Day 8 - Al Jadida, Morocco

Al Jadida is a port city on the Atlantic coast of Morocco with massive stone walls. The Portuguese established an important fortress city at this location called Mazghan in 1502 in order to suppress the local pirates. Moroccan Muslims took the fortress from the Portuguese in 1769. The Muslims gave the city the name 'El-Jadida' which is simply Arabic for 'new'. The city now has about 150,000 inhabitants. El-Jadida comes alive during the summer. THe many fine beaches in the area (Oualidia Haouzia, as well as Sidi Bouzid, Lalla Fatna and Jorf) attract primary Moroccans on holidays, but there are also a few Western tourists. Holidaying Moroccans are about as relaxed and easygoing as one could wish for anyone to be! 


For more information, see the site: www.ariseshinemorocco.org


Prayer Ideas:

• Over the decades, many Moroccans in Al Jadida have heard and been influenced by the Gospel, either through media or by direct contact with believers. Many need to commit/recommit their lives to the Messiah. Some need to reconcile themselves with other believers (see James 1:6-8 and 4:8)
• Pray for the handful of scattered believers in the area that they would grow bold and have a yearning in their hearts to share their faith with others and meet together. Believers do not meet regularly together because of their fear (see 2 Timothy 1:7).
• Pray for Moroccans seeking joy and peaceful rest while on holiday, that they will discover the one who can bring real peace. God did a dramatic thing when the Apostle Peter as once staying on the coast of Israel and praying (Acts 10:1-48). Pray for God's interventions!
• Pray for this coastal region from Azemour to Jadida to Safi to Essaouira. May the wind of the Holy Spirit blow in from the sea and further inland to the heart of the nation.

Jesus in the Qur'an

You can find out more about the Islamic perspective on Jesus by reading about him in the Qur'an. Various chapters (suras) and verses are indicated below. Jesus is usually referred to in the Qur'an by the name Isa. Various titles, roles and activities are attributed to Jesus. Here are a few examples:

Jesus is the word of GodL

Sura: 3:45, 5:46, 110 and 57:27

Jesus is the Messiah:

Sura: 3:45, 4:171, 5:17, 72, 75

Prophet or a Messenger from God:

Sura: 3:49, 6:85, 19:30, 57:27

He raised the dead and healed the sick:

Sura: 3:49, 5:110

He is pure and sinless:

Sura: 19:19

Even if the Qur'anic ideas listed above are the same or similar to biblical ideas, Muslims never think of Jesus as being divine or as saving us through His death and resurrection. They think of Him as a prophet who brought a book called the Gospel (injil). 

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