Spiritual delights of fasting Ramadhan (23)

Before starting today’s programme of the “Spiritual Delights of Fasting Ramadhan”, we present you the special supplication for the 23rd day:

“O Allah, wash me clean this day from sins; purify me therein from all defects; test therein my heart for Godwariness: O Pardoner of the lapses of the sinners.”

The 23^rd of Ramadhan is indeed the Grand Night, or more properly the culmination of the Grand Nights that we observe on the 19^th and the 21^st of this blessed month. We indeed emerge fresh every year after spending these three nights in prayers, supplications, recitation of the holy Qur’an, doing good to others, taking stock of our life of the past year with a view to reform ourselves, and of course, listening to the discourses on the exemplar life of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the Infallible Imams of his progeny, especially of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS), who, following the fatal sword blow that he was struck by a renegade while performing the Morning Prayer on the 19^th of Ramadhan, attained martyrdom on the 21^st. These days, when the summer has started in Iran, and in the southern parts of our country as well as in neighboring lands to our southwest, the weather is really hot, let us listen to a hadith from Prophet Mohammad (SAWA)

"The one who feels thirsty while fasting for the sake of God in hot days, God will assign one thousand angels to wipe his face and give him tidings till he breaks the fast, saying: O my angels testify that I forgave him."

God Almighty is indeed kind, and He has given tidings of paradise for the true believers, for the works they do sincerely for His sake. This means that the month of Ramadhan is indeed the month of blessing. Although God has decreed fasting for all those who have reached the age of puberty, He has exempted from fasting the sick, the feeble, the very old, the travelers, the pregnant women, those who give suckle to infants and those passing through their monthly cycle of menstruation.

Although fasting appears to be refraining from food and drink and keeping away from certain bodily pleasures during certain hours, this wonderful act of worship is far greater in magnitude. A fasting person feels exalted internally and is evident that he or she has attained the proximity to the Almighty by keeping away from evil and other vain acts. On the other hand, a fasting person who merely keeps away from food and water, but does not keep his eyes, ears, and tongue, away from evil, deceit and mischief, is deprived of spiritual benefits.

According to a narration there was a woman in the days of the Prophet who despite fasting used to regularly insulted and upset others. When the Prophet heard this he called that food be brought and placed before the fasting woman. The woman was surprised and said: O Prophet of God I am fasting. The Prophet said: how can you claim to be fasting while you were insulting and abuse others; beware that fasting is not merely refraining from eating and drinking.

The natural result of faith in the Omnipresent God is proper cognizance of Him and reliance upon Him in all affairs. Trust in God has excellent spiritual and social impacts on human being. Therefore one of the basic objectives of Islamic teachings is to strengthen relationship between human beings and God. For, this relationship guarantees the health and prosperity of mankind and society. Belief in the fact that the All-Wise and All-Omnipotent God observes every minute affair, even whatever is in our hearts or flashes across our mind, acts as self-control for us. Such persons acquire tranquility of heart and real peace of mind.

One of the examples presented by the holy Qur'an of such a person is Prophet Abraham to whom God had revealed heavenly scriptures in this very month of Ramadhan. When the tyrant Nimrod ordered that Prophet Abraham be thrown into a huge fire, the young Abraham was calm and composed and did not panic because he had profound trust in God. He only sought refuge with God. Thus, when he was flung into the fire through a catapult, before he could land in the blazing inferno, God decreed the fire to turn into a cool garden and a safe place for Abraham. The enemies were surprised and shocked but they couldn't do anything. In ayah 69 of Surah Anbiya, God says:

"We said: O fire! Be cool and safe for Abraham"

However, trust in God does not mean that we should ignore the use of our God-given faculties. Life requires the proper use of the facilities that God has put at our disposal. Therefore we should first have firm faith in God and then strive as was practically taught by all Prophets, including Abraham and the Last and the Greatest of them all, Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

Let us dwell briefly on one of the important supplications of the Nights of Grandeur, that many of us in Iran and abroad, recited on the 19, 21^st, and 23^rd nights of Ramadhan. It is known as Du’a Jowshan al-Kabeer, and is the key to solving of many problems. Jowshan in Arabic means armour, or more properly which means the strong cuirass or breastplate. It has been mentioned in the books, “Balad al-Amin” and the “Misbah” of Shaikh Kafa’mi on the authority of Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS) who relates from his father, Imam Husain (AS) the Martyr of Karbala, and from his grandfather the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), that this supplication was sent by God Almighty to Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). It happened that during one of the battles that the Arab infidels had imposed on Muslims, the Prophet was wearing very heavy armour that was hurting his body. Suddenly the Archangel Gabriel descended and said: Your Lord conveys his salutations to you and has said to take this Du’a al-Jowshan whose recitation is a protection for you and your Ummah.

This supplication consists of one hundred stanzas mentioning and glorifying the divine names and attributes, after which the phrase Subhanaka ya la-ilaha illa Unt, al-Ghows al-Ghows, khallisna min-an-naar ya Rabb.  It means: glory to You besides Whom there is no god; mercy mercy O Lord, deliver us from the  Fire (of hell).

Here we present you the English translations of some passages of this unique and matchless supplication:

“О My God; I beseech You through Your Names; O God; Most Merciful; All-Compassionate; Ąll-Knowing; Clement; One of Might; All-Wise; Pre-eternally Existent; Ever Enduring; Most Generous— Glory unto You; You have no partner or fault! There is no god but You! Mercy, mercy; deliver us from Hell-fire!

“О Lord of lords! O Answerer of prayer; О Preserver of good deeds; О Most Lofty in degree; O Bestower of blessings; O Forgiver of sins; O Repulsor of afflictions; O Hearer of sounds; O Granter of requests; O Knower of things secret and hidden— Glory unto You’ You have no partner or fault! There is no god but You! Mercy, mercy, deliver us from Hell-fire!

“О One of Might and Beauty; О Possessor of Dominion and Glory; О Owner of Power and Perfection; О He who is Sublime, Most High; О He Whose designs arc most powerful; О He Whose chastisement is most severe; О He Who calls to account most swiftly; О He with Whom is the best of rewards; О He with Whom is ‘the Mother of the Book’; О He Who piles up the laden clouds— Glory unto You; You have no partner or fault! There is no god but You! Mercy, mercy; deliver us from Hell-fire!