We extend our condolences on the anniversary of Imam Khomeini’s departure from the mortal world. This episode will dwell on the views of Imam Khomeini about the blessed month of Ramazan.

The blessed month of Ramazan is the spring of the Qur’an and the month of purification of the heart and spirit. If we divide it in three parts, the first part of this month is mercy, the second part is forgiveness and the third part is freedom from Hellfire. The late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini, considered Ramazan as the period in which myriads of blessings are bestowed upon man. He paid very special attention to this month and believed that before entering this month we need to reform ourselves and expurgate our spirits through giving up carnal desires. He said, “Reform yourselves. Pay attention to God. Seek forgiveness for your indecent deeds. God forbid, if you have committed a sin repent before entering the blessed month of Ramazan and make your tongue used to supplication of God the Exalted.”

Imam Khomeini (God’s mercy upon him) deemed it necessary to abstain from backbiting and slandering as conditions for reformation of servants of God and fasting people. He maintained that having control over the limbs can cause one’s fast to be accepted at the divine court; and the divine mercy will engulf the fasting person. This fast will be a firm shield against the devilish temptations.

The Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini, stressed that, “Make a pledge with your God in the blessed month of Ramazan to avoid backbiting, slandering, and calling bad names for others. Take the control of your tongue, eyes, ears, and other limbs. Watch your deeds and words; maybe this good deed will cause God the Exalted to pay attention to you, help you and after the lapse of the month of fasting- when the devils are freed from chains- you will be reformed and will not be deceived by the Satan and will be expurgated.”

Imam Khomeini’s schedule for the blessed month of Ramazan included midnight prayer and supplication. He would expressly say that, in the journey of the divine love, one shouldn’t look at worship as a tool for attaining paradise. One of the Imam’s companions said, “In this month, the Imam used to create certain change in his life in accordance with this month. He would spend the whole month in recitation of the noble Qur’an, prayer and the recommended deeds of the month of Ramazan.”

Recitation of the noble Qur’an is one of the special deeds of the blessed month of Ramazan. Imam Khomeini paid special attention to the Qur’an in the month of Ramazan. He would use every opportunity to read the Qur’an. He was seen several times to read this heavenly book during the minutes while the table for Iftar was being spread. He used to recite the Qur’an between the midnight prayer and the Fajr prayer. One of his companions in Najaf said, “Imam Khomeini used to recite ten parts of the Qur’an every day; thus he would finish the Qur’an every three days."

The month of Ramazan is a divine banquet whose food is spiritual bounties and divine mercy. The Imam said on this banquet, “The banquet of God in the material world means that it prevents us from all worldly desires.”  

In Imam Khomeini’s view, lack of understanding this banquet is directly related to the individual’s practice. He said, “You are all invited to God’s banquet. You are all the guests of God and this feast is based on quitting. If there is a scintilla of personal desire in the man he has not entered this banquet and if he has entered, he has not benefited it. All this fuss that you see in the world is because they have not benefited this banquet and have not accepted God’s invitation. Try to answer this invitation positively.”

Moreover, Imam Khomeini believes that a true fasting person neither oppresses nor accepts oppression. He states, “If in this blessed month of Ramazan Muslims had entered God’s banquet collectively and expurgated and purified their soul, it was impossible for them to go under oppression. Going under oppression- like oppressing- stems from the lack of expurgation. Had we attained it we wouldn’t have been neither passive nor oppressor. All this is due to the fact that we are not expurgated.”

Another feature of the blessed month of Ramazan is the occurrence of the Night of Qadr (Ordainment) in it. God ordains the annual fate of human beings in this night. Imam Khomeini makes it clear, “Let us strive for understanding the Night of Qadr and its blessings that have been sent down in the Qur’an. Because the whole happiness of the world has been sent down in that night and that’s why the Night of Qadr is superior to all nights.”

On the importance of the end of the blessed month of Ramazan and coming of Eid al-Fitr, Imam Khomeini says, “You should think that if you come out of this banquet then you will have Eid. The Eid belongs to he who has entered this banquet and benefited this banquet. Just as he should give up external carnal desires he should also prevent internal carnal desires which are the biggest barrier on man’s way. The blessed month can help man succeed in many affairs. The blessed month can cause man to control himself till the next blessed month and avoid transgressing what satisfies God.”

RM/ME