10.5. Comments About the Sense and Perception Among Solid Bodies
Perhaps acceptance of the above might be a little bit difficult for some,
and they may say: is the month a human being with awareness and a friend
with feelings, so that we must say farewell to it? They should read
whatever Sayyid ibne Tawoos has mentioned in his book Iqbal in order to
find their reply, and if they do not like
his reply, should ponder about the following explanation:
( 183 )
It must be understood that time, place, and other lifeless
phenomenons, although in this world are
life-less and in their solid state
do not possess intelligence and
awareness, nevertheless, in accordance with very explicit testimonies
of plenty of traditions, which speak about the psychic and next world, as
well as on the basis of spiritual contemplation reported by many gnostics,
all of them are possessed with life, awareness,
intelligence, speaking, friendship, and
enmity etc., in some of the worlds far beyond these material worlds.
Because all these phenomenons of this
world do possess an existence in other worlds — the worlds whose
existence, was created much before the
creation of this material world as well as extends far beyond the
boundries of this material world. Also, each phenomena in one of the worlds
of creation possesses special features and commands in accordance with the
requirements of that particular world of creation, which differs with the
features and commands of other worlds of creation.
And the specialities of some of the
worlds of creation are that whatever there exists — is alive, aware,
and alert — because, that world is the
world of life, awareness, and intelligence. In accordance with some of
the traditions, such is the world of Hereafter, the fact which is not
very far away from the words of Holy Qur'an:
"
Lo! the home of the Hereafter—that is life, if they but knew."
—the Holy Qur'an (29:64).
Here, we will refer to some of the traditions
which indicate the same point as follows:
A. The traditions which mentions about speaking of the fruits of the Paradise.
B. The traditions which say that the thrones and couches of Paradise feel
happy when the dwellers of the Paradise sit upon them.
C. The traditions describe that the earth speaks to believers and
( 184 )
unbelievers, and if they do not listen these words it is because of the
reason, that earth's speaking is due its
celestial existence, and not because of its material existence.
D. The speaking of stone pebbles upon the Holy Prophet's (S.A.W.)
hand is relevant to the same phenomenon. Of course, speaking of stone
pebbles was also due to their celestial existence and the Prophet's
(S.A.W.) miracle was to enable the
material ears to listen speaking of a celestial being.
E. Also, it is because of the same reason that everywhere, a prophet,
imam, or saint through miracle has made a dead alive, or enabled him to
speak, like the staff of Prophet Moses (A.S.), and the bird of Prophet
Jesus (A.S.), whose lives were
celestial, and Allah (the glorious, the exalted), in accordance of
His wisdom, made this celestial life — which is hidden from the sight of earthly
creatures — manifested upon them, as the famous Iranian mystic poet Molana
1 has composed these elegant verses regarding this matter,
as follows:
____________
1— Molana:
Molana Jalaluddin Muhammad (604- 672 A.H), son of Muhammad bin Khatibi
famous as Bahauddin was the most famous scholar and mystic poet of Iran.
Also his father was great scholar and mystic of his time. He received his early
education under the tutor ship of his learned father, and later on after his father's
demise, continued his studies under the famous scholar Burhanuddin Mohaqeq
Tirmizi. The later encouraged him to pursue his higher studies at
the prestigious Literary Learning Center in Damascus.
Molana met with Shams Tabrizi in 642 A.H. This meeting has a tremendous
upon him, and brought a great spiritual revolution in his personality.
His most famous mystical poetry works are:
1. Mathnavi, consists of six volumes, containing 2600 verses of poetry,
describing the religious and gnostic sublime realities in a simple language.
2. Divan-e-Kabir, consisting of 50,000 mystical verses is another
literary mystical masterpiece left by Molana [Tr].
( 185 )
"
The world is depressed, because it conists of inanimate
objects (solid bodies),
And inanimate objects solid bodies are depressed.
Wait! till the sun of the Day of Judgment arises,
Then you will see the actions of this material world.
Since, the staff of Prophet Moses (A.S.) turns here into a dragon,
It becomes a news for the creatures of this world.
These things are dead here, but are alive in the celestial world, They are silent
observers here, but would speak over there. Because, the orders were
issued from that side,
That staff turns in to a dragon for us.
So do the hills sing hymns in harmony with Prophet David (A.S.). And the toughness
of iron changes in to wax with the touch of his hands.
The air provides transportation for Prophet Solamon (A.S.), While the ocean
speaks eloquently with Prophet Moses (A.S.). The moon responds to Prophet
Muhammad's (S.A.W.) indication, While the blazing fire turns into rose
garden for Prophet Abraham (A.S.).
( 186 )
The earth swallows Korah (Qaroon) like a snake,
While the wood pillar (ustan-e-Hanana) in the
Prophet's Mosque laments for Prophet Muhammad (S.A. W.).
The stone pebbles salute the Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W.), While the mountains communicate with Prophet Yahya (A.S).
We the (solid bodies) see, hear, and are aware,
But with you strangers, don't communicate.
Because, so far you earthly creatures —are
entangled within the materialistic
boundries,
How could you become intimate with our soul?
If you move beyond this material world
towards the celestial world, You will then hear the uproaring of the various
constituents of the universe.
— Mathnavi 1008/3
With the above explanation it becomes
explicit that time, like other life
less solid bodies in some stages of their existence possesses, sense,
awareness, and intelligence, and from this consideration it is possible to
speak, share intimate feelings, and say
farewell to him.
Yes! At the time of farewell and parting
with the Holy month of an), it is
Ramadhan showsimportant, that the one who does farewell says good
bye, and grief and regret, because of his
parting and separation, should also
possess this worthiness and decency of saying farewell and good bye to
him, as well as should be honest and sincere, in expressing his grief
and sorrow. Otherwise, Allah forbids he
would farewell such a dearest month during such a dearest night with lie,
discord, and dissimulation. But the
worthiness and decency of farewell
belong to some one, who has
accompanied him because of his own desire, friendship, love, and
attachment, from the beginning till the end of the month.
And now when this month is parting with him, it is natural that he
should say farewell. But the one who had
accompanied this month because of
reluctance, compulsion, and being compulsory, as well as the one who
by trampling requirements of this month
has shown his severe opposition.
are those, who in reality were not the accompanying friends of the month,
( 187 )
and now they will be acting to say farewell;
because parting and farewell looks beautiful and elegant only when it
is done by sincere friends.
Also, expression of regret and grief
could be true only for them, because so far one does not desire love
and company of some one or some thing,
naturally, he would not feel regret and grief from their departing
and separation; on the contrary the one
who loves, the company of something or some one, would never
trample the manners and etiquettes of
the friendship, and would never do a thing, which could be regarded as
opposition to his beloved; rather would
endeavor with all of his strength,
that whatever he does should be nearer
to his beloved's desires and
objectives.
Therefore, if you were indeed happy with
the arrival of the Holy Month of Ramadhan, enjoyed worshiping and
fasting, strived your best for their
performance, believed in their merits, esteem, and greatness the way
it aught to be, now here, when this month is parting from you, it is quite
natural, that this would be hard upon you, making you sad and aggrieved.
Here it is that in this parting, if you say: the following:
Farewell! a my fellow companion whose presence was
blessings and rewards,
and whose parting is full of grief and regret. "
In this farewell you indeed would be truthful sincere, and if you look
towards Allah (the glorious, the exalted), and saying:
"
Oh Allah! We do farewell to some one,
whose farewell and separation is indeed
hard for us, this pain has broken our hearts, and this separation has
made us lonely and has engulfed our souls with regret and grief "
Then you
would be honest and truthful in your prayer and supplications. But
Allah forbids, if in parting with the Holy Month of Ramadhan and in
complaining at his departure you, uttered the sentences as mentioned
above by tongue, while deep inside your heart, were not very happy
with his arrival, were not very eager for fasting and worshiping,
were sad during his stay, and were not sad from his departure, don't
you feel scared that the Holy Month may respond, regarding your
( 188 )
parting words as lie and nonsense and may say: 'don't you feel
ashamed of your words?' Were you not the one who did not like my company
and considered it as hard? Were you not the one, who acted so naive and
turned down my blessings, bounties, gifts, and rewards when I offered
them for you? Were you not the one who neither came for my welcome
because of your love and eagerness nor accompanied me due to friendship
and honesty? Were not you the one who desired for my departure, and
now although from the tip of your tongue you are reciting the eulogies of
separation, nevertheless deep inside your heart —you are rejoicing?!
Don't you feel scared that Allah (the glorious, the exalted), too,
instead of accepting your supplication might turn His face away from you,
or because of your breaking the bounds of His reverence through false
supplications and lying with the tip of your tongue, might punish you? Oh
you poor destitute, the looser who has entangled himself into degradation
and wretchedness, by wasting the
Lord's blessings and bounties! What would you do, and how horrible
condition would you be in, if Allah (the
glorious, the exalted), scrutinized you for your crime of lying in
supplications, and punished you for your
sin of hypocrisy and discard! Would you have an answer for your Lord?
Would you have a path for your rescue?
Therefore, if you recognize correctly
Holy Month of Ramadhan, know its
merit and worth before Allah (the glorious, the exalted), discover
its blessings, generosity, bounties, and
rewards with respect to yourself; then you will find this month like
an exalted and benevolent guest, who has
came to your home, only for a few days, so that it could release you from
Hell, could take your hand, thus, carrying you along with him,
towards the most superior and most sublime spiritual positions, making you
neighbors with the prophets, angels,
righteous saints, and ultimately leading you even to sit in front of
Allah (the glorious, the exalted), Himself, how would you encounter with
such a guest ? And how much would you be pleased in
accompanying and escorting him? Would'nt
you be taking good care of him
during his presence? And wouldn't you be pleased from being
benefited from the pleasure of his
company? Wouldn't you be sacrificing upon him your heart and soul?
Wouldn't you regard his presence as
( 189 )
extremely pleasant and dearest, and his separation as extremely painful and
bitter?
Yes! If you appreciated
correctly the reverence of the Holy Month
of Ramadhan, you will treat him like the above guest; at the time of his
departure would feel in this
manner; while saying farewell to him your condition would become
similar to Imam al-Sajjad's (A.S.); the way you
would be saying farewell to him, the
Holy Month of Ramadhan too would
be saying farewell to you in elegant manner: the way you would be feeling
sad and full of grief, he too
because of your separation, would be in grief;
because, the kindness and generosity of
exalted ones towards the smaller ones, are far greater than the love and
friendship of smaller ones towards them.
And for those, who had mixed and varied
affairs during this month, i.e. sometimes, they felt happiness in
their heart for Ramadhan's arrival, were happy and pleased in his company,
paid respect towards his worth, merits,
and excellence, were benefited from his blessings and bounties,
saturated their souls from his
illuminations, and over all acknowledged his rights the way they aught to
have been. But occaisionally some of the times
forgot them, acted in a manner which was not proper for this month, or
even by performance of indecent deeds violated the reverence of this month.
It is up to them that in this last night should make their best endeavors,
should open their tongue for apologizing with truth and
sincerity; in order to indicate their regret, apology, repentance, and
request, should do whatever they can, and in this manner should
compensate for their shortcomings and negligences shown towards their noble
guest, thus, making him contented and pleased. Because, his is an
exalted guest who has been sent by Allah
(the glorious, the exalted), near us for goodness, blessings, prosperity,
rewards, and not for inflicting loss and damage. Therefore, from this
consideration he is so exalted that if we open our tongue for pardon,
and sincerely indicate our feeling ashamed and repentant — he will
certainly accept our excuse and would overlook our unfair actions.
( 190 )
10.6. How to Farewell the Holy Month of Ramadhan
It would be appropriate to open the tongue for an excuse as follows:
Oh Allah (the glorious, the exalted)! Through this noble month you did
a great favor upon us and bestowed a great blessing, but alas, we did not
appreciate his worth, and by wasting this golden opportunity have oppressed
our own selves, that you know about the dimensions of this calamity more than
others. Oh Allah (the glorious, the exalted)! Now that the Holy month has reached
to the end and we would not longer have his blessed days and nights at our
disposal; the wind of your blessings has blown towards us and awakened us from
the deep sleep of ignorance; now we have realized that how much dearest one has
been lost; with this loss, what terrible calamity we have
inflicted upon our self; Now, we don't know any other way, except to look towards
you; we admit our mistakes and wrongs which we have done to ourselves; that we
have lost this great generosity — feel sorry, that we have remained empty-handed
from all those bounties — shed tears with grief; now, who else is there except you,
who could rescue us from this loss, and could treat this scare of intense
grief from our hearts, and could lighten the burden of sins and regrets,
which is so heavy upon our souls?
Oh Allah (the glorious, the exalted)! Inspite of our bad condition,
wretchedness, deviations, and indecencies, we discovered that you have
not forgotten and abandoned us to ourselves, has not released us in
ignorance and negligence, and has not closed the doors of repentance upon
us; otherwise, you would'nt have made us aware of our mistakes and
losses. Therefore, there is room, not to be disappointed from your
generosity, not to turn off our eyes from your blessings and bounties, not
to remain empty-handed from your kindness, because, no one becomes
hopeless from you except unbelievers, and no one except loosers close his
eyes from the threshold of your magnanimity.
( 191 )
Therefore, oh my Lord! You are so exalted, magnanimous, and
acceptor that you accepted the magicians
of the Paraoh's court, accepted
his own prayer, and even did not returned empty handed, Satan — —
Your's worst servant. For the sake of
reverence of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), please do accept me in this
night, grant my prayers, change my
wickedness into many fold goodness, delete my name from the list of
loosers and those who have sufferd severe
damages, by entering it in to the
list of righteous and prosperous ones,
and bestow upon me the companionship of your most favorite saints.
Oh my Lord! My sinning, deviations,
indecencies, boldness, and immodesty have blackened my face, for the sake of
the illumination of the Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.), and his Holy Progeny
Ahlul Bait (A.S.),
please
look upon me with your generosity, and
let me allow to sit under the
shadow of your blessing. Oh my Lord! This is the month of Your feast,
You Yourself don't like that a host should act miserly in treating his
guests, even if this hospitality would result in a loss for the host. But oh
Allah (the glorious, the exalted)! Whatever You increase in Your benevolence
and hospitality (towards Your guests) —
You have bestowed it upon Your own domain and kingdom, but if You
deprive me from Your hospitality I would be left out hungry while sitting
upon your table-cloth.
Yes! It is up to such a person to see
off this month through performing
a perfect repentance with — truth and sincerity, keeping in
mind never to repeat the sinnings,
deviations, and transgressions committed by him in the past.
10.7. The Last Day of the Holy Month of Ramadhan
At the end of the last day of the Holy Month of Ramadhan — the
day of presentation of deeds — it is up to us to seek refuge with
impeccable ones
M'asumin (A.S.) — i.e. the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)
( 192 )
and his Holy Progeny
Ahlul-Bait (A.S.), and the
one, to whom that particular day belongs — resort
(tawassul)
towards the threshold of their generosity, through our best
conduct in accordance with all the codes and
etiquettes; should keep our self engaged
into supplications, while resorting and communicating with them,
should utilize such phrases and
sentences, and should indicate such humility and abjectness, thus arising
their sentiments, so that they
could look at -us with love and kindness;
could extend the shadow of their
generosity and could pour upon us the
rain of their love and benevolence. Then
with apology and excuse, we should present our deeds of the month of
them; with humility we must beg and
request them, that through their prayer and intercession should make
our deeds as good ones, should keep them
immune from defects and
calamities, should request Allah (the glorious, the exalted), that for the
sake of His Own exaltedness may accept them, as well as may multiply
them many fold with reward and goodness.
If we perform the last day's deeds in the state of prostration, end the
Holy Month of Ramadhan while hungry and
prostrating, entering into the
night of Eid ul-Fitr, it could be genuinely expected that we will be
benefited from Allah's blessing,
kindness, and generosity far beyond than our imaginations.
The End
A request from the Translator
Dear Readers! Please recite a Surah
al-Fatihah for
my
deceased
father,
who
left this
transient world in the Holy Month
of Ramadhan in the year 1976, thanks.
