Ramadan

Thus, the Qur’an—every one of whose letters bears thirty thousand everlasting fruits—resembles a luminous Tuba tree through which believers acquire millions of eternal fruits during RamadanThe ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset and in which the Qur’an was first revealed.. Come, then, and behold this sacred and eternally profitable trade. Reflect upon it and realize the immense loss suffered by those who fail to appreciate the value of the words of the Qur’an.

Indeed, the blessed month of RamadanThe ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset and in which the Qur’an was first revealed. is an exceptionally profitable marketplace for the Hereafter. It is an extraordinarily fertile field for the harvest of eternal life, like the rains of spring that cause deeds to flourish and bear fruit. It is a radiant and sacred festival in which humanity presents a magnificent parade of worship before the sovereignty of Allah’s rubūbiyyaAllah’s lordship over all creation and His provision for all their needs..

Since this is so, fasting has been prescribed so that people may refrain from heedlessly surrendering themselves to the animal needs of the nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits., such as eating and drinking, or to its lustful desires and trivial pursuits. By temporarily rising above their animal nature and turning away from the preoccupations of this world, they approach an angelic state and enter into the trade of the Hereafter. Through fasting, they draw near to the condition of the people of the Hereafter and, as it were, to that of spirits clothed in bodily form. In this way, they become mirrors reflecting samadiyyaAllah’s attribute of absolute self-sufficiency, upon whom all creation depends..

Indeed, within this fleeting world and this brief earthly life, the blessed month of RamadanThe ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset and in which the Qur’an was first revealed. contains and bestows an everlasting and imperishable life. Truly, a single RamadanThe ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset and in which the Qur’an was first revealed. can enable a person to reap the fruits of an eighty-year lifetime. The Qur’anic declaration that Laylat al-QadrThe Night of Decree. It is the night on which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It is regarded as one of the most blessed nights of the Islamic year and, according to Islamic tradition, occurs during the last ten nights of Ramadan, especially on one of the odd-numbered nights. is better than a thousand months stands as decisive proof of this reality.

Just as a sultan may, during his reign, proclaim certain annual festivals or designate special occasions on which he bestows exceptional favours beyond the ordinary laws of his kingdom, grants audiences through his unveiled presence, and honours his loyal and deserving subjects with his personal generosity, so too has the Sultān-i Dhul-JalālAllah, the Sovereign whose greatness and majesty are boundless., the Pre-Eternal and Post-Eternal Sovereign of the eighteen thousand worlds, revealed during the blessed month of RamadanThe ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset and in which the Qur’an was first revealed. the Qur’an, His exalted decree addressed to those worlds. It is therefore entirely fitting that RamadanThe ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset and in which the Qur’an was first revealed. should be regarded as a unique divine festival, a heavenly exposition, and a spiritual gathering. Since RamadanThe ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset and in which the Qur’an was first revealed. is such a festival, fasting has been prescribed in order to disengage humanity, to a certain extent, from base and animal activities.

The most complete form of fasting is not limited to the stomach alone. Rather, the eyes, ears, tongue, heart, imagination, thoughts, and all other faculties should also observe their own form of fasting. Each should be restrained from everything unlawful and from all that is vain, and directed instead toward the form of worship appropriate to it.

For example, the tongue should fast by refraining from lying, backbiting, and obscene speech, and instead occupy itself with reciting the Qur’an, remembering and glorifying Allah, invoking blessings upon the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him), and seeking forgiveness. Likewise, the eyes should fast by abstaining from looking at what is forbidden and instead contemplate signs that inspire reflection, while the ears should fast by avoiding harmful speech and devoting themselves to listening to the truth and to the recitation of the Qur’an.

Indeed, since the stomach is the largest factory of the human body, once this great factory is brought to a halt through fasting, the smaller workshops readily follow its example.