Ramadan

Ramadhan – Springtime of the holy Qur’an (2)

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In the Name of God, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate –

Salaam friends, and may God accept your fasting and all other acts of worship and devotion. We present you the 2nd episode of our special series this year titled Ramadhan – Springtime of the Holy Qur’an.

 

As we said yesterday, it was in the blessed month of fasting that God Almighty descended upon the heart of His Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), his Final and Universal Revelation for all mankind, the holy Qur’an. Thus Ramadhan is aptly called Springtime of the holy Qur’an. The heavenly scripture says in clear words that it was revealed on the Blessed Night, that is, the Laylat-al-Qadr or the Night of Grandeur when affairs are decreed for the year for the entire humanity – of which we will talk in our later programmes. Now we recite ayah 57 of Surah Yunus, which reads:

“O mankind! There has certainly come to you an advice from your Lord, and a cure for what is in the breasts, and a guidance and mercy for the faithful.”

In this ayah, God has termed the holy Qur’an as “Advice”, which means paying constant attention to virtue and goodness that soften the heart. Advice means friendly words to encourage someone towards piety, prudence, peace, and progress, and also to caution against things that are harmful. In other words advice when heeded cures many ailments of the heart and mind, such as jealousy, arrogance, ignorance, stinginess, pursuit of vain desires, hypocrisy, etc. The one who is free of such negative characteristics becomes receptive to the invitation of God to strive toward moral virtues, perfection, and all spiritual blessings that are vital in building the self and the society.

The Prophet’s First Infallible Heir, the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn (AS) asks believers to hold firmly to the holy Qur’an, calling it as the firm and unbreakable cord towards God, the manifest light of guidance, the remedy for diseases of the soul and mind, and the elixir of life that quenches the thirst for truthfulness of the seekers of guidance. He say that the holy Qur’an is without the least flaw, is always fresh, and the embodiment of truth, facts, and realities. This means that the holy Qur’an is the prescription guaranteeing the health of the believers and of the society of believers. As is evident, it was through recitation of the ayahs of the holy Qur’an Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) brought out pagan Arabs from ages of guidance and made them Muslims, or those who submit to God. The unmatched eloquence of the holy Qur’an coupled with the timeless wisdom of its words, convinced many, including Arab Christians and Jews, to acknowledge the universal truth of Islam.

Thus, Ramadhan provides us the opportunity every year to recite the holy Qur’an and contemplate on its ayahs, so as to firm up our faith, enlighten our mind, soothe our souls, lift up our spirit, and open up our hearts to the manifest truth. If only reason is applied, many ills of our own times could be removed, and Muslims, instead of fighting each other, on the orders of their enemies, in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and other lands, would avail of blessed Ramadhan to study the Qur’an establish Islamic fraternity among the Ummah. This is possible when reflects on the Sunnah or behaviour and practice of the Prophet and the dynamics taught to us by his blessed Ahl al-Bayt on the basis of the holy Qur’an.

Now we listen to ayah 20 of Surah Jathiyah, in which the holy Qur’an introduces its ayahs to mankind in the following words:

“These are eye-openers for mankind, and guidance and mercy for a people who have certainty.”

As is clear, the holy Qur’an was not revealed for any particular people or for any specific period of history. Its message is universal, for all people around the world, and for all humanity, irrespective of the superficial differences of colour of skin, ethnicity, class, languages spoken and places where they live. All humans without any restriction of time and place can listen to the ayahs, but the divine guidance and mercy are special for those who have certitude and have cleansed their hearts and minds of the pollution of evil. Therefore, those who are seeking the truth should take refuge in the Qur’an since its words open our eyes, hearts, and minds to the ultimate truth. That is the reason, ayah 4 of Surah Fath tells us regarding the strengthening of faith:

“It is He who sent down composure into the hearts of the faithful that they might enhance their faith.”

Faith means belief in God and His Messenger; it is a firm belief in which no doubt finds way. Certainly having faith and consequently tranquility in life are the signs of prosperity.  In this ayah, the holy Qur’an has referred to the great blessing that God has bestowed upon the faithful. Composure means tranquility and confidence and it keeps away and doubt and fear from human, making the believer firm.

source: irib.ir

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