Ramadan is the
Arabic, lunar month to celebrate the
anniversary of sending down the
Quran to prophet Muhammad which took
place during its 27th night.
[97:1]
We revealed it in the
Night of Destiny.*
[97:2] How
awesome is the Night of
Destiny!
[97:3] The
Night of Destiny is better than a
thousand months.
[44:3]
We have sent it down in a
blessed night, for we are to
warn.
[53:1] As the
stars fell away.*
[53:2] Your
friend (Muhammad) was not astray,
nor was he deceived.
[53:3] Nor
was he speaking out of a personal
desire. [53:4] It was
divine inspiration.
[53:5]
Dictated by the Most
Powerful.
[53:6]
Possessor of all authority.
From His highest height.
[53:7]
At the highest horizon.
[53:8] He
drew nearer by moving down. [53:9]
Until He became as close as
possible.
[53:10]
He then revealed to His
servant what was to be revealed.
[53:11] The
mind never made up what it saw.
[53:12] Are you doubting what he
saw?
[53:13] He
saw him in another descent. [53:14]
At the ultimate point.
[53:15] Where
the eternal Paradise is located.
[53:16] The whole place was
overwhelmed.
[53:17] The
eyes did not waver, nor go blind.
[53:18] He saw great signs
of his Lord.
[17:1] Most
glorified is the One who summoned
His servant (Muhammad) during the
night, from the Sacred Masjid (of
Mecca) to the farthest place of
prostration,* whose surroundings we
have blessed, in order to
show him some of our signs. He is
the Hearer, the Seer.
[17:106] A
Quran that we have released slowly,
in order for you to read it to the
people over a long period,
although we sent it down all at
once.
God has
decreed fasting for us during this
whole blessed month everyday from
Dawn until Sunset. Fasting is an
elegant way to let our soul shine
and rise, while the body is
submitting and obeying with
humility. It is a divine
gift offered in the form of a
generous feast just to empower the
soul and let the body prostrate. Starving
our temporary body and nourishing
our eternal self will help us gain
the spiritual weight we need for the
Day of Judgment and will lead us to
the eternal bliss of Paradise. What a
blessing from the Almighty to help
us leap on the path of our
redemption. What an opportunity to
connect with our Creator and express
our appreciation to Him alone.
[91:7] The
soul and Him who created it.
[91:8] Then
showed it what is evil and what is
good.
[91:9]
Successful is one who
redeems it.
[91:10]
Failing is one who neglects it.
[7:8] The scales will be set on
that day, equitably. Those whose
weights are heavy
will be the winners.
[7:9] As for those whose weights
are light,
they will be the ones who lost their
souls,* as a consequence of
disregarding our revelations,
unjustly.
[101:6] As for him whose weights
are heavy.
[101:7] He
will lead a happy
(eternal) life.
[2:183] O you who believe, fasting is decreed for
you, as it was decreed for those before you, that
you may attain salvation.
[2:184] Specific days (are
designated for fasting); if one is ill or
traveling, an equal number of other
days may be substituted. Those who can
fast, but with great difficulty, may
substitute feeding one poor person for each day of
breaking the fast. If one volunteers (more righteous
works), it is better. But fasting is the
best for you, if you only knew.
[2:185] Ramadan is the month during which
the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the
people, clear teachings, and the statute book.
Those of you who witness this month shall
fast therein. Those who are
ill or traveling may substitute the same number of
other days. GOD wishes for you
convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill
your obligations, and to glorify GOD
for guiding you, and to express your
appreciation.
[2:187] Permitted for you is
sexual intercourse with your wives during the nights
of fasting. They are the keepers of your secrets,
and you are the keepers of their secrets. GOD knew
that you used to betray your souls, and He has
redeemed you, and has pardoned you. Henceforth, you
may have intercourse with them, seeking what GOD has
permitted for you. You may eat and drink
until the white thread of light becomes
distinguishable from the dark thread of night at
dawn. Then, you shall fast until sunset.
Sexual intercourse is prohibited if you decide to
retreat to the masjid (during the last ten days of
Ramadan). These are GOD's laws; you shall not
transgress them. GOD thus clarifies His
revelations for the people, that they may attain
salvation.
While fasting, we bring the invisible to the surface
and drown our earthly urges. The gain is eternal
and beyond our expectations or comprehension. As
believers, we need to raise our awareness everyday
and every moment of our invisible
souls
that are crying for attention to worship the Most
Gracious, pleading for righteousness and salvation.
During this month, souls joyfully celebrate
their freedom from the captures of the materials of
this world and chant their very own melody of
worshiping the
One God they know full well:
[30:30] Therefore, you shall
devote yourself to the religion of strict
monotheism. Such is the
natural instinct placed into the people by
GOD. Such creation of GOD will never
change. This is the perfect religion, but most
people do not know.
Satisfying our souls as such is the secret
of contentment that very few ones on earth are
chosen to sense. Those who dwell on money, fame, or
success in any form while neglecting their real
selves can never understand the source of their
emptiness, pain, fears, and sadness. Real
contentment is the contentment of the soul and the
soul doesn't care for or become content with fame,
money, highly paid jobs, fancy food, and designer
clothes. These are nice provisions to nourish and
beautify our exterior shell. These provisions do not
function beyond that! Only our righteous deeds, and
religious duties, including our fasting, that
would nourish our souls to advance and be content
and beautiful.
[3:145] No one dies except by GOD's leave, at a
predetermined time. Whoever seeks the
vanities of this world, we give him
therefrom, and whoever seeks the rewards of the
Hereafter, we bless him therein.
We reward those who are appreciative.
[87:14] Successful indeed is the one who
redeems his soul.
Fasting is a ritual that is merely between us and
the Knower of all secrets. It represents the
ultimate devotion, and sincerity in worship. It
takes a lot of integrity and strength to honestly
rise above the vanities of this life and
successfully go through this challenge for a whole
month and for the sake of submitting to and
pleasing God alone.
[33:35]
The submitting men, the
submitting women, the believing
men, the believing women, the
obedient men, the obedient
women, the truthful men, the
truthful women, the steadfast
men, the steadfast women, the
reverent men, the reverent
women, the charitable men, the
charitable women, the fasting
men, the fasting women, the
chaste men, the chaste women,
and the men who commemorate GOD frequently,
and the commemorating women; GOD
has prepared for them forgiveness and a great
recompense.
In fasting, there is a battle between the soul and
the body - one is calling for faith while the other
is calling for food, one is hungry for worship to
please the creator and the other is hungry for
pleasing
a
flimsy shell.
One is looking for the eternal Paradise while the
other is looking for short term satisfaction. The
choice is always ours to make our souls win this
battle.
Fasting is a promotion and a merciful opportunity to
upgrade our souls. We need to make the best out of
this opportunity to give ourselves a booster dose of
righteousness and piety. Hopefully,
we all grab the chance to attain God's approval.
True believers should enjoy and value this time of
the year when their awareness of their souls is at
its peak. They need to celebrate the gift of fasting
and enjoy redeeming themselves while submitting to
the Most Gracious.
[57:21] Therefore, you shall race towards
forgiveness from your Lord, and a Paradise whose
width encompasses the heaven and the earth.
It awaits those who believed in GOD and His
messengers. Such is GOD's grace that He
bestows upon whomever He wills. GOD is Possessor of
Infinite Grace.
Happy redemption everyone, and happy Ramadan.
Peaceful Friday, salaam, and God bless.
