Starting today, you'll be listening to a series of programs on the status of the month of God, Ramazan. The month, in which we are "invited by God to His banquet" as the Prophet of Islam said.

Going to a banquet and a feast first of all makes the invitee concerned about what to wear, how to walk and speak. Every banquet begins with the exchange of looks, words and emotions. The more loved the host is the more pleasant the banquet will be. And, lo! We are invited to the banquet of the most loved, the kindest and the most generous one, the Creator of universe.

Once again the gates of heavens are open for the faithful to be stationed in the safe divine sanctuary to muse over their own being and God far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The modern human is deprived of thinking over his own being as he has turned into a materialistic creature. However, Ramazan is a good opportunity to separate human being from the noise and trappings of modern life. It is a respite for improvement of the soul and spirit. According to the description of God and the remarks of the Prophet of Islam and his 12 infallible successors, Ramazan excels all other months of the year. The entire creation belongs to God; but why has this month alone been named as the month of God?

For sure, there is a reason behind this. It is partly due to the fact that the night of Qadr (ordainment) occurs in this month. It is the night in which every affair is determined for one year according to the divine will. The host of this banquet is God and human beings are the guests. Fasting of Ramazan is not like Hajj which is obligatory only for those who are financially able to observe it. Neither is it like Khoms and Zakat which should be paid just for the surplus of asset and property and the like. Nor does it resemble daily ritual prayer which must be performed in any condition.

Now, the question is: What kind of banquet is Ramazan in which the guests should avoid eating and drinking and certain acts? The answer is that God has not invited us to enjoy our bodies and have material pleasure. In Ramazan, it is the souls and spirits that are polished and nurtured. The spiritual observances of Ramazan are for setting human desires in order so that he trains the inner gem in his heart.

As a matter of fact, the main goal of Ramazan is to take heed of the spiritual aspect of our being. Fasting, supplication, recitation of Qur'an, spending in the way of God, charity deeds, etc. expurgate the spirit and set the ground for the growth of man's spiritual growth and divine sublimity. This is the banquet whose value nobody knows except God. It should be noted that the word banquet is not a literary definition for Ramazan. It is the word used by the Prophet to describe this blessed month. He said in the initial phrases of the sermon he delivered on the last Friday of Sha'ban: "It is the month in which you are invited to the Divine banquet."

The Messenger of Mercy delivered a lengthy sermon on the last Friday of the month of Sha'ban, part of which read, "O people! The month of God has turned toward you with blessing, mercy and forgiveness. It is the month which is the best of months with God and its days are the best days, its nights are the best nights and its hours are the best hours. It is the month in which you are invited to the banquet of God and are placed among those who enjoy the divine munificence. Your breaths are considered as glorification [of God], your sleep is considered as worship and your prayer is answered. Therefore, in this month, appeal to God with honest intentions and clean hearts to help you fast and recite His Book…. O people! Indeed, the gates of paradise are open in this month, so ask God to not close them; and the gates of hell are closed in this month so ask God to not open them onto you. O people! The devils are in chain in this month so ask God to not make them dominate over you."

According to Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), the most trivial deeds of human beings are rewarded in the best way in this month and God retaliates the minutest act with the loftiest bounty. With a trivial repentance the greatest sins are forgiven and the ground is provided more than ever for worship and servitude of God. This means that it is the best situation for the individual to enjoy the spiritual feast. If a person honestly and properly observes his fast God will help him attain the highest position of sublimity. It is narrated that once Prophet Moses (AS) said, "My God! How happy I am that I can talk to you so closely and without any association. Is there anyone who is so blissful like me?"

God answered, "O Moses! Now, you are speaking to me from behind 70 thousand curtains, whereas there will be people in the end times who will hold fast for long and exhausting days for the sake of my pleasure and I will be closer to them at the time of Iftar without the association of these 70 thousand curtains."

God has invited the people to his banquet to separate them from their material life and place them by His court. We are recommended to be good guests of God. we should preserve the sanctity of the divine presence via shunning of sins. Real fasting will lead us to Godwariness as God says in ayah 183 of surah Baqara: "O you who have faith! Prescribed for you is fasting as it was prescribed for those who were before you, so that you may be Godwary."

 O Ramazan! How beautifully and splendidly you are approaching! You are approaching to cleanse our souls from the vestiges of all sins and vices. You are the rain of the divine mercy onto the sinful and negligent servants. Greetings to the midnights of Ramazan! Greetings to the dawns of Ramazan! Greetings to the iftars of Ramazan! Greetings to the night of Qadr! Greetings to the month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness! Greetings to the month of fasting!

RM/MG