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The
Prophet's sermon
Shaikh Sadooq relates from an authentic source that Imam Raza (A.S.)
related from his ancestors, who related it from Ameerul Momineen Ali bin Abi
Talib (A.S.) that latter said that one day, the Prophet of Allah delivered
the following sermon to them:
Video
'O' People! the Month of Allah (Ramazan has approached you with His mercies
and blessings.
This is the month that is the best of all the month in the estimation of
Allah. Its days are best among the days; its nights are best among the
nights. Its hours are best among the hours.
This is a month in which you have been invited by Him. You have been, in
this month, selected as the recipients of the honours from Allah, the
Merciful.
In this holy month, when you breathe, it has the thawab (heavenly reward)
of'Tasbeeh) (The praise of Allah on rosary beeds), and your sleep has the
thawab of worship.
Your good deeds are accepted, in this month. So are your invocations.
Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in right earnest, with hearts that are
free from sins and evils, that Allah may bless you observe fast, in this
month, and to recite the Holy Quran.
Verily I the person, who may not receive the mercy and benevolence of Allah
in this month must be very very unfortunate having the end as bad (in the
Hereafter), While fasting, remember the hunger and thirst of tomorrow in
Qiyamat. Give alms to the poor
and the needy, Pay respects to your elders. Have pity on you youngers and be
kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongues against unworthy
words, and your eyes from such scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden)
and your ears from
such sounds that should no heard by you.
Be kind to orphans so that when your children become orphans they also be
treated with kindness. Do invoke that Allah may forgive your sins. Do
raise your hands at the time of Namaz (Prayers) as it is the best time for
asking His mercy. When we invoke at such times, we are answered by Him, when
we call Him, He responds, and when we' ask for anything it is accepted by
Him.
O' People! you have made your conscience the slave of your desires, make it
free, by invoking Him for forgiveness Your back is breaking under the heavy
load of your sins, so prostrate before Him for long intervals and make it
lighter.
Do understand it fully well that Allah has promised in the name of His
Majesty and Honour that He will not take to task such people who offer Namaz
in this month, and perform 'sajda' (prostration) and will guard their bodies
against the Fire of Hell, on the
Day of Judgment.
O' People! if anybody amongst you arranges for the' Iftar' (food for ending
of fast at sunset) of any believer, then, Allah will give him the reward as
if he has set free a slave. He will forgive his minor sins.
Then the companions of the Prophet (S.A.) submitted:" But everybody amongst us did not have the means to do so."
The Prophet told them:
"Keep yourself away from the fire of Hell, by inviting for iftar, though it
may consist of only half a date or simply with water if you have nothing
else. O' People! anybody who may cultivate good manners, in this month will
walk over the 'Sirat' (Bridge) in
'Qiyamat', though his feet may be shaking.
Anybody who make take light work from his servants. (Male or female), in
this month Allah will make easy his accounting on the Day of Judgment.
Anybody who does not tease others, in this month, Allah will keep him safe
from His wrath in Qiyamat. Anybody, who respects and treats an orphan with
kindness in this month, Allah shall look at him with dignity in Oiyamat.
Anybody who treats well
his kinsmen, in this month, Allah will bestow His mercy on him in Qiyamat
while anybody who maltreats his kinsmen, in this month. Allah will keep him
away from His Mercy, in Qiyamat.
Whoever offers Sunnat (Recommended) prayers in this month Allah will give
him a certificate of freedom from Hell. Whosoever, offers one 'Wajib' Namaz
in this month, for him the Angels will write the rewards of 70 such prayers,
that were offered by him in any other month.
Whosoever recites repeatedly 'Salaat-o-salaam' on me, Allah will keep the
scales of his deeds heavy, when in Qiyamat the scales of others will be
tending towards lightness, Whosoever recites, in this month, only one 'ayat'
(verse of the Holy Quran) he will be
rewarded in a manner as if he had recited the full Quran, in other months.
O' People! the Gates of Paradise remain opened in this month. Do invoke that
the gates may not be closed on you; while the Gates of the Hell are closed,
do invoke Allah that these gates may never be opened.
The Commander of the Faithful [ALl (A.S.)] said that he got up and said, "O'
the Prophet of Allah (S.A.) What is the best deed in this month?" He (S.A.)
replied," O' Abul Hasan! abstaining from the matters forbidden by Allah, the
Majestic, the Glorified, is the best deed in this month. "Then he (the
Prophet) (S.A.) wept. Ali (A.S.) asked, "O' the Messenger of Allah! What
makes you weep?" He (S.A.) replied, "O' Ali (A.S.) I weep for what they will
do with you in this month. As if I am with you, and you are offering prayers
to your Lord, when the worst of the foregone, and those who are yet to come,
a brother of the person who slew the camel of Samood has come and gives you
a (sword) blow on your head, which reddens your beard." The Commander of the
Faithful said.
Ali (A.S.) asked "O' the Prophet of Allah, will that be for the safety of my
Faith" He (S.A.) replied, "Yes, it will be with the safety of your Faith O'
Ali (A.S.) whoever kills you has killed me; whoever bears enmity to you is
my enemy; whoever abuses you has abused me; because, indeed you are to me
like my own self; your soul is from my soul; your nature is from my nature;
Indeed Allah the Holiest and the Greatest, created me and you too; He chose
me and you too; He selected me for Prophethood and selected you for Imamat;
whoever denies your Imamat, has denied my Prophethood. O' Ali (A.S.) you are
my successor, father of my children, my son-in-Iaw, and my Khalifa over my (Ummat)
people, both during my life and after my death. Your order is my order, your
'No is my No.' I swear by Him who made me the Prophet and made me the best
of the people,
indeed you are the Proof of Allah for His creatures, His Trustee of His
Secrets, and the guardian of His slaves.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF
FASTING IN THE MONTH OF RAMAZAN
Normally the fast should not affect the daily avocations, and it should not
be a pretext for neglecting normal duties. Islam never approves, much less
demands, of keeping vigil during the whole night and passing the following
day in sleep and indolence. Fast means a greater effort to perform all the
usual duties and something else, more prayers and more
charity, and all this in the absence of food and drink.
THE REASON WHY MUSLIMS
FOLLOW A PURELY LUNAR CALENDAR IN THE MATTER OF FASTING
Jews, Christians and Hindus have a solar year, either directly or a lunar
year with intercalation, so that the time of fasting always falls in the
same season. Muslims follow a purely lunar calendar, and consequently their
month of fasting. Ramazan. Rotates gradually in all the seasons of the year.
SENSE OF FASTING
(Spiritual aspects:)
Experience shows that a blind man has generally a stronger memory, and
certain of his senses are more developed them those of an ordinary man who
has sight. In other words, if certain faculties are not utilized. They may
strengthen some other faculties.
Similar is the relation between the body and the soul. In weakening the body
there is strengthening of the soul (spirit), even as the pruning of the
branches of a tree procures more flowers and more fruit.
When an individual fasts, his conscience pricks him in the face of evil
deeds, and he is more able to resist temptations. Further, the fast makes
him think of God more, develops his inclination for charity, makes him taste
the sweetness of obedience to the Lord.
MATERIAL ASPECTS
Students learn for several months continuously, then they get a summer
vacation. Employees work for six days of the week, the seventh day being a
holiday for leisure and rest. Men expend mental and physical energy the
whole day, where after the repose of sleep renovates their faculties for the
next day. Even machines and tools require relaxation, and we observe this for
motor cars, aero planes, locomotives, etc, is it, therefore, not reasonable
to think that the stomach and the digestive organs also require rest? In
fact modern medicine has also reached the same conclusion, and a large
number of doctors in Switzerland, Germany, etc., prescribe, for various
chronic diseases, forced hunger and thirst for longer or shorter periods
according to the exigencies of the sickness
and the physical capacities of the sick person.
They have also found that various glands secrete certain acids in the
stomach on account of hunger and thirst and that these acids kill many a
germ which produce different diseases. Statistics have also shown that
several digestive and other diseases are less
abundant among people who have the habit of fasting every year.
We know that man requires a change of climate, air and water from time to
time, Patients recovering from illness are sent away for convalescence to a
place other than their habitual living place. The more fortunate among the
Westerners pass a month of summer vacation outside their home. In other
words, it is necessary to change the normal habits from time to time. This
is also a kind of rest. We see, for instance that cultivators use their
fields alternately and give 'rest' to the soil. Continuity being harmful,
Islam has forbidden fasting during the whole year, even for those who want
spiritual benefits thereby. Experience has also shown that if one fasts
forever, it becomes a habit, and a second nature, and does not profit by it
as does he who fasts with intervals. In fact, if one fasts more than 40 days
consecutively, it becomes a habit; and if one fasts for less than a month it
has not much effect.
To terminate this discussion, those who fast on medical prescription or even
under compulsion as a discipline, do get the material benefits inherent in
fasting; but there being no intention of a spiritual search, they do not
benefit thereby spiritually. Muslims fast with the intention of complying
with the command of Allah. They therefore have its reward for their piety,
while not losing the physical and materials benefits of the fasting.
In short, from whichever point of view one may study the Muslim way of
fasting, it compares favorably with its counterparts in other
civilizations. In fact, if it is day in Switzerland it will be night in
America, and vice-versa. Every 1,000 miles East or West makes the difference
of about one hour.
The Prophet is reported to have said at breaking the fast: "0' Allah for You
have I fasted, in you have I believed, and with You nourishment do I break
the fast. Accept it from me O' Lord!"
THE FAST
Those people who have not a deep insight into human nature and do not look
at both the spiritual and material aspect often have the morbid mental state
to object to the injunctions of Religion. Among them are those who pass
taunting remarks against fasting. They say what sort of worship is this to
starve from morning till evening. If we think over the philosophy of worship
and understand in the light of the Quranic verse that our existence is meant
for worship and existence is based on eating and drinking, therefore it also
has a bearing on worship. Then we shall realize that just as sometimes
talking is worship and some time keeping silence, in the same way some times
eating will be worship and some times abstaining from it. Both these aspects
are some times prescribed by the physical physician and some times by the
spiritual one, Accordingly Allah sent this message to us through the
spiritual Physician [Prophet Mohammad (S.A.)]
Fasting has been ordained to you as it was ordained to those before you so
that you guard
yourself (against evil)
In this holy verse: -
(i) 'has been ordained' shows 'Fasting is incumbent'.
(ii) 'As it was ordained on those before you' indicates 'Fasting dates back
to the beginning
of mankind'.
(iii) 'So that you may guard yourself against evil' means fasting will make
you pious.
Now if we consider over the different phases of piety, the advantages of
fasting will be clear. Man has three instincts:
(i) Quwwate Shahwania (Faculty of Lust) By this instinct a man nourishes his
body and produces children. If it exceeds its limit concerning diet, it
makes him greedy and gluttonous. It may make the blood impure or a man may
fall a permanent prey to dyspepsia and so on. The excess of this very
instinct in sexual sphere causes
many internal and external diseases which can not be enumerated here.
(ii) Quwwate Ghazabania (Faculty of a version and acquirement): By this a
man seeks his advantages and wards off his disadvantages. If this instinct
is not kept within proper bounds, a man either becomes a coward or
quarrelsome. All these aspects are against 'piety' and to end the obligation
of fast with piety shows that the observer of fast becomes pious, the
natural conclusion of which is that his instincts are moderate. Neither he
is gluttonous nor quarrelsome. Accordingly the Holy Prophet (S.A.) and the
Infallible Imams (A.S.) have mentioned these attributes of fasting.
The Holy Prophet (Mohammad) (S.A.)
The Commander of the Faithful [ALI (A.S.)] says that a party of the Jews
came to the Prophet (S.A.) The most learned among them put a few
questions.,one of which was:
'What is the good to your people in that Allah has enjoined fast on them and
that, too only for thirty days (excluding nights) whereas the other people
had to fast for more than thirty days?'
The Prophet (S.A.) replied:-"When Adam ate of that tree the fruit remained ill his stomach for thirty
days. So Allah enjoined upon his progeny to remain hungry and thirsty for
that period, and the permission to eat in the night is Allah's grace. Adam
also had to fast for so many days and Allah enjoined those fasts upon my
people."
Then the Prophet (S.A.) recited this verse:-
Fasting has been ordained to you as it was ordained to those before you so
that you may guard yourself against evil (and that too) for counted days'.
The Jew savant said, Mohammad, You are right. Now tell me what is the reward
for a person who observes those fasts." The Prophet replied: " Allah will
characterise the believer who keeps the fasts in Ramzan to please Allah,
with seven traits:
(i) If he has partaken of the forbidden food, it will be excreted after
being digested.
(ii) He will not be deprived of the mercy of Allah.
(iii) He will share the compensation of his father's (Adam) fault,
(iv) Allah will grant him relief in his agony of death.
(v) The observer of fast will not feel hungry and thirsty On the Day of
Judgment.
(vi) Allah will grant him deliverance from Hell fire on the day of
Resurrection.
(vii) He will satisfy him with the sacred diet of Paradise.
Commander of the Faithful (ALI) (A.S.)
There is a sermon in Nahjul Balagha, in which the Commander of the Faithful
has stated a few symbols of the obligations of the Religion of the Prophet (S.A.)
Among them is this reason of the obligation of fasting :
"Fasting was enjoined so that the sincerity of the righteous may come to
light."
It is known that the righteous believes:
(i) Allah is our Creator and Lord.
(ii) He is Just and Wise.
(iii) He governs both our body and soul.
(iv) Any worship prescribed by Him for the two (body and soul) will be
justified.
It is evident that if there were no physical worship the four aforesaid
articles of Faith would remain concealed and the righteous and the evil doer
would not be differentiated. Allah has provided an opportunity for the
manifestation of these beliefs by enjoining the bodily worship. Therefore
those who observe fast and offer prayers thereby demonstrate their beliefs
which are inner states and invisible. Fasting thoroughly tries the righteous
and shows that the observer of fast is humble. It reminds him of the hunger
and thirst of the destitute and he deals with them according to the Religion
of Mohammad (S.A.)
If his soul is more purified, his vision reaches upto Day of Resurrection
and is imbibed with the idea of hunger and thirst on that day Fasting,
therefore, is all the more sweet to him because the 'Sharey' (exponent of
the religion) has said that to be hungry and thirsty here, by the Order of
Allah will save a person from the hunger and thirst on the Day of
Judgment.
IMAM JA'FAR SADIQ (A.S.) THE TRUTHFUL
When asked by Hisham, son of Hakam, about the philosophy of fasting he
replied that Allah enjoined Fasting so that the rich and the poor may be
equal. The rich never experience hunger that they may show mercy to the
poor. The rich provide everything for themselves because of their wealth.
Allah desired that His servants may be equal on this occasion and the rich
may also feel hunger and suffer pain. He, therefore, enjoined fasting that
the rich may be kind to the destitute and merciful to the hungry.
IMAM RAZA {A.S.)
Mohammad, son of Senan, narrates that Imam Raza {A.S.) gave this reason for
fasting that the observer of fast may feel the pain {pangs) of hunger and
thirst, and prove himself meek, humble, worthy of reward, hopeful and
patient before Allah, and this trouble here may remind him of the hardships
of the Hereafter. By getting rid of the evil desires a man's self learns a
lesson in this world and expects the blessing of the Hereafter. The observer
of fast sees through the circumstances of the needy and the destitute in
this world as well as in the Hereafter. (The people who starve during (fast)
will be rich in the Hereafter and those who do not observe fast and enjoy
riches in the world, will face poverty in the Hereafter. The observer of
fast finds out this subtle point.
These sayings of the Ma'soomeen (the Infallible) elucidate that the evil
desires are crushed in fasting. The temper becomes moderate. It makes the
rich attend to the poor for whom the Fasting Month (Ramazan) and the other
months make no difference in starvation. The rich become humane and extend
their helping hands towards the needy and the destitute.
In view of these sayings how ridiculous is the conduct of an observer of
fast to pick up a quarrel with anyone during fasting. In the heart of his
hearts he is angry with Allah that He ordered him to be hungry and thirsty,
But being helpless before Him he is ready to avenge on His slaves.
Fasting, however, cures the stomach. All the ancient and modern physicians
hold that most diseases are caused by the upset stomach which is cured by
starvation. The religion of Allah has fixed one month in a year for fasting
if a man fasts regularly, his stomach becomes healthy for the whole year. If
so much starvation does not suffice for some stomachs, mustahabbi (optional)
fasts have been suggested at different times in the whole year.
The very fact that fasting is incumbent during Ramazan indicates that the
conduct of men during this month should be different from that in the rest
of the year. During the eleven months a man is free to eat and drink
whenever he likes, whereas in the month of Ramzan he is forbidden to do so
in the day time. People tell lies, back-bite, gamble and do similar things.
Religion forbids those things but they do not nullify any worship. But if
these sins are committed, during the day of Ramazan, to the extent
prohibited in fasting, the fast will be null. Similarly people quarrel all
the year round, but it is strictly forbidden in fasting and sometimes this
conduct nullifies the fast.
In view of these things it is evident that the observer of fast is to be
pious and is to abstain from these things strictly while fasting because
they are against piety, and if piety is nullified the fast will be null and
void. In the light of the Quranic verse and the aforesaid savings of the
Masoomeen (A.S.) (the Infallibles) "a Muslim as the opportunity to mend
his character, purify his soul, eradicate the defects of hls temperament and
attain the temperance which is desired by Islam and which is responsible for
both the spiritual and physical health of mankind. The moderation of the
Quwwate Shahwania and Quwwate Ghazabania effect the spiritual power: Reason
controls these powers and makes them to do those things which please Allah
and which the Quranic Verse 'so that you may guard yourself against evil,
implies.
A lot can be written on this topic but a thinking person can clearly grasp
the ways and means mentioned in this article. As thinking is a human cha
racteristic and it is treated as worship, so the other aspects of this topic
are left to the readers so that they may reap the benefit of the worship of
thinking as well.
'Fasting' - Sayed Saeed
Akhtar Rizvi
Real Fast
(“O ye who believe” Fasting is
prescribed to you…..that ye may (learn) self-restraint………….”Qur’an;
chapter-2:verse 183)
THE COMMAND for fasting in Ramadhan came in
the first year of the Hijra. The Holy Prophet delivered a lecture on the
last Friday of the preceding month, Sha’ban, in which he said:-“O people!
You are now under the shadow of the month which has a night (Night of Qadr)
which is better than thousand months. It is the month of Ramadhan in which
fasting has been made compulsory by God. It is the month of patience; and
the reward of patience is paradise. It is the month of mutual sympathy.
“Whoever feeds a
fasting brother at the time of breaking the fast God will be as much
pleased with him as though he would have emancipated a slave, and it
means that his sins of past would be forgiven”.
Somebody pleaded
that not everybody was affluent enough to feed others. The Holy Prophet
said: “Allah is generous enough to be pleased with you even if you break the
fast of Muslim brother with a morsel of date or a cup of water if it is the
only thing which you can offer”. God does not see the wealth offered but it
is the feeling of the heart only which counts. Then the Holy Prophet
proceeded to say: “Anybody who makes the burden of his servants lighter in
this month Allah will make his sins lighter for him on the Day of Judgment”.
The word
‘Ramadhan’ is derived from the root ‘R-M-Dh’, which indicate ‘Heat’ and
‘Restlessness’. It is said that the name of the month indicates the
hardships which accompany a fast like thirst and a comparative restlessness.
But the
best explanation was given by the Holy Prophet himself, who was the final
authority on every thing. He said: “Ramadhan burns the sins and faults as
fire burns the wood”.
Imam Muhammad
al-Baquir told one of his companions:
“O Jabir!
Whoever, during Ramadhan, fasts in days, stands for prayers in parts
of nights, controls his sexual desires and emotions, puts rein on
his tongue, keeps his eyes down, and does not injure the feelings of
others, will become as free from sin as he was the day he was born”.
Jabir said: “How tough are these conditions!”
Fruit of Fasting
Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a.The month of Ramadhan is
the month of God, (bringing) His blessing, mercy and
forgiveness”.
THE month of
Ramadhan gives us a chance to start life afresh. Muslims should make
resolutions during this month, to act upon during the year. This is the
month when emotions remain under the control of reason. Thoughts, in this
month are not wild, feelings not hard. Forgiveness, generosity and love of
God through the love of His creatures are infused in our soul. Naturally, it
is the best time to decide how are we going to live in the coming year. We
should know what do we want to achieve and how.
Why not start
making your programme just now? And when you have completed the list of your
ambitions, here is a simple test to see how much have you benefited from
fasts of Ramadhan.
Do your
resolutions include such items as helping the needy (not by just handing out
a few shillings, but by helping him to stand on his own Legs)? Have you
thought of showing more respect to the elders, loving more tenderly those
who are younger? Is there anything concerning your neighbours and friends?
Have you any inclination to forgive your enemies? Have you resolved to live
more honestly and more sincerely? And above all, is there any room for God
and His Prophet in your thoughts and programmes?
If the answer is
‘Yes’, accept my congratulations; you are a real Muslim; you know the
meaning of the fast of Ramadhan.
If on the other
hand, the answer is in negative, there is some need of improvement in your
faith. And if you really want your faith to be more perfect time is never
lost. Though the month of Ramadhan is coming to its end very soon, you may
still take its advantage. There is no need to feel sorry for yourself. If
you really want the love of God it is yours for asking. It is the easiest
goal to reach and the most difficult. It all depends, not so much on the
path, as on the traveler. If your heart is pure, it is the easiest thing in
the world, if you want to put the love of God in a corrupted heart, it is
just impossible.
As is clear from
the tradition of the Holy Prophet quoted above, this month is the month of
blessing, month of mercy and month of forgiveness. If anybody wants these
benefits, he should strive for it, with more zeal and more sincerity in the
remaining few days of this holy month. If we spend our time in remembering
God, praying for His love, repenting for our sins, we can be sure that God
will bless us with His love and His mercy.
Spirit
of Fast
“O ye
who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you…….
That ye may (learn) self-restraint……..Qur’an, 2:183
FAST like living
things, has a body and a soul. The required abstinence from food, water,
sexual relations etc. Is the body of the fast: “piety” is its soul. If we
are not striving to refine our character by fast, our will be a body without
soul. Fast cleans our body from impurities. Likewise, it must purify our
hearts and minds from all impure thoughts improper desires and undisciplined
sensations.
The Holy Prophet
saw a woman, who was fasting on that day (not in Ramadhan), abusing her
girl-servant. The Prophet admonished her and told her to break her fast. The
woman protested: “But I am fasting today”. The Holy Prophet said: “But was
not your fast broken by the abuses you were hurling upon that poor girl?”:
Imam
Ja’far-e-Sadiq has said Your fast day should not be like other
ordinary days. When you fast, all your sense – eyes, ears, tongue,
hands and feet – must fast with you.” How?
Eyes:
Keep your eyes off unlawful things and objects; spend this most precious
gift of God in good cause and pious acts and read Qur’an and Do’as.
Ears:
Abstain from hearing unlawful gossip, lies, false statements, music and
obscene topics. Pay your attention towards sermons and topics of learning
etc.
Tongue:
Do not tell lies or useless tales; do not spread rumours or, damaging
gossips about other persons; keep aloof from falsity. Use the power of
speech in spreading the word of God; in creating goodwill in the society.
Hand:
Do not inflict injury upon others by your actions; instead strive to help
them as far as you can.
Feet:
Do not go towards forbidden places, like bars and cinemas. Do not run
between people creating a strife. Go towards those places, where God is
remembered; and your movements should be to bring people together.
And above all,
your heart and mind must be with you in fasting. Because fast in its real
sense, will not be complete unless your thoughts, your emotions, your
actions – in short, all aspects of our life – become pure, clean and free
from blemish.
Purpose of
Fasting
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.
The month of Ramadhan) is the month of repentance,
month of forgiveness, month of reward:
The month of
Ramadhan is called the “month of God” It strengthens the relation between a
man and his Creator. Think of a person abstaining from necessities of life,
like food and water (to say nothing of other pleasures) 16 hours a day, for
one month at a stretch; think again that he does so not because of any
external pressure, but by his own free will; and remember that he expects no
worldly reward and that his only wish in fasting is to be nearer to Allah –
and then you may appreciate how strong is the relation between a Muslim and
his Lord.
By fasting, a
Muslim subjugates his worldly desires and strengthens his spiritual powers.
He learns a lesson most relevant to his spiritual well-being; he comes to
realize that nothing (not even his body and soul) is his own. After this
realization, he can appreciate the freedom given to him by God in almost all
walks of life during the past eleven months.
He will know
that he can never claim of that freedom of action as a matter of right. It
is just a grace of God for which he should ever remain thankful to Him.
That
appreciation will lead to gratitude, and that gratitude will show itself in
his behaviour and deeds all his life, making him a trustworthy friend and a
lovable companion.
As the month of
Ramadhan prepares a Muslim to become a perfect man, it is called “the shield
against the Hell”. Also, the Holy Prophet said: “God says that fast is for
me only and I Myself will give its reward”.
Sincere
Repentance
O ye who
believe, turn to Allah with sincere repentance,
in the hope that your Lord will remove from you your sins and admit you to
the Heavens ………Qur’an, 66 : 8.THIS HOLY month of Ramadhan is generally
referred to as the month of Tauba’ (repentance). Repentance is the best way
to the Grace of Allah for a person who has sinned. Allah is His infinite
grace, forgives sins if the sinner repents sincerely. The operative word is
‘sincerely’.
To describe
‘sincere repentance’. Imam Ja’fare Sadiq (A.S.) said:“Repenting and never
committing that sin again”
According to the
‘Islamic belief, repentance uttered by tongue, without a change of heart, is
no repentance at all Repentance must produce change in habit, honesty in
dealings, fear and Love of Allah in prayers, improvement in character,
generosity in behaviour and humility in nature.
Amir-ul-Mumeneen
Ali (A.S.) described the characteristics of repentance in the following
word:
“Repentance has six elements: A repentant must be really sorry for
what he had done: he must have firm determination not to do it
again; he must make amends for whatever wrongs he did to others; he
must fulfill all the obligations of religion which he had neglected
previously; he should fast long enough to melt away the flesh grown
from unclean and unlawful food; and he should feel the taste of
obedience to God, as he was previously enjoying the taste of sin”.
When a man
repents sincerely Allah makes him as clean as he was on the day he was born.
The Holy Prophet (S.A.) has said: “One who repents from sin is like the
one who never committed any sin”.
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