Image: barbasia, Flickr
Lovefast 25: Guardian
By Georgina from Mahabba Cheltenham
Inspired by 'The people of Saudi Arabia' from 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World booklet
Daily verse
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.’
Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honour him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.’”
Thought for the day
Guardian
In strict Muslim communities women are not allowed to venture out of their homes without being accompanied by a male guardian.
The guardian, or mahram, is a man she is not allowed to marry because of close family ties, such as a father, brother, son or uncle.
This Islamic ruling means that women are seen as legal minors.
For example, in Saudi Arabia women cannot drive a car or make their own decisions about their health care because they are not legally regarded as an adult.
Women cannot go on pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) without a mahram (male guardian), for which they have to pay extra.
Even at a time of heightened spiritual awareness, such as the hajj, women still have to rely on a male to protect her honour and safety.
Thank God for the promise in his Word that he is our guardian, whether we’re male or female, adult or child:
If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:9-11
Today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World booklet
Inspiration for today's entry - click to open
Prayer for the day
Pray that the bonds of Wahabbi Islam will be broken and that the influence of Saudi Arabia will wain in the world.
Daily action
Read about women’s experiences on hajj.
Your turn
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