Monthly Archives: March 2026

With all the crazy, terrible stuff going on in the Middle East right now, it’s hard to remember, Muslims around the world are celebrating Ramadan. In fact, they’re coming up to the end. One of the most significant times in the month, Laylat al-Qadr, or Night of Power will take place on Sunday, March 15th. (That’s the best guess. It’s unknown when the night actually happens.) 

Laylat al-Qadr commemorates when Muhammad first began to receive the Quran. Surah Al-Qadr in the Quran quotes Allah describing it, “The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.” (Qur’an 97:3) Muslims believe all the good things they do on the Night of Power are multiplied many times over. One writer says a, “night of sincere prayer, charity, and remembrance can bring rewards greater than a lifetime of worship.”

Wow, that’s putting a lot on one night! 

A Muslim legal scholar says this about the importance and breadth of prayer during Laylat al-Qadr:

“Remember this is the night in which Allah decrees your rizq (provisions) for the coming year, so implore Allah; cry your heart out as they say so that He may give you what you desire. Don’t think what you’re asking for is too much for Allah, nothing you ask will decrease His dominion. You want money, ask Him, you want a wife/husband, ask Him, you want a job, ask Him, you want children, ask Him, you want peace of heart, ask Him, anything you desire ask.”

In 1 Kings 8.43, when Solomon is dedicating the Temple, he asks God to hear and answer the prayers of the outsiders. Based on that, I think we’re wise to ask God to answer Muslims prayers during Laylat al-Qadr in such a way as to bring them life and him glory. 

PS: Bonus points if you snag an opportunity to lead your whole church (or a subset) in prayer this Sunday!

“Truth is the first casualty of war,” goes the old saying. Close on its heels is a burgeoning population of refugees. I can’t imagine what it’s like to face the decision of fleeing my home, but many Iranians are facing that today. 

And here’s the crazy part: Iran hosts more displaced people right now than any country in the world! Most of these are Afghans who fled the multiple messes in their country. 

With the now two week old war already displacing people, where will they go?

The U.S. is an unlikely option. President Trump set the refugee limit for 2026 at 7500, the lowest level since the program began in 1980. The majority of those visas are slated to go to white Afrikaners from South Africa. 

With most of Europe in the process of locking down and preventing undesired immigration, it’s unlikely Iranian refugees will be welcomed there with open arms. 

Since all commercial and civilian flights in and out of Iran are stopped, no one is hopping a plane to a safe country. This leaves buses, cars and feet taking refugees to adjacent countries. 

In case your Middle East geography is not up to Jeopardy standards (mine wasn’t), here are the states that border Iran (Clockwise from the west): Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Forbes says, “If displacement from Iran accelerates, Turkey and Iraq are the most likely immediate destinations due to geography and existing migration routes. But both countries are already under significant pressure from earlier refugee waves.” Turkey already hosts 3-4 million Syrians and has seen an uptick in Iranians since the brief military action in June of 2025.

As is usually the case with displaced peoples, there are no solutions that are not brutal and gut-wrenching. Let’s pray the war will be brief with minimal civilian impact.