THE EXCELLENCE
OF THE HOLY MONTH OF `RAMADHAN`.
Shaikh Sadooque 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:
'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 raiseyour hands at the time of
Namaz (Prayers) as it is the best time for asking His mefcy. 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 forlong 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 if tar, 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
Why Muslims follow a purely lunar
calendar for fasting?
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, whereafter
the repose of sleep renovates their faculties for the next day. Even
machines and tools require elaxation, and we observe this for motor
cars, aeroplanes, 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
abitual 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 spirtually.
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 favourably
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.
The Jew said: -
"Mohammad, you are right."
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 imbued 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 FOR FITNESS
Well-being: Aside from the spiritual
value of fasting, there are Physical rewards that come to you by your
not eating for a short time. These rewards are reaped not only by
the over plump person, but by anyone who fasts.
The general well-being of a person on a fast has been noted by physicians.
Many a doctor advises fasting for a patient tussling with gout, heart
disease, skin disorder, general intemperance to food and drink, or
excessive smoking.
Brain Benefit: Fasting is good for
mental discipline, and it effects spiritual uplift. The brain benefits
greatly. If you are doing heavy study, preparing for a speech, or
otherwise engaging in deep concentration, you do well to fast, Fasting
sharpens your mind and makes you alert and sensitive to mental effort.
You concentrate more readily if your stomach is empty and not drawing
blood from the brain to digest food.
Many a public speaker knows well that eating before speaking reduces
mental acuity and cuts down on the force of speech. They fast before
an important speech and eat later. They know the brain benefits by
a fast.
Digestive Distress Relieved: Other
organs that are relieved by a fast are the digestive organs. The stomach,
liver pancreas, and intestines often are overworked. When the digestion
is given a vacation, eating becomes a greater joy.
Rejuvenator and Skin Freshener: Fasting
has been called a great restorer of youth and prolonger of like. This
idea stems from the fact that people who fast acquire a clearer skin,
a rosier tint to their cheeks, and a more youthful complexion than
they had before.
People troubled with skin disorders
such as psoriasis, acne, or recurrent skin infection are often advised
by their physicians to eliminate sweets and fats from their diet.
How much better to eliminate all foods for a time periodically, and
let the skin pores have a chance to cleans themselves and be free
from the effects of too many sweets and fats.
Boon to Smokers: For anyone trying
to stop smoking or drinking, a fast can be a boon to the body. By
stopping tobacco, alcohol, and food intake for a time, a person helps
the body return to normal.
Once the body is "Scrubbed clean" inside, the smoker and
drinker feels so alive and alert that he does not have any desire
to return to his unwise habits.
A more nearly normal appetite follows a fast, and simple foods are
enjoyed with greater relish. Heavy use of candiments-pepper, spices
mustard, and catsup, is no longer needed to make. Food appetizing.
Rests Hearts: If you are a heart patient
you will find that a fast takes a load off your heart and your circulation.
If you have been short of breath, a fast improves your breathing and,
by elimination of salt and water from the body, reduces tissue edema.
This condition may make it Possible for you to sleep easier and with
fewer pillows.
Side Effects: Some minor discomforts
are noted at time during fasting. The person who fast may be subject
to headaches; if so, he needs the fast. Other side effects of fasting,
such as a feeling of weakness, palpitation of the heart, and drowsiness
late in the afternoon, usually minor, disappear with a little rest.
If the person who wants to improve
his diet by cutting out meat, highly seasoned gravy, rich cake, and
sugary preserves goes on a fast, he hurries the process of changing.
After eating heavily of these foods for some time he cannot immediately
enjoy a plain, wholesome diet. His taste is so perverted that he cannot
enjoy good fruit, whole-grain bread, and vegetables.
Such a fast proves of more benefit than medicine, for the abused stomach
finds the rest it has long needed. Genuine hunger can be satisfied
with a plain, nutritious diet.
For spiritual uplift, try a fast. You will find that it draws you
closer to Allah in prayer. It makes you character stronger by the
self discipline and humble experience of denying yourself food. The
double benefit is your feeling of well-being, with a clearer eye.
sharper brain, springier step. and greater officiency for your work.
It has often been said.
"The man eager for success has the lean, hungry look". A
bit of starvation can give you that eagerness in a hurry.
Try a fast for spiritual and physical fitness.