Welcome to the seventh episode of Heavenly Call on the occasion of the blessed fasting month of Ramadhan.

We start with the special supplication of the 7^th day:

“O Allah, assist me this day to carry out its fasting and devotions; keep me away therein from lapses and sins; and grant me therein Your perpetual remembrance, with success from You, O Guide of those who go astray.”

Paradise is one of the rewards of God for the true believers because of their faith and virtuous deeds. It is indeed a great blessing for the faithful, although for God the Almighty Creator of the universe, it is a small favour. In view of this, the holy Qur’an, after promising the rewards of paradise and its fresh flowing streams with its honeyed liquids and various fruits, depicts the high status of the true believers in the presence of God, as is evident in ayah 85 of Surah Maryam, which reads: 

“The day We shall gather the Godwary toward the All-Beneficent, on mounts,”

Undoubtedly, in order to achieve such an exalted position in the presence of God, the true believers during the transient life of the mortal world, strive to firm up their faith and preserve their piety. Among the factors strengthening the foundation of faith and the doing of virtuous deeds is the sincere obedience of the divine commandments, as promulgated by Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

For this reason, the holy Qur’an tells the believers in ayah 59 of Surah Nisa:

“O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Prophet and those vested with authority among you; and if you dispute concerning anything, refer it to Allah and the Prophet, if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day; that is better and more favourable in outcome.”

In this ayah, obedience to God and the Prophet is crystal clear, and anyone who has firm faith will not disobey God and His Last and Greatest Messenger. The next part of the ayah speaks of obedience of the believers to those vested with authority by God Almighty through the Prophet. This sets a clear criterion for distinguishing the true believers from those who claim to obey God and the Prophet, but by refusing to follow the divinely-designated leaders, that is, the Infallible Imams, actually disobey them.

After the end of the universal mission of the Prophet of Islam, the line of the Infallible Imams starts with the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), who on God’s command was formally vested with authority by the Prophet at the historic gathering of Ghadir-Khom on 18^th Zilhijja in the year 11 AH, as acknowledged by all Muslim denominations, including Shi’a and Sunni. Thus obedience to Imam Ali (AS) and his divinely-designated heirs is obligatory and article of faith, while ignoring the Infallible Imams, but claiming to obey God and the Prophet, is disobedience of divine commandments and nothing but hypocrisy.

The Infallible Imam, as the divinely-designated successor of the Prophet of Islam, is the pivot of unity of the Ummah. Unfortunately, after the Prophet’s passing away this principle of faith was ignored by vested interests, and as a result Muslim unity has suffered over the past millennium, with differences arising and sects emerging to the confusion of the Ummah.

To determine who really follows the path of the holy Qur’an and upon difference, refer to God and His Prophet, and who violates the letter and spirit of divine commandments by following their whims and desires, ayah 59 of Surah Nisa ends by placing emphasis on faith in God and the Day of Resurrection when everything will become clear, but too late for those who had disobeyed.  

“if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more favourable in outcome.” 

Thus, in view of this ayah in its entirety, it is impossible for anyone who really believes in God and the Day of Resurrection to ignore the authority of the divinely-designated leaders and follow persons who created disunity and factional tendencies by usurping power that did not belong to them. In such a case the outcome will neither be better nor favourable.

It is hoped the blessed fasting month of Ramadhan will awaken our conscience and make us ponder on the guidelines of the holy Qur’an for the sake of Islamic unity and for saving our own souls on the Day of Resurrection.

FK/AS/ME