Fundamental Spiritual Concepts for Holy Ramadan

Posted byNoorallah Juma
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Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Holy Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of Arab and Islamic calendar. Fasting is prescribed for this month according to the following verse of the Holy Qur’an:

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for you; and (He desires) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful.

Holy Quran 2:185 (Pickthall’s translation)

Teachings of Imam NOOR Mowlana Shah Mustansir bi’l-laah II (a.s.)

In Pir Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi, Imam NOOR Mowlana Shah Mustansir bi’l-laah II (a.s.) teaches us about external and internal ablutions and fasts, and enlightenment:

External and Internal Ablutions:

The ablution of the head means to keep oneself obedient to the Imam. The ablution of the hand is swearing allegiance (bay’at dadan) to the Imam of the time. The ablution of the foot is to advance along Imam’s way in obedience to him. The ablution of the heart is to keep steady in affection for the Imam. The ablution of the tongue is to keep on continually remembering (dhikr) the Imam. The ablution of the eye is to have the chance of the didar of the Imam of the time.

Pir Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi , p.61

Fasting as a Lifestyle:

The whole year you must fast, just as ordinary Muslims (zahiriyan) fast for one month. The meaning of this fast is austerity. Control yourselves, keep yourselves away from bad qualities, evil and indecent actions and devilish acts, so that the mirror of your hearts may be gradually polished. … —you must be patient, persevering in austerities, and keeping your inner self fasting as long as you live.

Pir Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi , pp.59-60

Fasts for Inner Self:

Here we specify the parts of the fast of the inner self: the fast of the head means to treat one’s own head with the same humility as the feet of other people, casting out from one’s head the lust of superiority, greatness and pride, because greatness and superiority are only suitable to the all-great substance of the Truth (Haqq), who is eternal, the King of the Authority. The fasting of the eye means that one must keep away coveting looks from the women who are not lawful to one. The fasting of the ear means that one should abstain from listening to slander. The fasting of the tongue means that one should keep one’s tongue from uttering abuse or slander. The fasting of the heart means to keep the heart free from doubt. The fasting of the foot is to hold one’s foot back from a wrong step. The fasting of the hand is to keep all one’s limbs away from treachery so that they may not do evil. This especially applies to one’s tongue which must be kept from uttering lies. And there is no greater lie than the denial of (the existence of) the Imam, saying that he has disappeared

Pir Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi , pp.59-60

Preparing for the Eternal Life:

Therefore, O believers, if you want to be alive in both worlds, perfect your faith, because (only) by the light of faith may you attain eternal life. And faith comes from and is perfected by the recognition and knowledge (ma’rifat wa shinakht) of the Imam of the time, and obedience and love for his followers. Therefore, follow your Imam, and be happy and united with each other amongst yourselves in order that you may be alive in both worlds, and in the hereafter you may become resurrected with the pious, with prophets and saints in the presence of the Imam, with the greatest joy at meeting each other again

Pir Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi , pp.4-5

Teachings of Imam NOOR Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.)

The following excerpts of two firmans of NOOR Mowlana Shah Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.) pertaining to the month of Holy Ramadan were published in a booklet titled ‘Laila-Tul-Qadr’ by Alwaez Abualy A. Aziz (Page 11, Read Know No. 50; Shia Imami Ismailia Association for Tanzania, Dar es Salaam):

Activities During Holy Ramadan:

Now I am going to tell you about Ibadat (worship). Always worship God. This is the month of Ramadan. In this month do more ibadat. Every hour, every minute remember God. Do not forget Him. If you have forgotten Him and have become lazy then take heed that I am reminding you to remember and worship Him.

Kalame Imame Mobin Volume 1, p.23.

The True Spirit of Fasting

The life in this world is of two days (meaning a short time). So you should think of getting purified through worship of God. A true momin does not fast only during the month of Ramadan but all 365 days of the year. He does not commit any sin during all these 365 days of the year. This is the true spirit of fasting. It is not (the spirit) of fasting not to eat anything and indulge in evil acts at the same time. It is an illusion.

Kalame Imame Mobin Volume 1, p.168

Niyat and Noble Wishes:

Ya Mowla, Ya Wali, Ya Karim, Ya Ali, Ya NOOR Mowlana Hazar Imam:

  1. bless us with faith by sending the bounty of Ruhu’l-iman (i.e., spiritual and luminous particles of the soul of faith) into our personal worlds from your Pure Soul and Eternal Light;
  2. forgive our sins, mistakes and oversights and make us staunch, obedient (farman bardari) mu’mins;
  3. keep us on the Right Path, the path illuminated by the Light of Eternal Ali;
  4. purify our souls through the blessings derived from our additional dhikr and help us live a balanced life;
  5. make us regular in our morning and evening prayers;
  6. bless us with inspiration, strength, courage and conviction to practise luminous prayer (bandagi) at the luminous time (small watches of the night) with the luminous word (bol, ism-i azam or Ya Ali tasbi);
  7. bestow enlightenment to our souls and manifest Noor in our foreheads;
  8. usher us in the abode of peace (Dar-as-Salaam) and grant us eternal existence. Ameen.

Ardent Prayers for Holy Ramadan

Ardent Prayers

May our beloved NOOR Mowlana Hazar Imam, through the knowledge and barakat of the Holy Qur'an, Holy Ginans & Qasidas, Ayatul Kursi and Angelic Salwat, grant the global Jamat luminous (noorani) and spiritual (ruhani) tayid (help) to advance materially, spiritually and intellectually. May Mowla bestow Sunshine in our hearts, light in our foreheads, and the inner vision of the Truth in our intellects. Ameen.

May Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam fill our spiritual hearts with his NOOR and nothing else, and empower us to overcome fear, anxiety and uncertainty as we pass through this calamity! Ameen.

May the Almighty Creator help the whole humanity because we are all created from a Single Soul! Ameen.

Rakh Mowla je Noor te Yaqeen (Certainly, we trust in Mowla's Light only)

Haizinda — Qayampaya
(Our Present Imam is Living and His NOOR is Eternal)