The Ninth Point

One of the many wisdoms behind fasting 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., with respect to shattering the imagined lordship of the nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits. and making its servanthood known by revealing its helplessness, is the following:

The nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits. is not naturally inclined to recognise its Lord. Like PharaohThe ruler of ancient Egypt who opposed Prophet Mūsā (peace be upon him)., it desires lordship for itself. No matter how much punishment it endures, it stubbornly clings to this trait. Hunger, however, breaks its pride. Thus, fasting 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. strikes a direct blow against the Pharaoh-like arrogance of the nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits., shattering its pretensions. It reveals its helplessness, weakness, and need, causing it to realise that it is but a servant.

The following is related in a hadithA report of the sayings, actions, or approvals of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).:

Allah asked the nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits.: “Who am I, and who are you?” The nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits. replied: “I am I, and You are You.” Allah then punished it and cast it into Hell. Afterwards He asked it the same question again, but it replied once more: “I am I, and You are You.” No matter how He punished it, it did not abandon its arrogance and self-assertion.

Finally, Allah subjected it to the punishment of hunger—that is, He caused it to experience starvation. Then He asked again: “Who am I, and who are you?” This time the nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits. replied:

اَنْتَ رَبِّى الرَّحٖيمُ - وَاَنَا عَبْدُكَ الْعَاجِزُYou are my Merciful Lord, and I am Your helpless servant.

In other words: “You are my Merciful Lord, and I am Your helpless servant.”

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلٰى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَاةً تَكُونُ لَكَ رِضَاءً وَ لِحَقِّهٖ اَدَاءً بِعَدَدِ ثَوَابِ قِرَائَةِ حُرُوفِ الْقُرْاٰنِ فٖى شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ عَلٰى اٰلِهٖ وَ صَحْبِهٖ وَ سَلِّمْO Allah, send Your peace and blessings upon our master Muhammed, his family, and his companions in a manner pleasing to You and befitting his rank, in proportion to the reward for the recitation of the letters of the Qur’an during the month of Ramadan.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلٖينَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمٖينَ اٰمٖينَGlory be to your Lord, the Lord of Might, far above what they ascribe to Him. Peace be upon the messengers. And all praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. Āmīn. – The Quran 37:180-182

Apology: Since this treatise was written in the short span of forty minutes while both I and my scribe were ill, it may naturally contain shortcomings or irregularities. We therefore ask our brothers and sisters to regard it with understanding and tolerance and, where necessary, to correct any deficiencies they may notice.