The blessed month of Ramazan is the month of God, the month of revelation of the Qur'an and the month of divine mercy and forgiveness. It is the month in which Muslims eagerly turn toward the heavenly instructions of the Qur'an and express their servitude of God by doing good deeds.

The secret for success in every affair is the usage of opportunities. This hadith is narrated from Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), "Indeed, there are moments in your lifetime wherein the divine breezes blow; beware to expose yourselves to them."

In another hadith we read, "He for whom a door of goonessd is opened should use the opportunity for he doesn’t know when it will be closed."

The blessed month of Ramazan is the period in which the divine breezes blow. That's why the faithful make the best use of the moments of this month through reading the Qur'an, praying and supplicating to God. They also try to do charity deeds to help fellow human beings. In the special manuals there are many prayers and supplications for the days and nights of Ramazan. One of them is the supplication called, "Du'a-e Iftitah". This supplication is read on the nights of Ramazan and contains lofty concepts. It starts in this way, "O Allah! I begin glorification with Your praise while You direct toward what is right through Your grace. And I am certain that You are the most Merciful of the merciful in the position of forgiveness and mercy and the most Severe in the position of warning and retribution and the Mightiest in the position of Majesty and Grandeur. O Allah! You have allowed me to supplicate to You and ask from You. Then, hear my praise O One who hears all, and answer my call O Merciful and ignore my fault O Forgiver."

What causes human success is to understand the fact that he is very minuscule and insignificant before God and he has nothing independent from God. God is the source of whatever good. Man should know that when he intentionally takes a wrong path he is indeed fighting God.

Another concept that has been stressed towards the end of Du'a-e Iftitah is expression of the love for the global government of Imam Mahdi (May God expedite his reappearance). The supplicant asks God, "O Allah, we eagerly implore You for a munificent government, through which You dignify Islam and its people, and degrade hypocrisy and its people. And make us in it amongst the inviters towards Your obedience, and the leaders to Your path, and give us through it munificence of the world and the Hereafter."

Another supplication which is read in the midnights of Ramazan is Du'a Abu Hamza Thumali who was one of the companions of Imam Sajjad (AS). This supplication includes different gnostic, social, political and moral issues. It beautifully illustrates the way to repentance and Godwariness and enumerates the great divine bounties. Part of the supplication refers to the hardships of the Judgment Day and the heavy load of sins. It shows how vital is to obey the Prophet and his progeny (Ahl al-Bayt). The supplicant also beseeches God to deliver him from vices like laziness, frustration and self-conceit. One of the most important features of Abu Hamza supplication is that it teaches us how to speak to God and be in communion with Him. This supplication pays attention to the point that the supplicant must always be between fear and hope. On one hand, when he looks at his sins he should be remorseful and fearful of the consequences of these sins. On the other hand, when he considers the infinite mercy and forgiveness of God he is hopeful. In one part, Imam Sajjad says, "I call You, O my Master, with the tongue that has been dumbed by its sin. My Lord! I whisper to You with a heart that has been doomed by its mischief."

God likes His servants to confess their sins. This confession has not benefit for God. But it will smoothen the way of repentance and make the servant more hopeful of the divine mercy. Nevertheless, confession should be done just before God and man is not allowed to divulge his sin to anybody else.

Gratitude toward the one who is kind is a rational act, no matter if it is done toward the Creator or an individual. Mentioning the bounties is a sign of gratitude. An important part of Dua Abu Hamza reads, "My Master! I am the young one whom You raised, and I am the ignorant whom You taught, and I am the misled whom You guided, and I am the inferior whom You elevated, and I am the frightened whom You safeguarded, and the hungry whom You fed, and the thirsty whose thirst You quenched, and the naked whom You dressed, and the poor whom You made wealthy, and the weak whom You strengthened, and the humiliated whom You honored, and the sick whom You cured."

Being thankful of bounties will cause them to increase and grow. It will also increase the love of the Creator in the servant's heart. 

Dua-e Mujeer is another supplication which is recommended to read on the eve of the 13, 14 and 15 of Ramazan. The word Mujeer is repeated several times in the supplication. It means the Giver of refuge as a name for God. Hence, naming the supplication as Mujeer. Except the beginning and the end, this supplication contains 90 phrases in which the names of God are mentioned and at the end of each section, the supplicant beseeches God to give refuge from the hellfire.

These words and statements and taking refuge are like a strong purifier for the soul and heart. Moreover, another effect for this supplication is that it is a remedy for diseases as the Prophet says, "Keep repeating the phrases of Mujeer supplication if you want diseases and hardships be away from you."

RM/MG