Muslims are not a problem to be solved or a bloc to be feared. They are neighbours, families and whole peoples God loves — and many have never heard the Gospel explained by someone who loves them. This guide is for praying with that love, one day at a time.
Why pray for the Muslim world
About 2.0 billion people — roughly 25% of the world — identify as Muslim. They include many of the largest peoples on earth with almost no church of their own: the Shaikh of South Asia (about 250 million), the Bengali Muslim (about 150 million) and many more. Of the 18 Muslim peoples profiled on this site, 17 are frontier peoples — virtually no believers at all.
And yet the story is not only one of need. Iran is home to one of the fastest-growing churches anywhere, despite having no legal way to gather. In diaspora communities across Europe and North America too, Muslims are meeting Jesus — often through Scripture, a dream, a friendship, or the kindness of a believer.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:3–4 (WEB)
How to use this guide
- One entry a day — a people or a nation, alternating, largest first.
- Two minutes is enough. Read the line, pray the prayer, add your own words.
- Click through when you can. Every name links to a full profile — the story, what believers face, and more ways to pray.
- Pray with someone. A friend, your family at dinner, a small group. Shared prayer lasts.
The 30 days
- Day 1: Shaikh — 250 million · South Asia
Pray for the largest unreached people group on earth — that Christ would be known among the Shaikh. - Day 2: Indonesia — 283 million people · about 10% Christian
Ask God to protect churches in regions where building permits are refused or withdrawn. - Day 3: Bengali Muslim — 150 million · South Asia
Pray for Bengali Muslim-background believers meeting quietly in homes. - Day 4: Pakistan — 248 million people · about 1.8% Christian
Ask God to protect Christian girls at risk of abduction and forced marriage. - Day 5: Turk — 60 million · Middle East / Europe
Pray for the small Turkish church in the land where much of the New Testament was written. - Day 6: Bangladesh — 174 million people · about 0.5% Christian
Ask God for Bangladeshi leaders able to disciple in Bengali, in Bengali culture. - Day 7: Persian — 50 million · Middle East
Praise God for what He is doing among Persians against every human expectation. - Day 8: Egypt — 114 million people · about 10% Christian
Thank God for a church that has endured in Egypt for nearly two thousand years. - Day 9: Hausa — 50 million · West Africa
Pray for Hausa Muslims to encounter Jesus through the Hausa Scriptures. - Day 10: Iran — 92 million people · about 0.5% Christian
Pray for imprisoned believers and for the families left behind. - Day 11: Sundanese — 40 million · Southeast Asia
Pray for the Sundanese — around forty million people, with very few known believers. - Day 12: Türkiye — 86 million people · about 0.2% Christian
Ask God to raise Turkish pastors as foreign workers are deported. - Day 13: Fulani — 40 million · West Africa
Pray for the Fulani, scattered across more than a dozen nations. - Day 14: Sudan — 50 million people · about 5% Christian
Pray for an end to the war in Sudan. - Day 15: Uzbek — 35 million · Central Asia
Pray for the Uzbek church to grow in courage and maturity. - Day 16: Algeria — 46 million people · about 2% Christian
Praise God for the Kabyle movement — one of the clearest answers to a century of prayer for North Africa. - Day 17: Malay — 30 million · Southeast Asia
Pray for the Malay people, one of the largest unreached peoples in Southeast Asia. - Day 18: Iraq — 46 million people · about 0.4% Christian
Ask God to bless families rebuilding on the Nineveh Plain. - Day 19: Yemeni Arab — 30 million · Middle East
Pray for an end to the war in Yemen and relief for the suffering. - Day 20: Afghanistan — 43 million people · about 0.02% Christian
Ask God to sustain families where one member has come to Christ and the rest have not. - Day 21: Somali — 25 million · East Africa / Horn
Pray for the small number of Somali believers, many at genuine risk of death. - Day 22: Morocco — 38 million people · about 0.1% Christian
Thank God for the Gospel in Darija — the language of the heart, not the mosque. - Day 23: Moroccan Arab — 25 million · North Africa
Pray for Moroccan believers meeting in homes with no legal protection. - Day 24: Uzbekistan — 36 million people · about 1% Christian
Thank God for Scripture in Uzbek and for a genuinely indigenous church. - Day 25: Northern Kurd — 20 million · Middle East
Pray for Kurdish believers in northern Iraq and across the diaspora. - Day 26: Malaysia — 35 million people · about 9% Christian
Thank God for the churches of Sabah and Sarawak. - Day 27: Saudi Arab — 20 million · Middle East
Pray for secret Saudi believers, for courage, wisdom and fellowship. - Day 28: Yemen — 35 million people · about 0.1% Christian
Ask God to protect the small number of Yemeni believers. - Day 29: Southern Pashtun — 16 million · Central and South Asia
Pray for Pashtun believers, who very often cannot go home. - Day 30: Saudi Arabia — 34 million people · about 4% Christian
Ask God to bless migrant workers worshipping quietly in homes and compounds.
What to ask for, every day
- Scripture — in their heart language, in audio and video, reaching people who will never walk into a church.
- Dreams and encounters — some Muslim-background believers describe meeting Jesus first in a dream.
- Friendships — for believers to love their Muslim neighbours with no agenda but love.
- Courage and protection — for new believers who may lose family, work or safety.
- Peace — for the wars and displacement that grind down whole regions.
All from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense, and will proclaim the praises of Yahweh.
Isaiah 60:6 (WEB)
Beyond the 30 days
Muslims may live on your street, in your class or at your workplace. The most effective prayer often leads to the simplest action: a meal, a question about their family, an invitation. Start with the people already in your world — your oikos.
Keep going
- Unreached people profiles — stories and prayer points for 24 peoples.
- Pray for the persecuted Church — the ten hardest places to follow Jesus.
- Where is it hardest to be a Christian?
- Global Prayer Atlas — save nations to your own prayer list.
Religious figures: Center for the Study of Global Christianity and Pew Research Center, rounded. People-group figures: Joshua Project.
Questions people ask
How many Muslims are there in the world?
About 2.0 billion, roughly 25% of the world's population, making Islam the second-largest religion after Christianity.
How can I pray for Muslims?
Pray for Scripture in their heart language, for dreams and encounters with Jesus, for Christians to befriend Muslim neighbours with genuine love, and for courage and protection for new believers.
Are Muslims coming to faith in Jesus?
Yes. Iran is home to one of the fastest-growing churches anywhere, and Muslims in many places, including diaspora communities, are becoming followers of Jesus — often at great personal cost.
What is the largest unreached Muslim people group?
Among the peoples profiled here, the Shaikh of South Asia, about 250 million people.