Sayyid Ibne Taoos narrated in his book “Iqbal”,
quoting Imam Ali al-Riza (a.s.), who heard from his father, who quoted from the
Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.), who said: “One day, the Noble
Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) delivered the following Sermon about the Holy month of
Ramazaan:
O’ People! The
month of Allah with Blessing, Mercy and Pardon has come to you, a month which
is the best month among all months before Allah; its days are the best days;
its nights are the best nights and its hours are the best hours. It is the
month in which you have been invited by Allah for a feast, and has been
selected as the recipient of His special favor. Your breathing merits the
reward of praise while your sleeping in this month earns the reward of worship.
In this month your deeds are accepted and prayers are granted.
Therefore, with true intention and pure hearts,
beseech Allah to bestow upon you His special favor to be able to observe
fasting and recite the Glorious Qur’an. Because the most unfortunate and
wretched one is the one who remains deprived from Allah’s pardon during this
great month. With your thirst and hunger remind yourself about the thirst and
hunger of the Day of Judgment; pay charity to poor and destitute, pay respect
to elders; be kind towards youngsters, and observe the bonds of relationship
with your kith and kin.
Watch your tongue, cover your eyes from seeing
forbidden objects and prevent your ears from hearing forbidden affairs. Be kind
to the orphans of the people so that the others are kind to your orphans.
Repent for your sins and at the time of prayer, raise your hands upwards,
because these hours are the best hours as Allah looks towards mankind with
Mercy and Compassion. Their hymns (reciting praise) are granted, their cries
are heard. Whatever they ask is bestowed upon them and their prayers are
fulfilled.
O’ people your selves are mortgaged against your deeds
and therefore, by means of repentance make yourself free. Your back has become too
heavy due to sins; by prolongation of prostration make yourself light-burdened.
Know that Allah has taken the oath of His Majesty and Splendor that He will not
punish those who offer prayers and bow down in prostration and on the Day of
Judgment will not scare them from Hell Fire.
O’ people! Whoever in this month will make
arrangements for the fast-breaking (iftar) for a believer, will be bestowed
upon the reward equal to freeing of a slave and all of his past sins shall be
pardoned.” He was asked: “O Prophet of Allah! But all of us are not in a
position to arrange for the fast-breaking of a fast observer.” The Prophet
replied: ‘Protect yourself from Hell Fire and offer fast-breaking even if it
happens to be a date with a glass of sherbet.”
“O’ people whoever makes his conduct better in this month,
on the Day of Judgment will be bestowed upon the permit for crossing over the
“Seraat”. Whoever opens the knots of difficulties of people’s affairs in this
month, Allah on the Day of Judgment will make the accounting of his deeds
easier.
Whoever makes people immune from his mischief, Allah
on the Day of Judgment will make him immune from His Wrath. Whoever treats an
orphan with respect, on the Day of Judgment Allah will treat him with honor.
Whoever takes care to strengthen the family bonds with relatives, Allah will
extend His Blessings upon him on the Day of Judgment, and whoever will cut-off
his family ties, Allah too will deprive him from His Blessings on the Day of
Judgment.
Whoever offers supererogatory prayers in this month,
Allah will register for his immunity from the Fire. Whoever performs an obligatory
deed in this month, will be bestowed the reward of seventy obligatory deeds
performed in other months. Whoever offers a lot of salutations (Salawat) upon
me in this month, on the Day of Judgment, Allah will make his balance of virtuous
deeds heavier. Whoever recites one single Ayah of the Glorious Qur’an this
month will be bestowed with the reward of finishing the entire Glorious Qur’an
in other months.
O’ people! The gates of Paradise are opened in this month;
beseech Allah that it should not be closed upon you. The doors of Hell are
closed, and ask Allah that they are not opened upon you. The devils are chained
in this month, ask Allah not to allow them to take over your control.
Imam Ali (a.s.) said: O’ Prophet of Allah, which one
is the best deed in this month? The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) replied: “O’
Abul Hasan! The most supreme deed in this month is the piety and renunciation
of the Divine Forbidden Acts.”
Reference:
Etiquette of the Holy month
of Ramazaan by Haj Mirza Javad Agha
Maliki Tabrizi (r.a.)
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