We congratulate you on the advent of blessed Ramadhan, the month of worship and self-building, during which, as Guests of God, we partake of the Divine Banquet by fasting every day from before the break of dawn to a little after sunset.

We thank God for once again providing us the opportunity to observe the spiritual glories of this month, and starting today will be presenting you a special series titled “Heavenly Call”.
Stay tuned for the first part.

Among the blessings of the Lord Most High for the month of Ramadhan, is the descent of the holy Qur’an on the heart of the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger with the universal mission of Islam, Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). In Surah 97, God says regarding the holy Qur’an:

“Indeed we revealed it on the Grand Night.”

The holy Qur’an is the final Heavenly Scripture for the guidance of all humanity, superseding all previously revealed scriptures. It is our constitution for all affairs. It is the book that caters to all aspects of our material and spiritual life. In several ayahs it addresses all humans with the phrase of “O mankind” or “O people”. Some of its ayahs use the phrase “O People of the Book” and these are addressed those nations to whom in the past God had revealed heavenly scriptures, such as the Torah and the Evangel”. The main addressees of the holy Qur’an are those who believe in the indivisibility of the One and Only God and the mission of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny). The phrase used by God to address this group is “O you who have faith”.

Thus, God says about the Islamic Ummah in ayah 110 of Surah Aal-e Imran of the holy Qur’an:

“You are the best nation [ever] brought forth for mankind: you bid what is right and forbid what is wrong, and have faith in Allah.”

It means Muslims ought to be models for others in all fields, through their virtue, their lofty characteristics and moderation. Accordingly, God says in ayah 143 of Surah Baqarah:

“Thus We have made you a middle (or moderate) nation that you may be witnesses to the people,”

By contemplating on these two ayahs, we can realize the great mission entrusted by God to the true believers, who can be torchbearers of guidance through their practical adherence to holy Qur’an, with the least negligence of divine commandments. That is the reason the Almighty says in ayah 44 of Surah Baqarah:

“Will you bid others to piety and forget yourselves, while you recite the Book? Do you not apply reason?

The words of God are crystal clear. We can be practical models for others only when we put into practice what God has commanded us, and expounded to us through the exemplary life of the Prophet, who in turn entrusted the task of enlightenment to his Ahl al-Bayt or Blessed Household – hailed as “Qur’an an-Nateq”, which the Speaking Qur’an or the Embodiment of the Qur’an.

In view of these facts, the holy Qur’an is indispensable. It plays a pivotal role in all aspects of life, ranging from childbirth to death. We should, however, not be mere reciters or memorizers of the holy Qur’an, although these are excellent traits. We should contemplate on its words and implement them in our daily life, rather than lip service to the holy Qur’an, as normally happens in times of celebrations or at the mourning ceremonies.

The Qur’anic contests held regularly in Iran and all over the world, in the fields of proper recitation of the holy Qur’an and its memorization, as well as meaning and purport of the ayahs, are essential for building the genuine Qur’anic culture in Muslim societies.

FK/AS/ME