information consult the Islamic web site: www.moonsighting.com

Because of the changing nature of the Islamic year, the 2011 booklet is actually our 20th edition. There have been 20 Islamic lunar years since the beginning of "30 Days" in March 1993. This is the year 1432 of the Islamic lunar calendar. 

Prayer Ideas:

• Use Revelation 4:11 and 5:4-14 to declare that Jesus is worthy to be worshiped by the people of Mecca (from the lowest labourer to the princes of the Saudi royal family). 
• Pray for friendships, dreams, visions, internet, print and media exposure to multiply the gospel to the many workers listed above.
• Pray for new believers to be well integrated into believing communities.

-- All text from 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World