Ramadhan, the Month of God (4)

Welcome to the 4th episode of Ramadhan, the Month of God. Let us start the day with recitation of the special supplication for the 4th of Ramadhan:

 “O Allah, give me this day the strength to carry out Your commands; give me to taste therein the sweetness of Your remembrance; inspire me therein to give thanks for Your munificence, and protect me in it with Your protection and covering (of  faults), O Keenest of  observers!”

Many hadiths have been narrated from the Prophet of Islam and His Infallible Household on the merits of the blessed month of Ramadhan. Imam Ali Zain al-Abedin (AS), the Fourth Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), says in a special supplication for Ramadhan, "O God! Inspire us to recognize its merit and majesty of its respect."

Cognizance of the merits of Ramadhan means real recognition of this month, so as not to lose the precious moments of worship in it. The Almighty Creator has ordained this month for purification of the self so that we wash our spirit in the fresh flowing stream of Ramadhan to cleanse our spirit and soul of sins and impurities. The Prophet of Islam says, "If the servants knew what exists in Ramadhan, they would certainly wish the entire year to be Ramadhan."

No doubt, one of the highest merits of blessed Ramadhan is the enlightenment of the heart of the Prophet with the holy Qur'an in a single night of this month. Imam Ja'far Sadeq (AS) states, "The Qur'an in its entirety was sent down to the noble Prophet on the Night of Qadr; then during the 23 years of his mission it was gradually revealed (on Divine Commandment as per the circumstances)."

The merits of the month of Ramadhan are countless. The Prophet’s 8th Infallible Heir, Imam Reza (AS), says: "Good deeds are accepted in Ramadhan; evil deeds are forgiven in it; whoever reads one ayah of the Book of God it is as if he reads the whole Qur'an in other months. The month of Ramadhan is the month of blessing, mercy, forgiveness, repentance, and returning to the Divine Court. He who is not forgiven in the month of Ramadhan, when will he be forgiven? So ask God to accept your fasting, and not decree it as the last year of your life, grant you the sense to obey Him and prevent you from disobeying him. Indeed, God is the Best of those entreated."

Another merit of the blessed month of Ramadhan is that God has prevented the devils from deceiving and misleading the believers as they are put in chains during this month. That's why human spirit finds more ease and he/she can enjoy this golden opportunity for spiritual growth. God has commanded His servants to refrain from eating, drinking and enjoying certain lawful pleasures during the daylight hours of this month in order to grant them priceless rewards in lieu of it. The Divine Banquet not only multiplies the acts of worships but also the sleep of the fasting person and his/her breathing are also considered as acts of worship. No other month of the year has been granted such a merit.

Once a person succeeds in controlling his/her carnal desires, he/she can raise the soul to attain spiritual purity and reach God's proximity. If a person intends to remove barriers to growth one by one, the blessed month of Ramadhan is the best opportunity as it harnesses the instinctive motives of the physical body. This will lead to piety and Godwariness. The holy Qur'an stresses this point in ayah 183 of surah Baqara, "O you who have faith! Prescribed for you is fasting, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be Godwary."

Imam Reza (AS) was asked about the merits and blessings of Ramadhan. He answered, "Indeed, people are commanded to fast so that they understand the pain and hardship of hunger and thirst; and visualize the hardships of hunger and thirst on the Day of Judgment, as the Prophet had said in his famous sermon on the advent of Ramadhan: While fasting, visualize the hunger and thirst of the Day of Judgement.

This could make us prepare for Judgment Day.

The Prophet of Islam gives good tidings to the faithful, saying, "The first part of Ramadhan is mercy, the middle of it is forgiveness and the end of it is deliverance from hell."

Ramadhan seems to be passing quickly. Rather we are hastily passing by it. It is we who should take heed of our deeds and thoughts to make the best use of this meritorious month. The blessed month of Ramadhan is the best chance for self-building and self-reform.

One of the key points for self-building is to abstain from useless talk. Silence is a treasure which opens the gates of cognizance in the heart. Keeping silent is highly recommended in Ramadhan as it prevents the fasting person from backbiting, lying, gossiping, slandering and so on.

The Prophet of Islam was once passing through a lane when he overheard a woman insulting her maidservant, while observing a recommended fast. The Messenger of Mercy asked for some food and placed it before the woman, saying, "Eat." The woman said, "O Messenger of God! I am fasting." The Prophet said, "How are you fasting while you are insulting your maidservant?"

Then he continued, "Fasting is not just to avoid eating and drinking. How small is the number of fasters and how big is the number of the hungry!!!"

Loqman the Sage, advised his son, "Dear son! Whenever you think that talking is silver, do know that silence is gold."

Keeping silence and speaking little is a bounty that we may have paid less attention to. Imam Reza (AS) says, "Silence is one of the signs of deep understanding, forbearance and knowledge. Indeed, silence is one of the doors of wisdom. It brings about love and guides towards every goodness."

The Prophet of Islam also states, "Thinking for one hour is better than 70 years of worship."

Other narrations describe silence as a good helper, a proper guardian and a great treasure. Teachers of ethics stress that no one can attain high levels of self-building except through controlling the tongue. Some have enumerated 70 sins that an unbridled tongue commits.