Image: Debashis Biswas (Kolkata), Unsplash
Lovefast 8 | Muslims: a minority in India
By Gordon from Mahabba Oxford
Daily verse
“They said to him, ‘John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.’
Jesus answered, ‘Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.’
He told them this parable: ‘No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.”
Thought for the day
We might talk of Muslims as a minority in India, but it was still 172 million or 14.2% of the population in the 2011 census - the second largest national population of Muslims in the world!
Even so, a minority is a minority, and today there is still deep underlying friction in some areas.
My father’s family grew up in India, during the time of the Raj: what was designed to bring unity and peace, led to irreconcilable disputes and tensions.
India today has managed to achieve a level of harmony, though some areas have a higher percentage of Muslims, such as some of the northern states.
Wherever we live, we need to recognize that as Christians we hold the key to community cohesion and peace, through the way we extend “Mahabba- love” and friendship to the minority groups of Muslims who live amongst us.
We cannot remain unconcerned and detached.
Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World
Prayer for the day
Father we have allowed the media and our own fears and prejudices to cloud our image of those Muslims who live amongst us. Many of them feel insignificant as a minority, so help us to reach out to them at this time.
Daily action
Do some research and find out by asking local Muslims, who are the most marginalised Muslim group in your area. Then contact them and make them feel welcomed, valued and significant! (See also: watch Viceroy's House)
Your turn
Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with #lovefast or #30dop hashtags on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!