In the name of God. The blessed month of Ramazan is a good opportunity for self-building and purification of the spirit and body from the sins and vices. That's why everyone tries to make the best use of this opportunity to gain God's proximity.

This is the real salvation and success. Salvation and success are the ultimate goal of all programs in Islam. In ayahs 130 and 200 of surah Al-e Imran, for instance, God says, "And be wary of Allah so that you may be felicitous."

In the previous episode we discussed God's call toward salvation and success. Now let us see who the successful are.

The word for salvation and success is falaah and fawz in Arabic. These two words have been used in the noble Qur'an with their derivatives more than 60 times. The outcome of knowing well is living well and acting well. This will lead to gaining of the goal. In the culture of the noble Qur'an, those who have firm faith in God and his creed deserve to achieve real success. Ayah 20 of surah At-Tawba calls those who have faith and do good deeds as successful and felicitous. Of course, good deeds should be done with pure intention. In other words, good deeds should be done just to satisfy God and not others. Having certitude that God sees every deed, makes the individual heed his deeds and abstain from sins.

The blessed month of Ramazan is the time for reciting of the Qur'an. Recitation of the Qur'an paves the ground for reflecting upon the meaning of the ayahs and then putting them into action. Indeed, the dignity and grandeur of this month is due to the revelation of the Qur'an in this month. God says in ayah 185 of surah Baqara, "The month of Ramazan is one in which the Qur'an was sent down as guidance to mankind, with manifest profs of guidance and the Criterion."

The 23^rd surah of the Qur'an is called "Mu'minun". The surah begins with saying that it is indeed the faithful who will end in success. Then it enumerates several characteristics of the faithful. The word falaah means splitting and opening through in Arabic. It is used for any kind of victory and reaching a destination. A farmer is called Fallah because he furrows the farm and helps the seed cleave the soil and come out. If a person succeeds in removing obstacles and reaching the goal he is called Fallah in Arabic. When a seed is put in the soil it does three things: First, it attaches the root to the depths of the soil. Secondly, it absorbs foodstuff from the soil and, thirdly, it pushes aside disturbing soil. Human being, also, should take three steps to get rid of the darkness of material world and reach the calm climate of monotheism. He should bolster his beliefs through reasoning. Then he should absorb whatever is needed for spiritual growth. And then he should remove all enemies and disturbances on the way of ultimate success.

In surah Mu'minun of the holy Qur'an, the first characteristic for the faithful- as the successful people- is named as humbleness in prayer. Humbleness is the state that appears in the individual when he faces a great person or a grand phenomenon. Humbleness is in the heart but it is manifested in the body organs, too.

In the blessed month of Ramazan, the most beautiful state of the fasting person is when he is standing for prayer and supplication with God. The faithful, along with the entire creation, pray to God ad glorify Him at dawn, at noon and at night.   

 Daily ritual prayer is the mystery of servitude and the symbol of freedom from everyone other than God. the servant of God prostrates before God to say that he is only the servant of God and no other power or superpower. He turns away his heart from everyone except God.

In continuation of surah Mu'minun, the faithful are further described as follows, "Those who are humble in their prayer, who avoid vain talk, who carry out their zakat, who guard their private parts except from their spouses or their slave women, they indeed they are not blameworthy; but whoever seeks beyond that – it is they who are transgressors) and those who keep their trusts and covenants, and who are watchful of their prayers. It is they who will be the inheritors, who shall inherit paradise and will remain in it forever."

 Imam Hussein (AS) said, "Indeed, God the Exalted set the month of Ramazan as a factor for wakefulness and movement of servants so that they take the lead toward paradise via servitude and obedience of God. Some advanced in this month and became successful while others disobeyed and were the losers. So, what a surprise! What a surprise of those who laugh very much and are indulged in games. Thus, on that day the doers of good deeds will receive their reward and those who came short will be sad at their loss."

God stresses that it is the Hezbollah or party of God who are the ultimate victors. 

RM/ME