"RAMAZAN" the Holy Month of Forbearance and Brotherhood

[expert]

The Holy Prophet (.) used to declare the approach of the holy month of Ramazan. According to the traditions and history, the Holy Prophet (.) used to gather the people when the end of the month of Shaaban closed. He used to explain to them the approach of the month of Ramazan in different sermons and made them prepared to derive from it the advantages of this golden opportunity, to acquire human merits from its holy programes so as to be obedient to the commandments of Allah in practice, to perform their duties and recognize their rights so that they may be able to defend them and be acquainted with the spiritually so that they should not be succumb to difficulty or unevenness, or be weak or humble to their superiors, or be proud or disappointed when defeated.

Therefore, the greatest school for perfecting man in performing his deeds which was the goal of the holy messengers and holy persons is this month which is interpreted as the month of Allah.

Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S.) said:

"On the last Friday of the month of Shaaban the Holy Prophet (.) gathered all the people and addressed and explained to them the importance of this month.
First, he praised and glorified Allah and then by his vehement voice he said: O' people! the month of Ramazan has come with its mercies and blessings. In this month there is a Night of Power (Laylatul-Qadr). You have been enjoined to fast so as to keep yourselves from worldly desires and follow the commandments of Allah."

The purpose of it is to keep you nearer to Allah. Do not lose this opportunity lest shall be very unfortunate?"

On account of this reasons when the Holy Prophet (.) sighted the moon of the holy month of Ramazan, he used to raise his hands praying that Allah may bestow His blessings, health, safety and peace under the protection of Faith, and the people should be able to continue their lives in prosperity and health and success in their works and overcome all diseases and difficulties and to bless those who recite the Holy Qur'an, say prayers and keep fasting with true spirit.

At the end of this sermon, he prayed Allah saying:

"O Allah keep us safe in this month of Ramazan, and make it the month full of blessings and safety so that we may abide by what you have enjoined us, and by so doing you may forgive us."

Then the Holy Prophet (.) stressed the rewards of good deeds done in this month. He said that:

"Whoever stays awake in the night and offers 2 "rakaats" (units) of "sunnah" (recommended) prayers is equal to a person who had stayed awake for 70 nights and offered "sunnah' prayers. Whoever accomplishes a good deed is tantamount to performing his obligations in other months of the year. And whoever performs his religious obligation once accordingly, he will be rewarded like a person who has performed 70 times in other months of the year."

Then the Holy Prophet (.) in brief words emphasized the reason and importance of this month by saying that:

"In this month the school of Islamic instructions is opened and that whatsoever the Muslims learnt in other months, must practise and train themselves so as to attain the highest degree of religious morality."

Hence, the Holy Prophet (.) said that:

"Ramazan is the month of forbearance and patience, that means a man must forbear patiently the difficulties he will meet in fulfilling the commandments of Allah lest he fails to conform to them. On the other hand, he should fight against his desires lest he be the slave of his own desires and fall into the bad situation and lose his exalted position of humanity."

The Holy Prophet (.) said:

"I am afraid of two things about my people - to be the slave of their desires and aspiration".

Surely, when a man goes astray by making his conscience the slave of his desires, poverty and abasement befall on him, and thus he does a thing without paying any heed and loose his morality.

But if you go against your desires and bear the difficulties patiently and abstain from what is forbidden by the "Sheriah" (Law), you will succeed in your intentions.
A man must be prepared from the beginning to fight courageously with his foes, because the Holy Prophet (.) said that:

"This is the month of forbearance and patience which makes a man follow and perform the commandments of Allah without asking the ways and the wherefores, and keep him away from the forbidden things even though his conscience desires."

If a man in this month is able to take lessons, he overcomes his desires and worships his Lord devotedly by abiding by His orders, surely he has succeeded in his determination and has known his God accordingly, and under such forbearance, this world becomes like a heaven to him which he will not agree to exchange in lieu of anything and finally the Heaven will be his abode.

After explaining the first part of attaining human perfection which is the relation between the Creature and the creator, the Holy Prophet (.) said that:

"The month of Ramazan makes a man know Allah, and by abiding the commandments and abstaining from the forbidden brings him closer to his Lord and makes this world a heaven for the faithfuls."

Then he indicated the attainment of this human perfection by explaining that Ramazan is the month of helping one another, cooperation and equality and in contrast it is adversity, helplessness and fighting; hence the weaks are humiliated by the strong and the poor by the rich.

Inequality is the life of today. You see one man eats so much that he dies, also you see the other is so hungry to the point of death. But had there been equality in living, and all had been equal in hunger, thirst and materials of life, there would, have been no differences between the poor and the rich. All should fast so that they may be equal in abiding by the commandments and abstaining from the forbidden things. That a rich may not disobey the commandments of Allah because of his helplessness. Therefore, Allah has made them all equal under the commandments of religion. Rich, poor, black and white, are all equal under the commandments of Allah.

If an eminent Muslim of high position does an act contrary to the commandments, he will be blamed. Likewise, when a Muslim of low position does a good deed, he will be praised and respected.

Imam Ali Ameerul Mu'mineen (A.S.) has devoted his life in performing commandment of equality.

Once, he was summoned to the court. The judge respectfully addressed Imam Ali(A.S.) with his appellation.Imam Ali(A.S.) reproached him angrily and said, "Why don't you follow the law and show equality between I and my opponents?"

Well, the month of Ramazan teaches Muslims this lesson, enjoin them to be equal among themselves and strengthens them so that when they become strong, they should not oppress the weak and when they become weak they should not show their weakness. If we, after learning this lesson, abide ourselves by carrying out the commandments of the Holy Prophet of Islam(.) so that every one has to give some assistance according to his ability to help his needy fellow, and to look after them, surely there will be no poverty or ignorance among the Muslims, and instead equality, love and fraternity will be firmly established among them. The rich should not trample and molest the poor nor the poor and the weak should curse the rich and be pleased of his death in order to get his property.

Those who do not reflect may think that by participating the poor and the needy in the shares of the rich there will be a loss in the property, and the needy will be independent. Therefore, the Last Prophet said that in this month, Allah blesses the believers by increasing their sustenances and life, so that the Muslims may have better life because all affairs are disposed by Him, and Allah is able to give every creature thousands of successes. A Muslim must believe in all these blessings.

The Holy Prophet(.) said:

"If anybody amongst you invites a believer for an Iftar (food for ending a fast at sunset), Allah will give him the reward as if he has set free a slave, and he will forgive his minor sins."

Hearing this commandment, the companions of the Prophet asked that every body amongst them does not have the means of doing so, hence they will nor enjoy these rewards. The Holy Prophet (.) replied them that it is not for Allah to burden those who have no means and deprive them of this reward, but if those people who aspire that "If I had the means, I would have done so". By this aspiration Allah will reward them and give them a high position in the Hereafter.

It is the law of Allah to command his servant according to his capacity. If a person arranges for Iftar to the one who fast by giving him even some milk mixed with water or few dates or some hot water, it will be acceptable to him. In short, everybody should do a virtuous action according to his capacity. Neither the poor should refrain from doing this good deed because of his poverty nor the rich deserve to do like poor but every one should do according to his capacity.

The Holy Prophet (.) also said that:

"Anybody who in this month of Ramazan helps his inferiors in any way and lessens his difficulties, Allah will reward him by making easy his deeds on the day of judgement for this good action."

Then, in short, the Holy Prophet (.) divided the month of Ramazan into three parts.
In the first part:

Allah showers His mercies and blessings to his servants, so that they may acquire all their needs.

In the second part:
the servants are purified in their past sins and ask for forgiveness. In the third part, Allah keeps them under His benevolence and kindness, accepts their aspiration and prayers and keeps them safe from the wrath in the Hereafter. Consequently, people like these who are pure and embellished with faith and who are under the Mercy of Allah by doing good deeds in this world, surely in the Hereafter they will dwell in the Paradise and enjoy the reward of their efforts.
In the Last Part:

The Holy Prophet (.) in the last part of his sermon taught his people a sublime lesson in which is a systematic teaching for every Muslim to see, understand and practise. It is necessary to understand it and there isn't anybody who doesn't need it. Therefore, for every one to attain the prosperity in life, he must observe and follow these four qualities.

1. The first and the foremost quality for man's happiness is to have faith in Allah who makes easy our difficulties, delights and give hopes to our hearts, and when he is happy and able, he doesn't become arrogant and independent of Allah. For this reason, he becomes a perfect man depending upon the help of Allah in perfecting his acts of humanity, embellishing his godly characters and increasing his virtues.

2. The second quality which pleases Allah is my Prophet hood through which a man can know Allah, learn to live a happy life according to Allah's commands and know the reality of this world.

3. As for the third quality, you must ask Allah to bless you in this month that which you don't possess in your life. Ask Allah to give you your legitimate desires and happiness in this world and Hereafter. And in this blessed month, ask for your safety and health for yourself and all Muslims. And know that Allah can keep you safe from the Hell and bless you enter the Paradise, if you ask Him these things in this month of Ramazan.

4. The Holy Prophet (.) concluded his sermon here and everybody can understand his words according to his capacity, derive benefits from his sermon and follow his commandments in order to accomplish his cause in obeying the Holy Prophet (.).

It is imperative for every people in general and our beloved youths in particular, to know the truth, culture and moral teachings of Islam in this holy month so that they may practise the Islamic manners and earn sufficient rewards.

"Allah-o-Akbar" (Allah is great).

Five times in 24 hours the call comes from the minarets of the mosques: Allah-o-Akbar. It is Azan, meant to announce the time of prayers. Right at the call of Azan, Muslims are expected to gather in the mosque.

It is a matter of pride that we are called by God to his audience. It shows his love towards His creatures that he has provided us with an opportunity to communicate with Him. He has opened His house for us let us not be late or absent from His presence.

Azan begins with the phrase -Allah-o-Akbar - (Allah is great); it ends.

With the pharse - La Ilaha Illallah- (None is to be worshipped but Allah). It begins with the name of Allah; it ends on the name of Allah. We are reminded that Allah is the beginning; Allah is the end. Between these two phrases the Muazzin bears witness to the unity of God; and to the apostleship of Muhammad(.), the Holy Prophet. Then he exhorts the believers: Come for prayer; Come for the prosperity (in this world and in life hereafter); and thus it goes on till the end.

Azan is not just a symbol. It is a sermon in clear words. It not only calls a man for prayer; it also explains why should he pray, and to whom should he pray. It reminds the hearers about God; and about man's obligation towards Him. and after these explanations, it exhorts the believers to offer their humble prayers, with full knowledge and understanding, in the presence of God.

Allah is great! Nothing else matters. Allah is calling you. Leave aside your worldly affairs. Forget your business arrangements. Do nor miss this golden opporunity. Go and pray in the presence of God. He is great! Our problems, our worries, our joy, our achievement, our success - nothing actually matters. Allah only is great. Let us communicate with him. Only his benevolent love and care can bring us to prosperity in this world and in life-hereafter.

[Naqshbandi]

[fayaz.hs]

[Nelly]

Subhanallah