Spiritual delights of Fasting Ramadhan (2)

Today on the 2nd day of the blessed month of Ramadhan, we start our daily programme titled “Spiritual Delights of Fasting Ramadhan” with the special supplication for the day:

“O Allah! Bring me this day nearer to Your good pleasure, and keep me away in it from Your displeasure and vengeance. Favour me with the opportunity to recite the verses of Your Scripture, with Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful!” 

According to Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), the gates of heavens are flung open on the first night of Ramadhan and are not closed till the end of this blessed month. But unfortunately, in our modern era when mankind had made astounding progress, the fasting Muslims are being bombarded and slaughtered; not by pagans or non-Muslims, but by those who claim to be Muslims, and shamelessly call themselves Jihadis, while their hearts are empty of any iota of belief in God, the Prophet, the holy Qur’an, the month of Ramadhan, and humanitarian values. May divine inflict the Takfiris and terrorists of all hue and colour, who are supported by certain regimes that masquerade as Muslims! These hypocrites are tarnishing the image of Islam by killing all and everybody else, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, when the fact of the matter is that fasting is not exclusive but is observed by almost all creeds and cultures, in quest of spirituality and proximity of God Almighty.

God had prescribed fasting for all nations of the past. In the books revealed to such great divine messengers as Prophet Moses and Prophet Jesus (peace upon them) we come across fasting and its benefits. According to the Almighty's Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), Prophet David (PuH) was among the most pious persons, and he used to fast every alternate day. His son and successor, Prophet Solomon (PuH) used to fast on the first three days of every month, the mid three days of the month and the last three days of the month. Prophet Jesus (PuH) used to fast for the greater part of his life, while his mother, the Virgin Mary (peace upon her), used to constantly fast. This is proof of the fact that fasting is a form of worship that profoundly and positively affects both the human body and the human spirit, and leads to the establishment of sound and healthy societies.

Let us now present you the translation of a famous supplication that the faithful recite after every obligatory ritual prayer in this blessed month:

"O Allah, let happiness enter (the hearts of) the dwellers of the graves:

“O Allah, grant affluence to all the poor;

“O Allah, satisfy the hunger of all the hungry ones;

“O Allah, clothe all the naked ones;

“O Allah, help all debtors to pay their debts;

“O Allah, relieve the sufferings of all those in distress;

“O Allah, help all travellers to (safely) return home;

“O Allah, release all the prisoners;

“O Allah, straighten out all the defects (that have developed) in the affairs of Muslims;

“O Allah, restore to health all those who are sick;

“O Allah, ease our poverty by Your (unlimited) wealth;

“O Allah, change our difficult state by the excellence of Your state.

“O Allah, help us to pay our debts and free us from poverty. Surely, You are able over everything.”

As could be clear from the wordings of the supplication that we recited to you, Ramadhan is an excellent opportunity for beseeching God for resolving not only our own affairs, but the affairs of all Muslims. Here is an interesting anecdote. A pious person recalls that in his youth he visited the famous Iranian Gnostic, Sheikh Hassan Ali Nokhodki, in the holy city of Mashhad and told him about his wish to obtain three important things while he was still youthful. He said I wish to go on Hajj pilgrimage to the holy Ka’ba in Mecca. The Gnostic said: Punctually perform your ritual prayers on time in congregation. When the person said his second wish was that God grant him a virtuous wife, the Gnostic repeated the same thing, saying: Punctually perform your ritual prayers on time in congregation – rather than individually. His third wish, said youth, was to find a good job. The Gnostic repeated for the third time, the same answer, saying: Punctually perform your prayers on time in congregation – and not individually. The person, as was instructed by the sage, punctually performed the ritual prayers in congregation, and within three years he managed to holy Mecca on the Hajj pilgrimage; married a virtuous lady; and obtained a good job. Thus, there are indeed hidden wonders in obeying God and performing on time whatever he has made obligatory. Ramadhan is the month that provides us the opportunity to build discipline and punctually perform our prayers on time, and in congregation. Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) says: As long as the faithful perform the five-times-a-day obligatory prayers, the Satan will fear him, but if the prayers are neglected, the Satan will push the person into big sins.

Ramadhan teaches us that we perform the ritual prayers on time, just like we take medicine on time on the instructions of the physician. Otherwise, the sick person will not be able to recover health and get cured. It is also the season of seeking forgiveness from God Almighty. In ayah 53 of Surah Zumar, God tells us not to feel despaired or despondent of His Infinite Mercy: 

"Say [that Allah declares,] ‘O My servants who have committed excesses against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed Allah will forgive all sins. Indeed He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful."

We are fortunate to have special supplications taught to us by the Prophet and his Infallible Heirs. Here we will present you part of a moving supplication in the Divine Court, as taught to us by Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS), the 4^th Infallible Imam:

"My God, offenses have clothed me in the garment of my lowliness, separation from You has wrapped me in the clothing of my misery! My dreadful crimes have deadened my heart, so bring it to life through repentance from You! O my hope and my aim! O my wish and my want! By Your might, I find no one but You to forgive my sins and I see none but You to mend my brokenness!

“I have subjected myself to You in repeated turning, I have humbled myself to You in abasement. If You cast me out from Your door, in whom shall I take shelter? If You repel me from Your side, in whom shall I seek refuge?

“My God, let the cloud of Your mercy cast its shadow upon my sins and send the billow of Your clemency flowing over my faults! My God, does the fugitive servant return to anyone other than his Master? Or does anyone grant him sanctuary from his Master’s wrath other than his Master Himself?

“My God, though the sins of Your servant are ugly, Your pardon is beautiful. O Responder to the distressed!

“…O Knower of everything secret! …I seek Your munificence and Your generosity to intercede with You, I seek Your side and Your showing mercy to mediate with You, So grant my supplication, Disappoint not my hope in You, accept my repentance, and hide my offense, through Your kindness and mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful."

Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) says: “O people! The month of Allah has come with its mercies, blessings and forgiveness.”

The blessed month of Ramadhan is a great feast for the faithful. Fasting is a religious duty for all those who believe in Monotheism. It is an apparent sign of obedience, submission and servitude to Allah, the Exalted. By fasting, a Muslim expresses his/her submission to Allah's command; his response to His will, and the control over his own desires and wishes at the Almighty's behest. Ramadhan has specific characteristics. This month is like a city which every year becomes the month-long residence for the guests of God Almighty. All parts of the city lead to the One and Only God. The city is as old as the creation of mankind. The Prophets are the prime guests at this divine banquet. The Almighty hosts the banquet and the angels receive the guests of God. Thus, blessed Ramadhan is the month of association with God. It affords us the opportunity to take stock of our inner selves so as to measure our obedience and servitude to God. In Ramadhan the believers abstain from food, drinks and even lawful sensual pleasures during the prescribed hours without any complaint and without uttering an evil word. Therefore the fragrance of servitude fills up the atmosphere of this month.

AS/SS