Pars Today

In the holy month of Ramadan, geographical boundaries do not drift apart Muslims from each other. Ramadan is the month of proximity of hearts, and unification of Muslim nations. Every one of Muslims, who are fasting, considers himself as a member of a unified community and feels a sense of unity with other Muslims who live in other parts of the world.

Today marks the 12^th day of the holy month of Ramadan, which is concurrent with the anniversary of establishment of a fraternal bond by the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), on the 1^st AH, between the Muslims who migrated from Mecca to Medina and Muslims of Medina. Given that these two groups of Muslims were different to each other in regards to race, occupation, and the environment in which they were brought up; there was concern that these differences could have led to discord among them. Thus, Prophet Mohammad decided to establish a fraternal bond between them. When the Prophet of God established a fraternal bond between these two groups of Muslims, he named his infallible cousin, Ali ibn Abitaleb, as his brethren. The Prophet concluded a fraternal agreement between these two groups of Muslims in order to establish an Islamic ruling system and community. Obviously, Muslims should have initially been bonded together in order to assist the Prophet of Islam to achieve his divine and elevated goals. The Prophet made use of this fraternal bond in order to financially assist the Muslims, who had migrated from Mecca to Medina; because everyone of Muslims of Medina felt a sense of responsibility toward his new brethren and shared his life and belongings with everyone of Muslims who had migrated from Mecca to Medina. Previously, in the Age of Ignorance, people established and maintained tribal bonds, or bonds based on tribal and familial interests in order to defend and support each other. The Prophet of Islam, through formation of a fraternal bond between Muslims, completely developed their relationships and shaped a divine bond between them.

Dear listeners, the holy month of Ramadan displays the unity and solidarity of Muslims around the World of Islam. Muslims, from any country or race welcome this sacred month. Fasting in the holy month of Ramadan is a common ritual among all Muslims, similar to the Hajj pilgrimage.

Let’s mark this holy month as a beginning for avoidance of discord; assistance of the divine religion of Islam; and vigilance against deviated currents, so that we would not be ashamed before God and the Prophet of Islam, on the Day of Resurrection.

The 201^st Ayah of Surat Al-A’raf in Holy Quran notes: “When those who are Godwary are touched by a visitation of Satan, they remember Allah and, behold, they perceive.”

This ayah is about pious individuals who get rid of satanic temptations with remembrance of God. In Quranic terms, piety is the opposite of negligence. Piety means the permanent caution of the individual toward his deeds, so that his deeds would be completely compatible with the benefits and interests, which God has considered for him. In fact, life can be resembled to movement on a slippery path; on the two sides of which are deep valleys.  A moment of negligence could lead to a fall in the valley, unless one finds something like a stone, a tree, and/or a bush to get a hold on, in order to prevent an imminent and certain fall in the valley.

A sinful individual, due to commitment of countless sins does not sense the impact of Satanic temptations on his heart and soul, while the pious individual is the exact opposite. Upon commitment of a minor sin, the devout individual realizes his misdeed and tries to compensate for it. Upon feeling the presence of Satan, he remembers God Almighty and the fact that all of his affairs are administered by the one and only creator of the world. So he avoids Satan and resorts to God. Meanwhile, God, as the result of the timely realization of the presence of Satan by the Godwary, shows the righteous path to the pious individual. So, a pious individual, who maintains a strong faith in God is reminiscent of a healthy body, which microbes cannot infiltrate, and even if they do, they are soon wipe out by the physically strong body. Thus, a devout Muslim foils satanic temptations.

In regards to the said ayah, the great mystic, Khajeh Abdullah Ansari, noted: “Satanic temptations do not leave an impact on the devout. It is said that in the advent of Islam, a youth, after observation of the daily evening prayers, was heading home upon nightfall; on the path of which he encountered a woman, who tried to seduce him. The youth followed the woman to her home’s doorstep. He paused for a while, and recited this ayah. All of a sudden, he passed out. Upon watching this situation, the woman called her servant and the two of them lifted the body of the youngster and carried him to his home’s doorstep; while later returning to her home. This youngster had an elderly father, who came out of the house and saw his son next to the doorstep, while taking his son inside the house. The youngster told his father what had happened, until he remembered this ayah which pointed out: “Whenever the Godwary are touched by a visitation of Satan, they remember Allah and, behold, they perceive.” At this point, the youth screamed and immediately passed away.”

Based on Islamic teachings, eating meals is a part of our social lives. It the related principles and traditions of eating are complied with, human body becomes healthy. Today, we study some of these eating habits and traditions.

You have most probably gone to eateries, in which a number of individuals have not complied with the related eating traditions, thereby upsetting you. Islam has enumerated a number of principles which one should comply with, when one is eating a meal.

Naturally, every day, we touch polluted and dirty objects, which could beget a number of illnesses. The First Infallible Imam of the Prophet of Islam’s Household, Imam Ali (Peace be upon him) always called on people to wash their hands prior to eating their meal.

The other point is to remember the one and only creator of the world who provided us with beneficial foods to meet our needs, and invited mankind to consume them. Imam Ali noted that at the time of eating; remember God, because God has bestowed this divine blessing upon you, and you are duty-bound to remember God and to be grateful toward Him.

At the time of eating, begin with the lightest food. Also, based on Islamic narrations, it is better to add a small amount of salt to your food, when you start eating. Obviously, this is the case if the individual is not suffering from ailments such as hypertension. The science of medicine has also called on us not to eat hot food, because it is harmful for the body. Several centuries ago, Imam Ali noted: “Let hot food to cool down prior to eating it.”

Eating with the right hand; taking small bites; and appropriately chewing the food are some of the eating principles, which have been mentioned by the divine religion of Islam. In order to easier digest the food and to prevent weight gain, physicians recommend us to chew the food appropriately and slowly. This fact has been pointed out by several hadiths. Also it has been recommended to stop eating while your stomach is not full.

There are a number of traditions to ending a meal which are beneficial for human body. These traditions can be divided into mystical, social, and hygienic customs. In relation to mystical tradition, we should be grateful to God for his divine blessings. In relation to social tradition, we should remember the hungry and the disadvantaged, and we should realize that we maintain a responsibility to alleviate poverty and hunger in the community. The hygienic traditions include washing hands, using toothpicks, and brushing one’s teeth at the end of our meal.    

AS/ME