Ramadan starts tonight! What do Latter-day Saints & Muslims share in common?
With ramadan starting tonight at sundown, its a good time to familiarize ourselves with the rich connections between this powerful faith and The Church of Jesus Christ.
Depending on where you live and who you’re surrounded by, you might not think much about the relationship between the Church of Jesus Christ and Islam. You may even avoid such relationships because you worry that immersing yourself in another religion could mean diluting or weakening your faith. However, there’s a lot we have in common, and the special relationship between the two faiths has been changing the world for decades.
Take Eboo Patel, a Muslim leader whose relationship with a Latter-day Saint woman in high school helped inspire him to start one of the world’s top interfaith organizations, Interfaith America. Remarking on her influence on him, he said:
“I am the kind of Muslim I am, because she was the kind of Mormon she was”
Connections between two faiths
In 2022, the Church produced a pamphlet, Muslims and Latter-day Saints: Beliefs, Values, and Lifestyles, to guide members of these two faiths in understanding each other. Today, we’ll share principles from this pamphlet and highlight moments of gathering and mutual celebration.
Religious Diversity
“Muslims and Latter-day Saints… encourage believers to recognize that religious diversity provides an opportunity to cooperate in improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities.”
In a verse from the Quran, God says that humanity was made into “peoples and tribes so that you may get to know one another.” Here are just a few examples of church-led efforts to do this. (There are countless more!)
This past Friday, Elder David A. Bednar and President Susan H. Porter spoke at the International Dialogue of Civilizations & Tolerance Conference held in Abu Dhabi. Elder Bednar received the Award of Tolerance on behalf of the Church.
In 2019, an interfaith iftar was held in Singapore with over 700 people from various faith groups and organizations. Member of Singaporian Parliament Melvin Yong stressed the importance of obtaining a “knowledge about the things that are considered sacred by our respective racial and religious communities.”
In 2015, the Church showed support for the Muslim community after President Trump’s travel ban, drawing parallels to the persecution of Mormons in the 19th century and the importance for religious freedom for all.
Fasting
“For Muslims and Latter-day Saints, fasting is a practice that promotes spiritual growth and temporal well-being and brings faithful members closer to God.”
While Latter-day Saints typically fast once a month, Muslims take the entire month of Ramadan to fast from sunup to sundown. This infuses the entire month with a feeling of holiness, and gives approximately ~30 days for break-fast meals and gatherings.
For anyone who thinks religion is dour, Ramadan is a great example of joyful it can be. There’s self-restraint, yes, but it makes gathering for a meal at the end of the day—which is called an iftar—all the more rewarding
In 2017, preparing a relief society lesson about fasting led Kristen Hodges to host an interfaith iftar with muslims in her community in Utah. For her, the experience allowed her to develop a new perspective, saying: “The discipline forces you to remember why you’re alive and trying to be the best form of yourself. It’s about self-restraint and trying to get rid of whatever is between you and God.”
To support this effort, we created a brief guide on how to host an interfaith iftar. Sharing a meal is a simple, fun, and yet meaningful way to foster understanding.
Helping Those in Need
“Muslims and Latter-day Saints share the conviction that compassion through offerings and service to others is a vital component of true faith in God.”
While Latter-day Saints pay tithing, Muslims pay zakat, which is an opportunity to contribute a percentage one’s income and possessions to charity. Here are a few examples of other ways that Latter-day Saints and Muslims have gathered to serve.
In 2022, members of the Vancouver British Columbia Stake and Ismaili CIVIC, members of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community, partnered in a food drive lasting throughout Ramadan and the Easter season. JustServe Specialist Bruno Vendetti recounted “So much good is accomplished when we come together as friends and focus on what unites us rather than on any cultural or doctrinal differences that might divide us”
Last year, when notified that the local Muslim community did not have a space large enough to hold Ramadan celebrations, the Church in Ghana and Italy opened their doors for use. In response, Saints were welcomed to join in on some celebrations.
Family
“Muslims and Latter-day Saints believe that the family is the fundamental unit of society and an essential source of joy.”
While struggling to know how to strengthen her children in the muslim faith, Author Asma Uddin found inspiration in the practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a world that is becoming increasingly hostile toward Muslims, she worried that the focus of her children’s faith would become a political talking point, rather than a way to experience God. She believes the Church “provides models of perseverance for American Muslims today.”
Gathering in Holy Places
“Muslims and Latter-day Saints visit holy places and participate in sacred rituals. Doing so helps them follow God’s guidance and receive His mercy and blessings.”
Many have made the comparison of Hajj to the LDS temple. Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca (in Saudi Arabia) that every Muslim who is able is asked to complete at least once in their lifetime. Similar to the LDS temple, this is an opportunity to travel to strengthen one’s spirituality and connection with community.
