The Azan.
To most non-Muslims here in Malaysia, the Islamic call to prayer is nothing more than an annoying and inconsiderate nuisance meant to inconvenience them by rousing them from sleep at five in the morning. They have little inkling as to the meaning of the Arabic words chanted by the muezzin, nor are many of them inclined to find out what they mean.
To the devout followers of Islam, however, the azan is a powerful reminder that there is One God, who in Arabic is called Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger. They are also reminded to come and fulfil their obligation to Allah to bow down to Him in prayer five times daily.
Now during the fasting month, the influence of the Islamic religion is unavoidable as Muslims begin to deny their bodies food during daylight hours, and learn that there are many blessings from the Almighty to be grateful for.
What exactly do the muezzins proclaim five times every day, and how shall we as Christians respond?
Below, I have transliterated the Arabic words of the azan, and translated them so that non-Muslims can finally stop thinking about the call to prayer as unintelligible babblings. Here goes:
=Allahu akbar Allahu akbar= (x2)
"God is greater! God is greater!"
=ash-hadu an laa ilaha illa Allah= (x2)
"I testify that there is no god except God."
=ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah= (x2)
"I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God."
=hayya 'ala as-solah= (x2)
"Come let us perform the solat."
=hayya 'ala al-falah= (x2)
"Come to success."
=as-solatu khairu min an-naum= (x2)
"Prayer is better than sleep."
(Appropriately enough, this line is only said during the early morning azan!)
=Allahu akbar Allahu akbar=
"God is greater! God is greater!"
=laa ilaha illa Allah=
"There is no god except God."
What should we as Christians make of it all? Are Muslims to be applauded or reviled for this proclamation?
I believe the Christlike answer is "neither".
The apostle James said that faith without works is dead. If we say that we believe in One God, then good! But he went on to say that even the demons believe that - and they tremble!
(James 2:19) The only thing that separates a Muslim or Christian or Jew from devils is obedience to God, to believe His word and to do what He says.
Also, belief in God's Oneness is not very comforting when you have no assurance that He cares for you. "Sure, God is One, but what's in it for me?" How horrible it must be to live under a constant fear of God's wrath and punishment for your sins! How full of dread it must be to have to face the Judge of the Universe without any certainty that you will enter Heaven! How like hell it must be to live life afraid of God!
Oh, is there any hope for you and I to ever find rest for our souls? To no longer have to be deathly afraid of God and His Awesome Majesty? To ever have the wonderful privilege of running to God as to a Loving Father instead of slaving fearfully for Him as to a Hard Taskmaster?
Thanks be to God our Father, there is!
Jesus Christ said,
" For in this way God loved the world, that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in that Son should not perish (in hell) but have the true life that lasts forever and ever."
(John 3:16)
And the Apostle Paul, writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote:
'For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!"
Therefore, the true testimony is not given by man but by the Spirit of God, who says:
Dear reader, are you seeking rest for your soul? Then come to Jesus, for He says:
Do you wish to know Jesus today? In Him you can find true rest.
It is no longer about what you do for God, but How Much God, Through His Son Jesus Christ, has Done for YOU! Your Creator LOVES You - yes, YOU!
Come to Him today!
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