Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Supplicating to the Almighty

The holy month ofRamadhan is a special time for supplicating to Allah.Dua , or supplication, is especially encouraged. Believers spend a lot of time in this month praying to the Almighty, asking for their needs of this world and the Hereafter. Apart from the recommendedduas for the nights and days of this blessed month, weare told to be in a constant state of prayer anddua .

The followingAhadith show the importance ofDua in the month ofRamadhan :

• Supplicate (inRamadhan ) with your hands raised at the times of prayer, as these are the best of times during which the Almighty looks at His servants with mercy. (He) answers if they supplicate, responds if they call, grants if they ask, and accepts if they entreat.

Holy Prophet (S)

• Pray and seek forgiveness more frequently in the month ofRamadhan . Prayer wards offmisfortune, and forgiveness cleanses your sins.

Imam Ali (a)

What isDu`a ?

Dua is a simple acceptance of the difference between the existences of God and the human being.

-The existence of Allah as the source of all good, perfection,independence and bestowal.

-The existence of the human being as a vessel of poverty, need, dependant on constant bestowal and favor.

Thus the human being needs to ask for and receive the favors of the Almighty. He is in constant need for what only Allah can give Him. To help him achieve his dreams, to give him success and happiness in this world and the Hereafter, he needs the favors of Allah.

The Almighty God, in His mercy and love for the human being, has allowed believers to ask from Him, and has promised to answer them. This is a great favor of God. The followingQur'anic verses show how Allah invites believers to ask from Him:

• “And when my servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the supplicant when he calls upon Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me, that they may walk the right way.” (2:186)

• “Call unto Me, I will answer you. Those who are too proud to worshipMe will enter Hell.” (40:60)

• “Call your Lord humbly and secretly, He loves not the transgressors.” (7:55)

• “And call on Him, fearing and hoping, surely the mercy of Allah is near to those who dogood .” (7:56)

ManyHadith also emphasize the importance of supplicating to Allah:

• “Du`a is the weapon of the believer, and the pillar of faith, and the light of the heavens and the earth.”

Holy Prophet (S)

• Know that He who owns the treasures of the skies and the earth has permitted you to pray to Him, and has promised you acceptance of the prayer. He has commanded you to beg of Him in order that He may give you, and to seek His mercy in order that He may have mercy on you.

• He has opened for you the door of repentance.Therefore whenever you call Him, He hears your call, and whenever you whisper to Him, He knows the whisper. You place before him your needs, unveil before Him yourself, complain to Him for your worries, beseech Him to remove your troubles, seek His help in your affairs, and ask from the treasures of His mercy what no-one else has the power to give, namely long life, health of body,and increase of livelihood. Imam Ali (a) Letter 31,Nahjul Balagha

Allah loves the believers who ask from Him, and supplicate constantly. The Holy Prophet (S) has said that on the Day ofJudgement , two men with very similar deeds will enter Heaven. One of them will see that the otheris granted a rank above him. He will askAllah: “My Lord! We have the same actions. Why have you preferred him over me”? Allah will reply, “He asked fromMe , and you did not”.

ImamJa` far as-Sadiq (a) often encouraged his companions to ask from Allah. He once said toMaysar , hiscompanion : OMaysar ! Supplicate, and do not say the affair has been destined.Surely there are ranks with Allah which cannot be reached except through asking. If the servant (of Allah) closes his mouth and does not ask, hewill not be given anything, so ask and you will get. OMaysar , the door thatis knocked often is most likely to open.

Dua is a great tool given to believers by Allah. Usingdu`a they can achieve great things and overcome many problems. One who has been given the power ofDua can never lose hope, as in his hands lies a great weapon. It is man's own loss if he does not make use of the tremendous potential ofDu`a .

Effects ofDua

Pleases the Almighty

Allah loves that believers should pray to Him constantly. He says in the HolyQur'an: “Allah would not care for you were it not for your supplications.” (25:77).Ahadith also tell us of how Allah loves those who pray and ask from Him:

• “God loves nothing better than that His servants ask from Him.”

Imam al-Baqir (a)

• “Supplicate, for there is nothing likeDua to get you closer to Allah, and do not leave out your minor needs, for the One who is the Master of the major needs is also the Master of the minor ones.”

Imam as-Sadiq (a)

Gives Peace and Contentment

A person who prays to Allah, putting all faith and trust in Him, never feels alone or lonely. He has harnessed his own insignificant power onto a being who is the Supreme Power, and who has promised to answer His call. This gives him great peace of mind. It makes him confident that with the help of Allah, all thingscan be done . He knows also that whatever happens to him is the decree of the Wise, the almighty. Says the Holy Qur'an:

“Those who believe and whose hearts are set at rest by the remembrance of Allah, surely by Allah's remembrance are hearts set at rest.”( 13:28 )

Increases Knowledge and Humility

Mostduas teach us about the greatness of Allah, and His qualities. They also make us aware of our lowly position and our helplessness. That is why Allah says:

“Call unto Me, I will answer you. Those who are too proud to worshipMe will enter Hell.” (40:60)

Those who do not ask from Allahare described as the proud ones. Believers are encouraged to pray all the time, and for all things - eventhose which seem minor. Allah once toldNabi Musa (a), O Musa! AskMe for everything, even the mending of your shoelace. When a human being realizes that he is in constant need of the favors of Allah, this will prevent him from becoming proud and arrogant. It reminds him of his own neediness and poverty.

Changes what is destined

Du`a reverts what has been destined. Although Allah decrees all things, He has given us the ability to make changes throughDua . The Holy Prophet (S) hassaid: What is destined cannot be averted except throughDua . AnotherHadith says: Indeed caution cannot save you from what is destined, but what can save you from it isDua .

Imam `Ali( a)

Averts Difficulties

“Many problems and difficulties in life can be avoided by praying to Allah. He is in complete control, and can keep away all afflictions from those who ask Him for that. The followingAhadith explain the importance ofDua for avoiding difficulties: Whoever fears difficulties shouldsupplicate, Allah will never let the difficulties come to him. Imam as-Sadiq (a) SurelyDua meets the difficulties, and the two join together until the Day ofJudgement .”

Imam al-Kadhim (a)

Etiquette ofDu`a

As we spend more and more time recitingDuas during the holy months of Rajab,Sha`baan , andRamadhan , it is necessary to know the correct etiquette ofDua . Supplicating to the Almightyshould be done in the appropriate manner - in the manner that Allah loves - in order to benefit fully from it. The following are some of the Etiquette ofDua according toHadith .

Begin withBismillah : AHadith of the Holy Prophet (S) says: Nodua which hasBasmalah (saying ofBismillahir Rahmaneer Raheem ) at the beginning of it is rejected. Adua should begin in the name of Allah, putting all trust and hope in Him alone. Describing Him as Kind and Merciful creates confidence that thedua will not be rejected .

Send Blessings on Muhammad and his family: AHadith of the6th Imam (a) says: Whoever has a wish he wants Allah to fulfill, let him begin with blessings on Muhammad and his family, then let him ask his wish, and end by sending blessings on Muhammad and his family. Allah is nobler than to accept the first and the last (the blessings) and reject the middle.Salawat is adua for the Holy Prophet (S) and his family. Whoever includes thatdua is assured of the acceptance of hisdua for himself.

Praise and Glorify Allah: EveryDua should begin with the praise of Allah, the recognition that He alone has the Power and Might over everything. A supplicant increases in his humility as he acknowledges the greatness of the Almighty. He realizes that everything is in the control of God, and if He wishes, thedua can be accepted and answered immediately.

Acknowledgement of Sins: When supplicating to Allah, one should be aware of and confess that one is a sinner, undeserving of the favor of Allah. Humility and apprehensiveness are commendable qualities in the one who supplicates.

Pray emotionally: Allah says inHadithe Qudsi toNabi Isa (a): O Isa! When you ask from me, supplicate to me the supplication of the grief stricken, the overwhelmed,the one who has no helper . and do not supplicate to Me except in an emotional state. Your grief should be only one. Whenever you pray toMe in such a way, I shall answer you. A soft heart and tears are the best weapons of a human being in his quest to achieve nearness to Allah. When one prays emotionally, theDua is very sincere and acceptanceis assured .

Pray for others: Whoever prays for others pleases the Almighty greatly. AHadith of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a)says: Nothing is more swiftly answered than aDua recited for others. According to the Holy Prophet(S), theDua of a believer for other believersis returned to him as many times as the number of believing men and women from the beginning of creation to the Day ofJudgement .

Have confidence that Allah will answer yourprayers : When praying, the supplicant must have trust that Allah will answer his prayers. AHadith says, Whenever you reciteDua , assume that what you need is at the door.

Du`a is always answered

Whoever asks something from Allah, hisdu`a is always heard and answered. Sometimes itis not answered in the way the supplicant expects. Nodu`a is rejected. Allah is more noble than to tell His servants to ask from Him, and then reject theirdu`a . ManyAhadith tell us of how Allah always answers the supplicant, and is pleased with Him. Abeliever who prays and asks from Allah, is guaranteed one of three things:

• Either hisdu`a is answered immediately

• Or heis given a reward for it for the Hereafter

• Or a difficultyis averted from him

During the month ofRamadhan , believers tryand spend as much time indu`a as possible. This is the month in whichdu`a carries even greater reward than usual, a month in which the mercy of Allah guarantees immediate acceptance ofdu`a .

Exercises

The following are some examples of what children could do as they study the importance ofdua . Teachers can choose to study a specificdua , encourage students to compose poems, write essays, or even write a play on the effectiveness ofdua on daily life.

1. Write a story of someone who was in a great difficulty. Show how faith in Allah anddua helped the person. Explain the change in emotional and mental state after supplicating to Allah, and entrusting Him with the problem.

2. List ten things you usually do each day for which you could ask help from Allah. Remember thatdua is not only for major problems. Even simple everyday taskscould be improved greatly with the help and support of the almighty.

3. Read the section fromNahjul Balagha where Imam Ali (a) advises his son aboutDu`a in Letter 31. Write in your own words how you would use that section of the letter to advise one of your friends.

4. Choose one of the whisperedduas (Munajaat ) fromSaheefa as-Sajjadiyyah to read and ponder over. What does Imam say which makes hisduas very effective? What do you understand about the relationship Imam has withAllah.?

Seeking Forgiveness from Allah

The holy month ofRamadhan is an excellent opportunity to have one's sins forgiven. Allah's blessings and mercy are so abundant in this month that anybody who truly repents init, becomes as free of sins at the end of the month as when he was born. It is a glorious chance offered to us by the Almighty, a chance to cleanse and purify ourselves from the filth of sins and evil. The Holy Prophet has advised believers: O people . your back is breaking under the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate yourself before Him (inRamadhan ) for long intervals, and make it lighter.

It is a proof of the love of the Almighty that each year he gives us a chance to clean our record and make a fresh start. Contrary to those who think that Allah is strict and harsh, that He will punish us as soon as we err, Allah gives us many chances to undo the wrong we have done towards Him. The month ofRamadhan is the best of these chances. All theduas for this month teach us to plead for forgiveness and deliverance from the punishment. One who recites theseduas sincerely, and is truly repentant,is assured of forgiveness.

The Holy Qur'an says about seeking forgiveness:

• “And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord, and a Garden the extensiveness of which is the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who guard against evil.” (3:132)

• “And whoever does evil, and oppresses his soul, then seeks forgiveness of Allah, he will find Allah to be Forgiving, Merciful.” (4:110)

• “Will they not turn to Allah and seek His forgiveness, and Allah is oft-forgiving, Merciful.” (5:74)

The followingHadith talk beautifully and eloquently onIstighfar (seeking forgiveness):

• Fortunate is the person who finds in his record of deeds a lot of seeking forgiveness.

Holy Prophet (S)

• The similitude ofIstighfar is like the leaves on a tree. The treeis shaken , and the leaves fall off.

ImamRidha (a)

• Fragrance yourselves withIstighfar so the stench of sins does not disturb you.

Imam Ali (a)

• Seek forgiveness abundantly, for Allah has not taught you how to seek forgiveness except because He wishes to forgive you.

Holy Prophet (S)

Necessity ofIstighfar in the life of a believer

When Allah created the human being, He gave him the faculty of good and evil. The human is free to choose his actions. He can decide to do a good deed, and stay on the right path.Or he can decide to do an evil deed and disobey his Lord. He has two sides to him; the intelligence and conscience that guide him towards good, and the evil soul that invites him to do wrong. The status of the human being with Allah depends on the type of actions he chooses to commit. The record of deeds he commits in this world will determine his end, whether in Heaven having earned the pleasure of Allah, or in Hell, deserving of the wrath and displeasure of Allah.

What happens when a human being sometimes chooseswrong, submits to his evil soul and ignores the dictates of his conscience? Is he doomedto forever carry the burden of that sin? Knowing that human beings were prone to slip, Allah in His immense mercy and wisdom, has opened the door ofIstighfar for His servants, the door of seeking forgiveness after a sin. So whoever commits a sin, but repents and wishes he had not committed it, and knows that he will not do it again - at least will try never to repeat it again - can enter that door, and have the sins erased from his record.

Istighfar is the weapon of believers against theShaytan who tries to lead them into Hell through inviting them to sin. According to ahadith of the Holy Prophet (S),Iblees declared to Allah that he would continuously try to lead humans astray so long as they were alive. Allah answered that He would continuously forgive them so long as they sought His forgiveness.

The best time to seek forgiveness is during the early hours of the morning before dawn. That is a very special time, when allduas are accepted. The Holy Qur'an describes the believers as those who seek forgiveness at the time of dawn.

The holy month ofRamadhan is a time when there is a general amnesty for sinners. Allah invites the sinners to come and seek His forgiveness. This is an opportunity that must not be missed, forno-one knows if he/she will be alive for the next year. When a criminalis told that the government is issuing pardons for those who seek it, to commemorate a happy event, he will jump at the chance to avoid punishment. He can save himself years in jail, a lot of misery and torture, by seeking pardon. It isa golden opportunity which no sensible person would miss. Similar is the case of the sinner who has disobeyed his Lord. He is a criminal, and when Allah offers a special pardon, the sinner seizes the chance. He would like to erase his sins and relieve himself of the burden of disobedience.

Conditions ofIstighfar

It is important to note that to seek forgiveness, and then continue committing the same sin, is a sin in itself. It is wrong to mock and deceive oneself into thinking that one can seek forgiveness without having a firm intention to quit sins.That kind ofIstighfar is a mockery, and will earn the displeasure of Allah. The followingAhadith clearly illustrate the evils of that type of attitude:

1. Seeking forgiveness but continuing to sin, is a new sin.

Imam Ali (a)

2. One who seeks forgiveness for a sin, and does it, has mocked his Lord.

Imam Aliar-Ridha (a)

3. The best way of seeking forgiveness is through regret and avoidance (of sins)

Holy Prophet (S)

Once Imam Ali (a) heard someonesaying: Astaghfirullah . Imam told him: Do you know whatIstighfar is.Istighfar is meant for people of high positions. It is a word that stands on six meanings:

1. To repent over the past.

2. To make a firm determination never to repeat it.

3. To discharge all the rights of people so that you may meet Allah quite clean with nothing to account for.

4. Tofulfil every obligatory act which you ignored (in the past) so that you may now do justice with it.

5. To aim at the flesh grownas a result of unlawful earnings, so that it may melt by grief (of repentance) till the skin touches the bone and a new flesh grows between them.

6. To make the body taste the pain of obedience as you previously made it taste the sweetness of disobedience.

On suchoccasions you may sayAstaghfirullah .

Exercises

1. Let the students familiarize themselves with the Arabic words:Ghafar , al-Ghafur ,Istighfar . Write the Arabic as well as the English equivalent. Older children could write and memorize some of the relevant verses andhadith onIstighfar .

2. Choose ahadith to work on. Thehadith could be displayed with illustration on a board, written in calligraphy, use cut out letters, felt etc. to make a decorativehadith .

3. Write an essay on one of the following:

•Shaytan's reaction upon finding out thatIstighfar is allowed and encouraged for believers .

• The difference between our record of deeds withIstighfar , and withoutIstighfar .

• The story of a person's regret on the Day ofJudgement when he sees his record devoid ofIstighfar while the records of others shine brightly because ofIstighfar .

• How seeking forgiveness constantly helps us stay away from sins and be closer to the Almighty.

Eighteen reasons why a Muslim Fasts

Every year the month ofRamadhan comes and goes; every year we fast, yet without proper appreciation of the potentials of character building that the fasts hold for us. We find ourselves as spiritually backwards after the fast are over as when the month began. Infact our lack of knowledge of the real objectives of fasts often tends to produce an adverse effect in us, for, as is well known, the best of medicines could have ill effects if not taken in accordance with the physician's directives and instructions.

Thus it is, that the fast tends to make many of us irritable and quick tempered (expecting, as we do, VIP treatment from others, especially our subordinates and family members because of our fast) while the fast was in fact meant to mellow us into exhibiting the finer tracts of human character as illustrated by our Imams.

ImamZaynul Abidin (a) would record the lapses of his servants during the month ofRamadhan , without telling them anything at the time. As the month would draw to its close, he would gather the servants before him and apprise them of their mistakes, for giving them at the same time and beseeching the Lord to forgive him, even as he had forgiven them. The holy Imam,Masoom that hewas, only sought by this practical demonstration to draw attention of his followers to the fact that they would be accountable to God for their actions and should they desire His forgiveness, they would have to forgive their subordinates as well. This practical lesson taught by the Imam ought tobe rigorously pursued during the month ofRamadhan by the followers of the Imam.

As in this case, so in other spheres of life, our attitude to fasts ought indeed to be radically changed. We ought to welcome fasts as a practical means of reforming ourselves rather than nearly consider them as an inevitable religious bondage, eagerlyawaiting to free ourselves there from at the month end to resume our ways of old again.

Besides of course being a means to acquiring the pleasure of God, for which all acts of devotionare basically meant, fasting could be used as a stepping stone to build up the various traits of character in accordance with the clear injunctions of the Qur'an itself that fasts have been prescribed with a view to developing piety in man.

In the hurry and bustle of the present day life, man often finds himselfill-equipped to battle through life's odds if he is not equipped with the proper attitude to face the various problems. While we find ourselves frustrated or look to other directions in such difficulties, we have most unfortunately overlooked the character building force that the fasts provide us every year.

Ramadhan is a month of fasting and prayers for the Muslims. The fast consists of total abstinence from food and drink from dawn to dusk. There is however, a greater significance to fasts than mere abstinence from eating and drinking. The real objective of fasts is to inculcate in man the spirit of abstinence from sins, and cultivation of virtue.Thus the Qur'an declares that the fasts have been prescribed with a view to developing piety in man. Howare the many facets of piety sought to be cultivated through fasts? This article tries to list as concisely aspossible, the various benefits the fasts would confer upon Muslims.

1.The most important consideration in undertaking a fast, as in any act of devotion, is to seek nearness to God, and seek His pleasure and Forgiveness. Thisitself generates a spirit of piety in man.

2. Creating the conditions of hunger and thirst for oneself, simply in obedience to the Divine order, measures the faith of man in God and helps strengthen it by putting it to a severe test.

3. Fasting enhances through creation of artificial non-availability, the value of the bounties of God which man often takes for granted. This inculcates in man a spirit of gratitude and consequent devotion to God. Nothing else can bring home to a man the worth of God's bounties than a glass of water and a square meal after aday long fast. This also reminds man that the real joy in enjoying God's bounties lies in moderation and restraint and not in over indulging.

4. Fasting makes us deeply conscious of the pangs of hunger and discomfort suffered by the less fortunate among our brethren. They have to put up with difficult conditions all through their lives. It thus kindles in man a spirit of sacrifice leading to change towards his suffering brethren.

5. Fasting givesman an unfailing training in endurance, a spirit of acceptance. This could well prepare him to put up with the unchangeable situations in life in the same spirit of resignation as cultivated during the fasts.

6. Fasting develops courage, fortitude, and a fighting spirit in man to surmount the heavy odds in life with a cool and tranquil mind. It sharpens his power of concentration to overcome obstacles through a vigorous exercise all throughout the month, leading to a steeling of his will power andresolve, that could help him in challenging situations in life. It is seen than many an undesirablehabit which is difficult to give up, is more easily given up during the days of fasting.

7. Fasting teaches man reliance on God, and confidence in Him. Just as the vigorous state of fasting for a whole monthis undertaken with His assistance, bitter situations in life could also be surmounted with His help.

8. Fasting develops a spirit of patience in man, with the realization that the days of fasting, though seemingly unending, do have a successful and happy end. Thus is life. All bitter situations pass, andcome to an end .

9. Fasting is meant to conquer anger and develop self-control in man. The vigorous effort requiredto put up with hunger and thirst can well be extended to conquer other infirmities of human character that lead man into error and sin.

10. Fasting inculcates a spirit of tolerance in man to face unpleasant conditions and situations without making his fellow beings the victim of his wrath. Many people, when facing discomfort and deprivation, become irritable and annoyed. This angeris then vented on those around them. Fasting helps a man become more tolerant despite his own discomfort.

11. Fasting mellows a man and enhances his character, giving a jolt to the human instincts of pride, haughtiness, jealousy and ambition. Fasting softens his character, and clears his heart and mind of many negative emotions.

12. Fasting exposes the weakness of man in the event of his being deprived of two basic bounties of God; food and drink. It infuses into him a spirit of weakness and submission, generating humility and prayer in an otherwise arrogant being.

13. Fasting breathes the spirit of forgiveness in man towards others, as he seeks God's forgiveness through fasts and prayers.

14. Fasting gives lessons in punctuality. Man has to adhere to a strict schedule of time in the observance of the fast.

15. Fasting could affect the economy of the individual as he is less wasteful on food and meals.

16.Fasting demands a rigid sense of discipline, mental, spiritual and physical. This formscharacteristics which are an essential ingredient to success in life.

17. Fasting creates spiritual reformation in man, infusing him with a spirit of enthusiasm and zest to change and become a better human being in the eyes of God. This is an excellent opportunity, given to believers each year, to change themselves and consequently their destinies.

18. On the physical side, fasting cleanses the human system of the accumulated impurities of uninterrupted eating throughout the year. It prepares the body to face diseases or conditions of scarcity. The rigid abstinence of a fast regulates man's health, sharpens hisintellect and enhances the qualities of his heart.

Fasting is thus a bounty in itself, encompassing within itself many bounties. It instills a spirit of reformation in man, creating a wide awakening in him tofulfil his duties towards God and man, and towards himself.

(Adapted from an article byMarhum Ahmed SheriffDewji , published in the Light Magazine)

Sympathy for Others

The month ofRamadhan teaches us how it feels to be poor and hungry. ManyAhadith expound the philosophy of fasting as a blessing from the Almighty so that one becomes aware of the hardships of the poor and the needy. A fasting person acquires the virtues of empathy for others, feels for them when they go through hunger anddeprivation as he has also tasted the pain of it through fasting. It is easy for those who have abundant supplies of everything they need, to overlook and underestimate the pains of the less fortunate. The pangs of hunger felt by the fasting person are a reminder.

ImamJa`far as-Sadiq ( a) says:

Allah made fasting incumbent to make equity between the rich and the poor. A rich man does not feel the pains of hunger to have mercy for the poor since he is able to obtain whatever he likes. (By enjoining fasting) Allah wanted to put His creatures on an equal footing by making the rich taste the pain of hunger, so that he may pity and have mercy on the hungry ..

Conditions of the Poor and Needy around the world

Many people around the world live in dire poverty, with very little means to overcome the misery they live in. Young childrenare forced to live under extremely miserable conditions. They have to struggle daily to get food, many have no homes or shelters, and some have to join the work force to earn for their families. For such children, childhood as a period of carefree days filled with play and laughter is non-existent. Toys, delicious food, new clothes and all the other luxuries taken for granted by many of us, are all unattainable dreams.

Helping Others

It is the duty of those who are fortunate in terms of material wealth, to help the less fortunate in different parts of the world. Thiscan be done by sending aid to various charitable organizations that look after the needs of the poor in countries like India, Iraq and others.

There are manyQur'anic verses that call for spending money in the cause of God:

“The parable of those who spend their wealth in the Way of God is that of a grain of corn. It grows sevenears , and each ear hath a hundred grains. God gives manifold increase towhom He pleases. God cares for all, and He knows all things. For those who spend their wealth in the Cause of God, and follow not up their gifts with reminders or with injury, their reward is with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”( 2:261­,262 ).

God explains that the money we spend in His Cause will be doubled and multiplied for us, and that this will be profitable for us both now and in the Hereafter. The only condition,however, that God sets for the attainment of this reward, is that the benefactor should not remind those who receive his support of his benefaction to them.

The Qur'an urges people to acts of charity and makes it attractive to believers by describing charity as a goodly loan. He says:. “Who is he that will lend God a goodly loan, which God will double unto his credit and multiply many times?It is God that gives (you) Want or Plenty, and to Him shall be your return” (2: 245).

God shows extreme kindness by making charity a sort of goodly loan paid to Him. It is the needy who ask for loans, whereas God, toWhom “belongs the dominion of heavens and the earth, and all in between”, is not in need of a loan from His creatures.But the mode of expression is set in this form mainly to attractbelievrs into giving charity, thereby securing a means for the poor to achieve what they need, and for the more fortunate to achieve the pleasure of Allah. The benefit of this loan goes back to human beings themselves, and they enjoy the fruits of it in this world as well as in the Hereafter. Such is the mercy of Allah.

The Qur'an also describes the spending of money in the Cause of God as a profitable trade that benefits its owner on the Day of Resurrection:

“O you who believe! ShallI lead you to commerce that saves you from a grievous Penalty? You should believe in God and His Apostle, and should strive (your utmost) in the cause of God, with your property and your lives. That will be best for you, if you but knew” (61: 10­11).

ManyAhadith also talk about the benefit of helping others:

• Charity keeps away from itsgivers, the heat of the grave, and on the Day ofJudgement , the believer will be in the shade of his charity.

Holy Prophet (S)

• Allah smiles at the person who stretches out his hand to give charity, andwhoever Allah smiles at is forgiven.

Holy Prophet (S)

• Guard yourselves from the fire (through charity) even if by a date, for surely Allah will raise it (cause it to grow), just as one of you raises his foal . until it becomes greater than a huge mountain.

HolyPropeht (S)

An important point to remember is that thewealth which human beings enjoy actually belongs to Allah. The Qur'an continuously brings men's attention to the fact that wealth is only God's, and that man is no more than a proxy of God in supervising it; consequently, man shouldnot disobey God regarding the trust put under his charge. “Allah is the Owner of heavens and the earth: To Godbelongs the dominion of heavens and the earth” (3: 189). “And it is God Who provides sustenance to all people: Is there a Creator, other than God, to give you sustenance from heaven or earth?” (35: 3).

Peopleare requested to spend of the wealth that God has bestowed upon them, on those who do not have it. The fact is that wealth is not theirs, for they act only as representatives whohave been assigned by God to manage it: “Spend (in charity) out of the (wealth) whereof He hath made you heirs” (57: 7). “And spend something (in charity) out of the wealth whichWe have bestowed on you, before Death should come to any of you and he should say, 'O my Lord! Why didYou not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the righteous” (63:10).

Being Grateful to the Almighty

Just as fasting teaches us to sympathize with the poor and the needy, it also teaches us to be grateful for all the blessings of the Almighty we enjoy. The food and wholesome drinks so abundantly available are great blessings of God. Because we have themeveryday , we do not realize their importance.But when we are forced to restrain ourselves while fasting, we understand the importance of having enough to eat and satisfy the pangs of hunger.

The Holy Qur'an says:

“And whoever is grateful, he is grateful for his own soul, and whoever is ungrateful,then surely My Lord is Self-sufficient, Honored.” (27:40)

“Nay! But serve Allah alone, and be among the thankful ones.” (39:66)

The followingAhadith also talk about the importance of being grateful:

• The first of your obligations to Allah is to thank His favors, and seek His pleasure.

Imam Ali (a)

• Every breath you take requires thanks, in fact a thousand thanks, and more.

ImamJa` far as-Sadiq (a)

• No-one knows a favor except the one who thanks, andno-one thanks a favor except the one who knows.

ImamHasan al-Askari (a)

Exercises

1. Choose a country that has recently undergone a tragedy (war, earthquake, hurricane etc.). What happened to the people there? Imagine you were living there. Write a short essay on how you would feel if you had to go through the misery there.

2. Read the following paragraph from the bookRisalatul Huqooq by ImamZaynul Abidin (a): The right of charity is that you know that it is a storing way with your Lord, and a deposit for which you will have no need of witnesses. If you deposit it in secret, you will be more confident of it than if you deposit it in public. You should know that it repels affliction and illnesses from you in this world and it will repel the fire from you in the next world. Explain this in your own words. According to this paragraph, what is the best way of giving charity? What three benefits of charity does Imam mention? Now write down the points Imam makes in this paragraph.

3. Read the translation ofDua no. 44 fromSaheefa as-Sajjadiyyah . What does Imam say about charity in the month ofRamadhan .

Ramadhan

Lo! Here once again is the blessed month ofRamadhan

Onceagain some of us find it difficult to fast

Onceagain we are fortunate to hear theAdhaan

Onceagain we could try and do better than last

O Companions, this month comes but once a year

Wake upmy friends let us make it ever dear

Fasting is good for health ,it chastens the mind

Beware Muslims! This glamorous world is making you blind

Remember the Holy Qur'an! Our book of guidance

The blessed Prophet received it this month, yes

It contains Laws, thoughts that make it ever radiant

Lo! It emphasizes fasts and prayers to keep us out of mess

O you who believe! Are we to neglect the words of Almighty Allah?

No, no, it should not be, come on Muslims, let us face theKaaba

Forget the pie, forget the drinks,let them lay

Fasting is but a few hours a day

O ye faithful! Leave aside smoking, vices

This isRamadhan , clean your hearts of vanities

Fast, pray, remember Allah and recite the Holy Book

Allah is Merciful, yes, He can give us all a new look.