Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, and blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammed, his infallible progeny and the righteous among his companions.
The Almighty, never promulgates any law unless there is a great purpose behind it in serving the interests of mankind, guiding them along the sublime path of piety and towards the lofty heights of perfection.
He, the Exalted sent messengers and prophets as blessings to the humankind, to take them out of the labyrinths of uncertainty and aimlessness, guide them to the right path, and inspire in them a virtuous life, which ultimately will be of benefit in the world to come. Allah did not forbid mankind from anything except what might bring certain harm; and He did not enjoin anything except that which is of benefit both in this present world and the hereafter.
As part of His unbounded grace, the All-wise has enjoined the month of fasting as an obligation on all those who profess to be Muslims. Hence, fasting Ramadhan could very well be described as Allah's banquet. It is among the wonderful aspects of Islam which build human character and personality, and help mould social life.
A Muslim while fasting experiences the aesthetic pleasure of Allah's proximity and the joy of divine blessings. The feeling thus instills the will in the believers to lead a life of content, filled with Allah's remembrance and ever responsive to His command.
A Muslim who fasts experiences feelings of great spirituality and a profound sense of exaltation. He is sure of himself and is confident of moving towards perfection, because he consciously musters all his senses to direct his powerful will to serve and please his Creator.
Fasting is not confined to one's inner self alone but also has its social effects in influencing the community as an integrated whole. A fasting community enjoys all the comforts and pleasures resulting from obedience to the Almighty. The society consequently consolidates itself directing its energies towards constructive public welfare. The members of such a society feel a sense of responsibility towards each other, characterized by mutual cooperation and kindness. It is a society almost free of crime, jealousy and hatred. A society which asserts its supremacy over the mundane world of matter, and feels proud of its adherence to spiritual values.
Fasting, therefore, is a duty of many-fold benefits. One of its significant effects is that it strengthens in the individual and society the will to resist temptation and defy the forces of evil, injustice and deviation. A believer's soul, having tasted the pleasures of fasting, will never submit to other than Allah, and will never entertain the idea of worshipping other than Him.
Al-Balagh Foundation in presenting this booklet on fasting seeks to perform its duty of inviting people to Allah and proclaiming His eternal message. It hopes the booklet will be of benefit to our dear readers whose enthusiasm has been a source of inspiration for us.
We humbly implore Allah, the Most Exalted to guide the Ummah along the blessed path of Islam, and to accept the selfless deeds of fasting Muslims. He is the Most Excellent Patron, the Most Excellent Helper.
AL-BALA GH FOUNDATION
THE PROPHET'S SERMON ON THE ADVENT OF RAMADHAN
As we said before, holy Ramadhan is Allah's Banquet, spread out for all His creatures without the difference of class, caste, rank, race, language or geographical barriers. It is not just a month of mere rituals, as some may misbelieve, but on the contrary signifies the very peak of spiritual purification, which Islam has perfected;
The word Ramadhan is derived from the root ramadh which indicates heat' and restlessness', and is said to signify the hardships of a fast, like
"0 People! the month (Ramadhawt)of Allah has come with His mercies, blessings and forgiveness. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. its days are the best among the days, its nights are the best among the nights and its hours are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (to fast and to pray). Allah has honoured you in it. in it, every breath you take is (has the reward af) Tasbih' (the praise of Allah), your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations answered."
"Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in right earnest with hearts that are free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help you to keep fasts, and to recite the Holy Qur'an. Indeed! miserable ic the one who is deprived of Allah's forgiveness in this great month. While fasting, remember the hunger and thirst on the Day of Judgement. Give alms to the poor and the needy. Pay respect to your elders, have sympathy for your youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongue against unworthy words, and your eyes from scenes that are hot worth seeing (forbidden) and your ears from sounds that should not be heard."
"Be kind to orphans so that if your children become orphans they will also be treated with kindness. Do repent to Allah for your sins and supplicate with raised hands at the times of prayer as these are the best times, during which Almighty Allah looks at His servants with mercy, (He) Answers if they supplicate, Responds if they call, Grants if they ask, and Accepts if they entreat.
"0 people! you have made your conscience the slave of your desires. Make it free, by invoking Him for forgiven ess. Your back is breaking under the heavy load of your sins, so prost rate yourself before Him for long intervals and make it lighter."
"Do understand fully well that Allah has promised in the name of His Majesty and Honour that He will not take to task such people who perform Salaat and Sajda (prostration), and that He will guard their bodies against the fire of hell on the Day of Judgement."
"0 people! if anybody amongst you arranges for the :ftar (food for ending of fast at sunset) of way believers, then Allah will give him the reward as if he had set free a slave, and He will forgive his previous sins."
thirst for example. A hadith from the Prophet says, Ramadhan burns the sins and the faults as fire burns wood.
Before discussing further the spiritual and physical dynamism of fasting, let's start with those eternal words of Allah's last and greatest Prophet, which continue to ring even today in the ears of the believers.
Imam Ali bn Musa ar-Ridha (a.s.)* relates on the chain of authority of his illustrious forefathers from Lmam Au (a.s.) that once on the advent of Ramadhan, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)* delivered the following sermon:
(( أيها الناس انه قد اقبل اليكم شهر الله بالبركة والرحمة والمغفرة ,شهر هو عند الله أفضل الشهور,وأيامه أفضل الايام ,ولياليه أفضل الليالي, وساعاته أفضل الساعات ... وهوشهردعيتم فيه الى ضيافةالله , وجعلتم فيهمن أهل كرامة الله ,أنفاسكم فيه تسبيح ,ونومكم فيه عبادة وعملكم فيه مقبول, ودعاؤكم فيه مستجاب,فاسألو الله ربكم بنيات صادقة,وقلوب طاهرة,ان يوفقكم لصيامه وتلاوة كتابه,فان الشقي من حرم غفران الله في هذا الشهر العظيم, واذكروا بجوعكم وعطشكم فيه جوع يوم القيامة وعشه, وتصدقوا على فقرائكم ومساكينكم, ووقروا كباركم,وارحموا صغاركم,وصلو ارحامكم, واحفظواالسنتكم, وغضوا عما لايحل النظر اليه أبصارركم وعما لايحل الاستماع اليه السماعكم ,وتحننواعلى أيتام الناس يتحنن على أيتامكم, وتوبواالى الله من ذنوبكم , وارفعوا اليه ايديكم بالدعاء في أوقات صلاتكم فانها افضل الساعات, ينظرالله عزوجل فيها بالرحمة الىعباده,... يجيبهم اذا ناجوه, ويلبيهم اذا نادوه,ويعطيهم اذا سألوه, ويستجيب لهم اذا دعوه.
أيها الناس ان انفسكم مرهونة باعمالكم,ففكوها باستغفاركم, وظهوركم ثقيلة من أوزاركم, فخففوا عنها بطول سجودكم, واعلمواان الله اقسم بعزته ان لايعذب المصلين والساجدين, وان لا يروعهم بالنار يوم يقوم الناس لرب العالمين.
أيها الناس من فطرمنكم صائما مؤمنا في هذا الشهر كانله بذلكعند الله عتق رقبة, ومغفرة لمامضى من ذنوبه,قيل:يارسول الله , فليس كلنا نقدر على ذلك, فقال(ص) ((اتقوا النار,ولوبشق تمرة,اتقوا النار,ولوبشربة من ماء))
Then the companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.) asked,
"But everybody amongst us does not have the means to do so."
The Prophet replied:
"Keep yourself away from the fire of hell, though it may consist of only half a date or even some water ~f you have nothing else."
"0 people! anybody who in this month cultivates good manners, will walk over the Sirat (bridge leading to Paradise) on the day when feel will tend to slip."
"Anybody who in this month may take light work from his servants, Allah will make easy his accounting, and anybody who does not annoy others in it, Allah will keep him safe from His wrath on the Day of Judgement. Anybody who respects and treats an orphan with kindness in it, Allah shall look at him with kindness on that Day."
"Anybody who treats well his kinsmen in it, Allah will bestow His Mercy on him on the Day of Judgement, while anybody who ma/treats his kinsmen in it, Allah will keep him away from His Mercy."
"Whoever offers recommended prayers in it, Allah will save him from hell, and whoever observes in it obligatories, his reward will be that of seventy such obligatories that were observed in other months."
"Whoever recites repeatedly blessings (Salawat) on me in it Allah will keep the scales of his good deeds heavy (on Judgement Day) whilst the scales of others will be tending to lightness. Whoever recites in this month, an Aya (verse) of the Holy Qur'an, his reward will be that of reciting the whole Qur'an in other months."
"0 people! the gates of Paradise remain open in this month. Do pray to your Lord that they may not be closed for you. While the gates of Hell are closed, do pray to your Lord they may never be opened for you. Satans have been handcuffed, invoke your Lord ntt to let them dominate you."
Amir AI-Mu'mineen Au (a.s.) said :
"1 asked, 0 Messenger of Allah, what is the best of deeds in this month?' He replied: 0 Abu'l Hassan, the best of deeds in this month is to be far from what Allah has forbidden."*
FASTING WORSHIP
"0 you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those that were before you, so that you may be godfering. (Fast) A certain number of days. But whoever of you is sick or on a journey, then (he shall fast) the (same) number of other days and for those who are able(with hards-hip to fast) a redemption by feeding a needy poor person. But whoever volunteers to do good it is better for him; and to fast is better for you,if you know. The month of Ramadhan in which the Qur'an was sent down to be a gyidance for mankind and as clear signs of guidance and a criterion (between right and wrongl. Therefore, whoever of you is present at the month, fast it; and whoever is sick, or on a journey, then (fast) the (same) number of other days; Allah desires ease for you, and desires not hardship for you; so that you should complete the nwnber (of days decreed), and exalt Allah for His guiding you, so that you might be thankful."
Holy Qur'an (2 :183 - 185)
A DEFINITION OF FASTING
Originally, in Arabic the word as-sawm meant aI-Jmsak i.e. to abstain totally from any act including eating, drinking, walking, speaking etc. Thus, the Arabs used to refer to' a horse refusing to run or to be fed, as!a'im i.e. fasting.
As is clear the word sawm is ancient and was used in a different context by the Arabs before Islam. Then, however it did not have the specific meaning given to it by Islam as a term denoting a certain religious obligation.
As an Islamic term, it means to refrain intentionally from what breaks fasting. *
To a Muslim, fasting is not just refraining from eating and drinking but carries the added significance of worship, psychological comfort, morality and legislation. It is neither the irrational motionless Imsak of pre-Islamic Arabs nor the mere abstaining from eating and drinking, but is in fact the building of one's character, control over desires, and an inspiration towards social and scientific creativity.
Allah has commanded this sanctified duty and enjoined it on the Muslims, as He had enjoined it on the believing nations before. He assigned the blessed month, the month of Ramadhan, for every adult and healthy Muslim as a period of fasting.
This sacred ordinance was prescribed by Allah, the Exalted for all believers and revealed in the preceding month of Sha'ban, nearly a year and a half after the Hijrah.*
Gradually, the Almighty revealed numerous other verses about the month of Ramadhan and the rules of fasting. In the light of these divine injunctions,the Prophet expounded the merits of fasting, its significance, regulations, effects, benefits and great reward.
Hence, Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam, and a religious duty for all those who believe in Monotheism, and consequently whoever denies it is a disbeliever.
It is an apparent sign of obedience, submission and servitude to Allah, the Exalted. By fasting, a Muslim expresses his submission to Allah's command, his response to His will, and the control over his own desires and wishes, at the Almighty's behest. In Ramadhan a Muslim's abstaining from food, drink, sexual intercourse, etc. during the prescribed hours, is the very manifestation of the creatures' obedience to the Creator's Will.
This self-deprivation represents a state of self-control, and of overcoming carnal pleasure, desire and enjoyment, for the blissful love of Allah, His proximity, and the eagerness to obtain His consent. It is a triumph of pristine love over one's desires and wants. It characterizes the control over transient pleasures for the eternal ones promised by the Almighty.
This response to divine commandments represents and incarnates true servitude, and is a brilliant display of spirit, intellect and decisive will power.
By fasting,a person keeps himself away from the pleasures of life, with no preventive or hindrance factor, except that of obeying Allah and showing genuine devotion to His commands. A hadith succintly explains this fact : "A fasting person is in a state of worship, even when (asleep) in bed, except when he backbites wwther Muslim."*
"... Every breath you take is (has the reward oj) Tasbih (praise to Allah) and your sleep in worship..." *
In a moving speech, the Messenger of Allah describes the believing soul that fasts for love of Allah out of truthfulness and sincerity, and thus the whole day becomes an altar of worship, and each and every activity of the fasting body, provided it abstains from loathsome acts, is nothing but worship embodied. The Prophet describes the sleep of a fasting Muslim,even the very breathing to be acts of worship, because they emanate from a body regarded as being in continual worship through abstaining from tasting delicious and lawful things, solely out of obedience to the Creator.
The Almighty Himself extols fasting and attributes it as a special blessing for mankind as is clear from a hadith Qudsi.
The Prophet said:
"Allah, the Exalted says: Fasting is (exclusively) for Me and I will reward it."
The eighth Imam, Au ibn Musa ar-Ridha (a.s.) quotes his ancestor the Prophet on the chain of authority of his noble forefathers:
"0 people, anybody who a, this month cultivates good manners will walk over the Sirat (bridge to Paradise) on the day when feet will tend to slip... " *
FASTING - EDUCATION AND SOCIAL REFORM
All obligatory acts ordained by Allah, the Exalted such as Fasting, Prayer, Hajj (pilgrimage) Zakat (poor-tax) etc., are not mere rituals as some are bound to misinterpret, but are an elaborate form of spiritual, psychological, physical and social education. Besides being a form of worship and a means by which the Muslim displays his submission to his Creator, they play a vital role in reforming and developing the soul and personality of an individual which in turn positively affects the society as an integrated whole.
The purpose behind fasting was not just to prevent eating, drinking and sexual intercourse during the prescribed hours but to i~frain from all acts injurious to one's self and fellow humans so as to help build a virtuous and progressive society. A narration from the Prophet says:
"The easiest duty enjoined by Allah on a fasting person is to forego food and drink. " *
Thus, fasting has two evolutionary aims. The first is to protect a person from all forbidden acts such as backbiting, calumny, envy, lying, vain discourses and the like. And the second is to encourage and enhance the
moral and spiritual level by such recommended deeds as reciting the Holy Qur'an, giving alms, meditating on one's past life and a more righteous future course, remembering Allah's favours and greatness, helping fellow-humans and the doing of various other good that benefits the self and the society.
Fasting, therefore is an institution designed for educating the soul and casting it in an Islamic evolutionary mould.
There are numerous Hadiths which guide a fasting Muslim towards divine bliss. Imam Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s.), quoting his cousin the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), says:
"Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadhan out of faith and seeking Allah's pleasure and guards his ears, eyes and tongue from harming people, Allah will accept his fasting, forgive his past sins...,,*
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) relates the Prophet's advice to Jabir ibn Abdullah:
"o Jabir, whoever, fasts the days of Ratnadh an, stands for prayers in parts of its nights, guards his/her sexual desires, reins in his/her tongue, lowers his/her gaze and injures, not the feelings of others, will become free of sins as on the day he/she was born." *
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.), on the authority of his illustrious forefathers, quotes his noble ancestor Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) as follows:
"If a fasting person when abused, replies peace be upon you I will not abuse as you do, the Lord, the Exalted and Most High, says, By fasting, My servant has saved himself from the evil of My (other) servant, I grant him refuge against the fire." *
".. Once the Prophet heard a fasting woman abusing her maidservant. He ordered some food and told her to eat'. lam fasting', she said. He replied Can you be considered fasting when you have just abused your maid. (Beware) Fasting does not mean only to abstain from(mere)eating and drinking'." *
What follows is an advice from Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (a.s.) to a fasting Muslim:
"When you fast, guard your hearing and sight against the forbidden, and your limbs and all other organs from the vile. Do not rm'e at or injure a sen'ant. Be dignified as a fasting person should, and keep silent and calm, except when remembering Allah. Do not regard your fasting day as an ordinary day and refrain from intercourse, kissing and loud laughter, because Allah dislikes that." *
The Prophet says:
"Whoever backbites his Muslim brothers, his fasting will be invalid* and his ablution null. Should he die it, such a state, he will die like the one who decreed lawful what Allah has forbidden." *
Such, therefore, are the lofty ethics, fasting persons are exhorted to observe, as Ramadhan is a month for worship and for reforming one's self.
As is clear the objectives of the great reformative duty called fasting cannot be fulfilled except by adhering to these lofty morals and ethics. If not, the act will turn out to be an exercise in futility with the fasting person gaining nothing except the pangs of hunger and thirst.
Islam strives to reform both the individual and the society, and the starting point for this healthy transformation is the human soul. If the human soul reaches perfection and moulds itself according to the dynamic principles of Islam, then society will be reformed accordingly.
How wonderfully the Glorious Qur'an confirms this fact:
"Surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition;..."
Holy Qur'an (13 :11)
Ramadhan, the month of Allah affords us this chance for meditation and social reform. It is for us to seize this wonderful opportunity to repent, reflect over our past deeds, seek the Almighty's forgiveness and strive towards perfection, in morals and behaviour.
Fasting has remarkable benefits. It not only refines an individual's conduct by instilling virtue, but also has similar impacts on the interest of the Islamic society as a whole. Because once a group of individuals acquires honesty, integrity, intellect and other lofty morals, their desire for reform and to refrain from all things perverse positively affects the march of the society.
Islam looks at the human being from two angles; as an independent individual, and as a part of a society affecting society and being influenced by it in turn. Consequently, all the rules, laws, regulations, morals and ethics conveyed through the message of Islam deal with the human being both as an independent entity and as part of an integrated whole.
Such being the case, these moral, social, economic and devotional aspects will certainly have political consequences as well because an individual's daily activities are interrelated and effect each other.
Thus, fasting could without doubt be considered as a great educational experience, because faith in Allah and the Day of Judgement has a profound influence not only on devotional and moral aspects but also in the economic and political spheres. So great is the reciprocal dynamism of these factors that if sincerely observed they hold the key to the perfection, bliss and harmony of both the individual and the society.
Narratives reaching us from Prophet Muhammad's (s.a.w.) Ahl-ul-Bait, wonderfully explain these facts.
How beautifully the eighth Imam of the Prophet's pro.geny All ibn Musa ar-Ridha (a.s.) expounds the philosophy of fasting,as a blessing from the Almighty, so that one becomes aware of the hardships of the poor and the needy and quite naturally feels obliged to pay out of what Allah has granted us. Moreover, he says. that by realizing the pangs of hunger and thirst one becomes aware of the Day of Resurrection when people will have to stand for timeless hours waiting their turn to be judged. In short, concludes the Imam, fasting builds up personality because the restraint over desires helps us acquire the virtues of modesty, self- control, humbleness of character, hope, kindness, generosity, forbearance etc..
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) has been quoted as saying:
"Allah made fasting incumbent to make equity between the rich and the poor. A rich man does not feel the pains of hunger to have mercy for the poor, since he is able to obtain whatever he likes. (By enjoining fasting) Allah wanted to put His creatures on an equal footing by making the rich taste the pain of hunger, so that he may pity the weak and have mercy on the hungry..." *
Therefore, fasting is an all-ecompassing education whose social, spiritual, hygienic, economic and various other dimensiom which if properly observed guarantee blissful harmony for the human race.
FASTING - KEY TO A GOOD HEALTH
Fasting also has its advantages from the point of view of health and hygiene. Islam wants a Muslim to be healthy, clean, alert, agile and energetic.
"Fast to be heaIthyy" had said the Prophet. And physicians today acknowledge the many benefits of fasting that ensure health and the
worship, in which all Muslims feel they are living a new life and following a new direction. This stimulates a psychological state which helps them to repent, seek forgiveness and gain the blessings of the Almighty. In the process they witness a popular advancing towards Allah, while disdaining those who turn away from His straight path and His pleasure.
The opposite of these are those whose hearts are closed against the light of mercy, and their souls are irresponsive to the call of repentance. They do not even realize their own mistake when they see that collective procession moving towards Allah, the Exalted. They disregard all those reminders during the month of Ramadhan such as the obligation of fasting, the recommended reciting of the Qur'an, the gathering for invocation and preaching, and other rituals observing the sanctity of this montb. The Prophet described people who are unaffected by all this and have hearts full of cruelty, obstinacy and misery as:
"... indeed, miserable is the one who is deprived of Allah s forgiveness during this great month..." *
THE SPRING OF THE QUR'AN
The month of Ramadhan is aptly termed the springtime of Qur'an. The Holy Book, the Almighty's final and most comprehensive revelation to mankind, was sent down to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) in this blessed month.
In this month the souls are more refined, more inclined towards the Creator, and more receptive towards the bounties in Allah's Book of wisdom, guidance and righteousness. Hence reciting the Qur'an and contemplating on its eternal verses is emphasized more in this blessed month than at any other time of the year.
The Prophet, says:
soundness of one's body and mind. Some of these positive points have a direct influence on psychology and physique of the fasting individual.
Fasting has been found to be an effective treatment for psychological and emotional disorders. It helps a person to firm up his will, cultivate and refine his taste and manners, strengthen his conviction of doing good, avoid controversy, petulance and rashness, which all contribute towards a sane and healthy personality. Besides nurturing resistance and ability to face hardships and endurance, fasting reflects on outward physical appearance by cutting out gluttony and getting rid of excess fat.
The benefits of fasting on health do not stop there but are instrumental in alleviating a number of physical diseases, including those of the digestive systems, such as chronic stomach ache, inflammation of the colon, liver diseases, indigestion, and conditions such as obesity, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, asthma, diphtheria and many other maladies.
A Swiss physician Dr. Barsilus noted that: The advantages of hunger as a remedy exceed those ingesting medicine several times.
As readers are well aware, several physicians advise patients to skip meals, sometimes for a few days, before prescribing them a controlled diet.
Generally speaking, fasting hastens the destruction of the decaying tissues of the body by means of hunger, and then builds new tissues through nutrition. This is why some scientists suggest that fasting should be regarded as an effective means of restoring youthfulness and longevity. However, Islam exempts from fasting sick and old people whose health is bound to deter.
But fasting should have its regulations too, and not simply the unorderly skipping of meals, that is bound to harm health and stamina, rather than improving them. Here again Islam provides the answer, and in order to realize the benefits of fasting it recommends the late midnight meals called
Sohour (before the formal start of a fast) and the breaking of the fast at the time prescribed. Of course to ensure good health one should abstain
( 15 )
from gluttony after breaking fast. *
REPENTANCE
How kind is Allah the Exalted Whose mercy to His creatures knows no limits. The All-forgiving has opened to us the gates of repentance, granting us the chance to return to His Grace, but it is we who stand to blame for our failure to avail forgiveness, because of our blind obstinacy.
"Say: 0 my servants! who haie acted extravagantly against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely Allah forgives the faults altogether; surely He is AU-forgiving, All-merciful."
Holy Qur'an (39: 53)
Allah the Exalted knows that the human beings, due to their earthly constitution, are likely to sin and err. They, therefore, are in need of an opportunity enabling them to repent and reform themselves, and hence the chance of repentance in the month of Ramadhan. Divine forgiveness is an opportunity for reform. Repentance is a process of transformation in the manner of life and nature of behaviourl and intellectual changes. It is also the outcome of a new resolution undertaken by the repentant for a fresh way of life to which he decides to adhere. The repentant of his sins as such is as if he had committed no sins at all.
Part of the divine favours to mankind is to keep the doors of forgiveness and mercy always open. Ramad/zan is the month of pardon and forgiveness, the season for praying and remembering the Almighty's favours. It is for us to avail this wonderful opportunity of repentance and ask forgiveness for all faults in sincerity, with an intention not to repeat them again. We should allow it to be a time of self-criticism and self-reproach, so that one may begin a new course, ushering in a true change in soul and thought, through one's deeds of faith during this period. This month-long opportunity to lead an Islamic way of life will enable one to observe Allah's commandments and adhere to the straight path of righteousness and bliss.
The month of Ramadhan creates an atmosphere of congregational
"Invoke your Lord in right earnest with hearts that are free of sin and evil, to enable you to fast and to recite His Book ( Qur'an) .." *
"... whoever recites an Aya (verse) from the Qur'an (in Ramadhwa) will receive a similar reward as the one who recites the whole Qur'an in other months." *
"He who makes lawful what is forbidden in the Qur an has no faith in it." *
The fifth Lmam of the Prophet's infallible progeny Muhammad aI-Baqir (a.s.) says:
"Everything has a springtime and the springtime of the Qur'an is the month of Ramadhan."
Reports suggest Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) used to recite the whole Qur'an ten times during Ramadhan.
The eighth Lmam Au ibn Musa ar-Ridha (a.s.) advised one of his companions as follows:
"Invoke Allah, ask for forgiveness, recite the Qur'an and repent to Allah for your sins more frequently, so that the blessings of the month of Ramadhan may come to you, while you are sincere to Allah, the Exalted." *
The Prophet himself took the lead in this regard. He and his infallible progeny recited the Book of Allah more than anyone else in Ramadlzan. They taught Muslims how to con template on its eternal wisdom, apply its instructions in day-to-day affairs and enlighten people with its storehouse of knowledge.