How Muslims and Christian Fast
How Muslims fast
One of the five duties of Muslims is fasting during the thirty days of Ramadan. This is called fasting saum (Arabic) or Oruç (Turkish).
Muslims must follow the following rules from sunrise to sunset:
- No eating
- No drinking
- Do not smoke
- Do not have intercourse
In the morning before it gets light they eat the soehoor breakfast.
In the evening after evening prayers they break the fast with:
- Some dates and coffee (in the Arab world)
- Or some olives and tea (in Turkey)
- Or traditional Harira soup (in North Africa)
- Then there is an iftar meal. That’s a plentiful meal with friends and / or neighbors.
After the meal, there are often meetings with ritual prayers in the mosque, Koran recitatives and frequently there are also lectures on Islam. It also allows one to invite non-Muslims. Do not confuse fasting with the modern how to reduce weight fast practices people do nowadays. Fasting is a first and foremost a spiritual practice.
Muslims cite several reasons for fasting:
- Fasting is a duty. If you do it, God counts as a good deed.
- Fasting cleanses your body and helps you to have healthier lifestyles (smoking cessation).
- Fasting is a form of asceticism (self / piety)
Fasting in the Bible
Old Testament
- Main = obligatory fast of Atonement.
- In many situations of emergency.
- Always together with prayer and often associated with sacrifice.
- Usually lasts only one day.
- Individuals sometimes fasted longer (Moses and Elijah, did it for 40 days)
- Fasting without mental reversal is worthless (Isaiah 58).
New Testament
- Jesus himself fasted for 40 days and was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:2).
- Jesus requires one to fast.
- Jesus believed that whoever prays is occasionally permanent.
- Probably not for others, but to be small for God (Matthew 6:16 and Luke 18:9 vv vv).
- Prayer and fasting also has to do with: Resisting the work of Satan (Matthew 17:21) and In order to persevere in tribulation until Jesus comes back (Matthew 9:14-17).
- The first Christian communities fasted when they sought God’s guidance (e.g. Acts 13:3 and 14:23)
The difference
In many religions and in Islam fasting is done as a religious duty for which one expects a reward (I know of case where a slightly delusional family member of mine thought he would be rewarded with gold since he mysteriously came on this invest in gold site right after he finished fasting). This is often called self-purpose. In the Bible it is mainly to be silent before God, or is God’s proximity search. It is voluntary and is done in response to specific situations in life. You deserve no forgiveness or attention for doing it, but you plead for God’s grace that He has already offered through Jesus.
Jesus and Jerusalem
Christians believe in eternal life for their souls. In the Bible, especially in the book of Revelation, the return of Jesus is predicted. This is called the Second Coming. At the end of time there will be many wars, poverty, disasters and other misery. Under the influence of the devil, an evil ruler will come to power called the Antichrist. But in the end, Jesus will come back and defeat the evil ruler.
A Thousand years
Jesus will reign a thousand years on Earth and form a new, beautiful Jerusalem. 
Then the devil will finally be defeated and it will be time for the final judgment. All the dead will rise from their graves to be judged by Jesus. The world will literally change, because there will be a new heaven and Earth. Deceased Christians will receive a new body. Nobody will be ill or disabled. For disbelievers there is nothing left but hell and damnation.
Among Christians, there are many different views on how this so-called end time will end. It is called the doctrine of the millennium, the millenarianism or millennialism. Evangelical Christians especially believe in the prophecies about the end times and the Second Coming. Other groups, such as liberal Protestants, see the book of Revelation as more of a symbolic story. In any case, no single group knows when Jesus will return.
Ethical issues
This 2013 spring break Christian convention has one theme: Ethics. The Christian ideas about life and death also affect everyday life. So many Christians are against abortion and euthanasia, because one of the Ten Commandments is that you should not kill. For the same reason Catholics disapprove of suicide, because according to them, if someone does this then they will not get to heaven. Protestants see this differently, it depends on whether the person in question was a believer. Organ donation is not controversial among Christians. Some Christians reject this for religious reasons. Other Christians refuse military service because they are pacifists and refuse to kill people.
Another question surrounding the death of the deceased is whether to be buried or cremated. Previously, everyone was buried and cremation was seen as a pagan custom. Nowadays cremation is quite normal, and also is an option for Christians. But some orthodox movements like this cannot be associated with the resurrection of the body. Others think that God will restore the body, even if it is burned.
Final word
Finally, it is important that Christians of the Bible are not allowed to deal with the paranormal and occult. It is strictly forbidden to make contact with the dead, especially evangelical Christians, see the growing interest in psychics, divination, witchcraft and the like as a danger to society. Catholics are accustomed to praying to deceased saints and believe that the saints talk to God for them.
Christians and Their Views on Death
Christians believe that God created every human being. The life goal of a Christian is therefore to know God and to serve him and worship him. Christians of all denominations believe in life after death. When you die, your body is deceased, but the soul lives on. Where the soul resides in all eternity depends on the choices you’ve made in your life.
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How do Christians pray?
Prayer is often seen by Christians as ‘talking to God’. It is one of the most important activities in the life of a Christian. There are no set rules one must follow. We must come as we are. Still, the New Testament has many instructions about prayer.
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What Is Christianity
Buddhists invoke Buddha. Communists invoke Marx. Christians rely on Jesus of Nazareth. Western Europe has the most Christian churches and divisional groups. A large number of people on the birth was registered as’ Roman – Catholic or Reformed. They are all members of a Christian church.
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