Salaams and Good Day !
Here is today's edition of wisdom from the Quran:
By the Grace and Mercy of the All Compassionate, we are fortunate to witness another Ramadan, the month of mercy and
blessings.
Ramadan continues the practice of many great faith traditions of the world which encourage fasting and keeping away from distractions of the body as a way of elevating and enlivening the spirit.
During this sacred time, this "Spiritual Prime Time", many of us begin to pause and start reflecting on what really matters. We turn our attention away from the material and towards the spiritual, we begin to focus on our self growth and then reach out to family, friends and to those in need. This sacred time is an opportunity for us to pause, to turn inwards, take stock of our lives and how we live them and adjust our direction if needed.
Ramadan has been called the spring of the soul. Just as seeds planted in the ground begin to awaken and grow in springtime, the spiritual environment during this sacred time is optimal for the seeds of human and spiritual potential within us to awaken, grow and bear fruit. One of the best fertilizers in this springtime of the soul are the words of the Holy Quran. The wisdom of the Quran is timeless soul food. It has been called the "healing for the hearts" and has the potential to revitalize our hearts and souls and mend the brokenness that we may be experiencing.
So as is our yearly tradition, let us pause, and reflect on a verse from the Holy Book every (week) day. The focus is not an academic or esoteric understanding. Instead, let us discover together how we can live the timeless message of the Quran in the 21st century.
Today, let us briefly remind ourselves about the purpose of fasting.
In verse 2:183, the Quran says: O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain God consciousness.
The ultimate purpose of fasting then, is not a mere abstention from food and drink. Rather it is the development of taqwa, God-consciousness. The development of a quality of being awake in the world. The nurturing of an inner strength, a super energy which develops our self control so that we can live consciously and aligned with our ultimate purpose rather than fall prey to momentary passions and desires.
Keeping away from food, drink and other prohibitions during this month is simply the entry pointto developing this internal energy, this God consciousness. Imam Ali (as) talked about these higher levels of
fasting and said: "Fasting of the heart is better than the fasting of the tongue; and fasting of the tongue is better than the fasting of the stomach."
So as we feel the hunger pangs and the thirst this Ramadan, let us reflect on what it means to fast to achieve this quality of consciousness, to fast with all of our organs including our heart.
Can we fast with our tongues so that our speech is nothing but beneficial? Can we purify our hearts to the extent that they contain nothing but the love for the All Merciful, and by extension, for each other? Can we purify ourselves from the deceptions of our Ego until nothing but Truth remains?
And help us to fast in it by restraining our limbs from disobeying You and by employing them in that which pleases You so that we lend not our ears to idle talk and
we don’t let our eyes easily glance towards diversion, and so that we stretch not our hands towards the forbidden and stride not with our feet towards the prohibited, and so that our bellies hold only what You have made lawful and our tongues speak only what You have exemplified, and so that we undertake nothing but what brings us close to Your reward and pursue nothing but what protects us from Your punishment! (Dua Welcoming Ramadan, from Sahifa Sajjadiya by Imam Zainul Abideen)
Ramadan Kareem to you and yours.
Wishing you a day full of spiritual up liftment, positivity, purpose and peace.
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