Issue No: 286
2nd June 2017
6th Ramadhan 1438 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
It’s that time of the year again:
The most honourable of the months, Ramadhan Shahrullah- the month of Allah- has commenced. The very special moments for one to seek Divine mercy and draw closer to servitude of Allah SWT is with us again. It is the month in which the gates of mercy are open and the believers have received an invitation.
“…It is the month in which Allah invites you as His guests and has appointed you the beneficiaries of His generosity….”(Noble Prophet Muhammad SAWW)
We have been blessed with life to be honoured as guests to the Divine banquet laid out by Allah SWT. The merits of this blessed month have been eloquently described to us by the noble prophet in the famous sermon- Khutbatu Sh’abaniya- delivered at the advent of this month.
You are invited to a Banquet:
Allah SWT has invited us as guests to Divine banquet He has spread in this blessed month. Unlike the invitations by humans, where the hospitalities accorded are rich in ceremonies, pomp and luxurious in food; this Divine invitation is unique. It is a table where, instead of our ways of overfeeding and over pampering ourselves, the host-Allah SWT- has laid out a unique feast. It is a banquet with no meals. This spread is meant to make us rich in Taqwa and poor in the base lusts and desires of the self.
Menu for the Banquet:
The main course being laid out in the menu for this Divine Banquet is to observe Sawm (arabic word meaning restraint).In obedience to the commands of Allah SWT, during sawm one resolves to refrain or restrain oneself for the period before Fajr up to Maghrib, from the muftiratus sawm; the nullifiers of fast.
It’s not only avoiding food and water:
Fasting is not just about avoiding food and water, rather more importantly it is an opportunity for one to focus on developing spirituality, pure thoughts and actions. The state of sawm provides an opportunity to evaluate oneself and make resolutions for this spiritual journey.
Simple Resolutions:
I would like to share with you the following three resolutions proposed by Hujjatul Islam wal Muslimin Seyyid Muhammad Rizvi, Resident Alim, Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat, Toronto.
- What is the level of consciousness of God in your life? How important is Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) in your life? How much importance do you give to the Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet and his sincere and devoted companions?Once you have evaluated yourself in this way, then make the resolution to increase the level of consciousness of God's presence in your life, and consider the Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt as the first role-models for yourself.
- Evaluate your life with your family. At times, people take their near ones for granted, and unknowingly tend to ignore their rights. Islam gives great importance to Silatur-rahm (maintaining ties with the relatives) : your wife and children, your parents, your brothers and sisters, and other relatives. Strengthen the ties with them and be concerned for their spiritual as well as material well-being.
- How can you improve your attitude towards your wife or husband: as a husband, are you appreciative of what your wife does for you at home? Have you ever thanked her for doing the small things that you take for granted? Have you expressed your love and appreciation for her? As a wife, are you supportive of your husband in the struggles of life? After all, you are his partner of life. Moving to your other relations, see if there is someone with whom you have not talked for a long time? Is there a relative of yours who is upset with you? Then this is the appropriate time for you to take the first and courageous step to mend that relationship.
- Your children: how you can increase the spirituality in your home environment? Is the noble Qur'an being recited on a daily or, at least, regular basis in a week? Have you provided them with the means of studying the Qur'an and getting in touch to the sacred Scripture? The Qur'an is now available in all medias: print, audio cassette, CD, iPod – does your child's electronic gadget have the Qur'an in it? What about the sayings of the Prophet and the Ahlul Bayt? Is it possible to discuss one narration of the Prophet on a monthly basis, and ask them to memorize it? Have you encouraged your children to give charity? Do they volunteer? Have you discussed with them how they can volunteer in the centers? Do they participate in the local food banks?
Ramadan is indeed the time of searching yourself and reforming your life to become a better Muslim. May Allãh bless you in this holy month and grant you success. Amen.
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
With salaams and duas
Fazle Abbas Datoo
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat