Islam has always included significant strands of animism. Folk practices are full of rituals, objects, and people that have power to protect and give success or to harm one’s enemy. When a Muslim woman is unable to conceive and give birth to a boy, for example, she may purchase a magic charm, go to a saint’s tomb and leave an offering, and then visit a person with power (Marabout) seeking a blessing (baraka) that will enable her to give her husband a male child.

Folk Muslims use the Quran as an object of power. Drinking water that contains ink from dissolved Quranic texts is said to bring healing. For Folk Muslims, praying during Ramadan is far more powerful than praying during the rest of the year.

Folk Muslims are often desperate for help. Their lives are dominated by fear, by curses, and by struggle. Folk practices respond to these everyday challenges

It is not uncommon that when the Gospel is brought into a Muslim region for the first time there are manifestations of power by folk practitioners in opposition to the Gospel and its messengers. When there is a demonstration of the power of God over the powers of darkness in response, many Muslims believe and follow the living God, who has demonstrated His authority over the powers that they have feared all of their lives.

When directed and anointed by the Holy Spirit, evangelists often proclaim the Gospel with much power. However, the power of those resistant to the Gospel is strong, and most are kept in bondage to fear and deception.

There is often intense spiritual warfare as Christians bring the Gospel to Muslims. Yet, God is at work replacing fear with love as Muslims trust in Christ and experience the freedom that only He can bring.