Spiritual delights of fasting Ramadhan (21)

Today on the 21st day of the blessed month of Ramadhan, we start our daily programme titled “Spiritual delights of fasting Ramadhan” with the special supplication of the day:

 “O Allah, assign me this day a guide to Your good pleasure; do not allow Satan to impose himself upon me; and make paradise my abode and place of rest, O Fulfiller of the needs of the petitioners!”

Yes friends, today is that tragic day of the fasting month of Ramadhan when the Leader of the Pious, the Commander of the Faithful, the Epitome of Valour, the Gateway of the City of Knowledge, and Master of Eloquence, departed from the world. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, we are observing public holiday, since we are in a state of mourning for Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS). We are clad in black; the streets, buildings and public squares are draped in black with banners of tribute everywhere to the grand man of history who achieved immortal martyrdom today, three days after being struck on the head, while in the Morning Prayer, by the poisoned sword of the renegade Ibn Muljam al-Moradi.

We offer you heartfelt condolences and on this day of grief join you and all those who have assembled in holy Najaf at the shrine of the cousin, son-in-law, and divinely-designated vicegerent of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). The Imam on being struck the fatal blow called his own imminent departure from the world as success in the path of God. Indeed, the most successful persons in the history of mankind have been Prophets and the Imams. The main secret of their success is one word, and that is sincerity in the path of God. They do not need the testimony of any other person for confirmation of their faith, since God the All-Observing is Sufficient. In Sura Nisa, ayah 79 we read: “and Allah suffices as a witness.” 

It is said that among the Israelites of ancient days, who were monotheists and virtuous people, there was a devout worshiper. He was told that somewhere there is a tree which has become the object of worship of some people who have deviated from the path of the One and Only God. The pious person decided to cut that tree. As he was going with his axe, Satan took the form of an old man to approach him, and asked where he was going? He said I intent to cut that tree which has become the object of worship of some people. The devil deterred him by saying that God has sent Prophets to preach; and if cutting the tree was essential, God would send one of them to cut it. The worshipper refused to heed the Satan’s words, and the two clashed with each other. The worshipper overcame the devil and threw him to the ground.

The Satan gave up the fight, and said: Let us make a deal; every day I will place two dinars under your pillow if you do not cut the tree. The worshipper thought that this offer was better than cutting the tree, and said to himself:  I will donate one dinar as charity while keeping the other dinar for my own expenses. For the next two days, the worshipper saw two dinars under his pillow, but on the third day there was no trace of any money. So he angrily took the axe and went to cut the tree.

Once again the Satan appeared as an old man and told him not to do it. Soon the two clashed and this time the worshipper was thrown to the ground by the Satan. The worshipper said: How come; a few days back I easily overcame you but now you have thrown me to the ground? The Satan said: The first time you came with sincerity and faith in God to cut the tree, therefore God made you overcome me, but this time you wanted to cut the tree not for the sake of God, but on being angry for not getting the two dinars; so this is the reason I overcame you.

What an interesting account! It teaches us to overcome the devil in our selves first, that is, our ego, if we are really sincere and rely upon God.

In the Whispered Supplication of the Obedient, Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS), the 4^th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), teaches us interesting points concerning our internal desires. He says:

“My God, place me among the chosen, the good, Join me to the righteous, the pious, the first to reach generous gifts, the swift to come upon good things, the workers of the abiding acts of righteousness, the strivers after elevated degrees! Thou art powerful over everything and disposed to respond! By Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful!”

The Imam reminds us to be pious in order to reach high status in life, which is sincerity towards God and fellow humans. In the original Arabic version, the term used by the Imam is “Baqiyaat as-Salehaat” which means “eternally lasting acts of virtue”. It is the term used by God Almighty in the Qur’an. In Surah Kahf, ayah 46, God says:

“Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of the world, but lasting righteous deeds are better with your Lord in reward and better in hope.”

According to the holy Quran, “Baqiyaat as-Salehaat” are the good deeds which a person has done in life and which are preserved with God for a great reward, since these acts were done solely for the sake of God and with sincerity. Indeed God is the Most Merciful of all the merciful.

AS/ME