The Glorious Ramadan

Bismillahirahmanirahim

Beloved Companions,

The glorious month of Ramadan enters tonite at sunset.  May it be the best Ramadan ever for each of us and for all of us as the Community of Nur Ashki Jerrahis, as the Ummat of Rasulallah, saws, and as members of the sacred human family

Allah the All Merciful showers Mercy upon all beings during the Ramadan whether they are aware or unaware. The gates of the fire of essential negativity are shut, the negative energies are chained and the gates of Mercy are open wide. Anyone who seeks forgiveness and guidance is forgiven and guided. Anyone who asks is answered. Anyone who desires is fulfilled. Allah runs to us. Allah embraces us. And the Beloved shares intimacy with those who desire intimacy.

Fasting is prescribed in the month of Ramadan for those who are at home and not in ill health.

What are the blessings of the fast?

It is a means for opening doors of knowledge that we would not attain except through great difficulty, if at all. It takes us immediately to Allah. “The fast is for Me.” It moves us from independence to dependence on Allah. It takes us to our root of absolute servanthood. It removes our arrogance and pride. It helps us to be grateful for all of the super abundance of blessings which Allah continuously pours upon us and of which we are normally unaware and ungrateful for. It moves us from distraction to focus. It moves us from distance to nearness. It moves us from body to spirit. It refines us and clarifies us. It beautifies us. It protects us from the fire of our own negativity and from dangers without. It clears out the year’s accumulation of veils and heaviness and helps to eliminate blockages that we have had in our body and souls for years and even generations. It brings health and healing to our bodies and extends our lives. It blesses us and our households and neighbors and our parents and ancestors. It blesses the earth.

Imagine the potential blessing of one billion people fasting for a month. All these and many more are realized through the fast.

And yet, as powerful as the fast is, the Ramadan is not just constituted by the fast. The original blessing of the Ramadan is the Quran, embodying the knowledge, both outer and inner mystical knowledge, and true guidance for human beings. The Quran is the form in words and sound and meaning of the original heart, soul and intellect of Rasulallah, saws, and therefore of each of us who are created on the original pattern, the manifest essence of Allah.

The Ramadan is the month in which the blessed Quran originally descended from its exalted station of Essence to the heart and conscience of Muhammad, salallahu aleyhi wa sellim. Or we can say that it was revealed from within the Nur Muhammad and descended to the earthly consciousness of Muhammad, saws, and to the consciousness of humanity.

Reading one thirtieth of the Quran every day is a beautiful form of worship and a great source of learning. If you can do this please do so. Or simply listen to it everyday. Or read portions of each Jus (the division into thirty parts) every day. Remember that the essence of Quran and all the holy books is La ilahe ilallah. Another way to imbibe the Quran is to recite ceaselessly La ilahe ilallah Muhammadan rasulallah.

“And praising Allah is the greatest.”

Any sincere offering that you make in the Ramadan is fruitful. Any restraint of the limited self is rewarded.

Here are some suggestions for our Community.

Fasting:   the complete fast of water and food from about an hour before sunrise to sunset

Modified fasting: drinking water or clear liquid without food

Offering a full fast but beginning slightly later in the day.

If you fast please remember to ask Allah to make the fast easy for you and for the Ummat. “Allah desires ease for you and not difficulty.” Surah 2 Baqara:185

Continue calling on the Most Merciful of the Merciful!

Quran:  reading the entire Quran, one thirtieth every day, or reading portions of the Quran as much as you can absorb

Reading Heart of Quran

Reading the Morning and Evening Wirds every day as they are essences of the Quran and that is why they are so beneficial

Salat:  Offering the Tarawih of 20 extra rakats after the night prayer but before the Witr salat (the 3 rakat prayer that seals the night salat)

Offering a Tarawih of 12 extra rakats

Tasbih: Offering continuous La ilahe ilallah Muhammadan Rasulallah

Sadaqa:  Offer charity of food to those in need. This is actually one of the ways that the Quran says one may compensate if one does not fast. But it goes on to say that, “Fasting is better for you if you only knew.” Surah 2 Baqara:184

Dear Companions,   This is just a list of basic actions that are part of the month of Ramadan.

The main act is to seek nearness to Allah, through our inner yearning and through what Allah asks of us. One of the ways to come near to Allah is to serve Allah’s family. So please find your self in service, both through prayer and through outward acts of help.

Insha’allah more contemplations will follow. For now this is sufficient.

May the Ramadan bless you and humble you and exalt you and make you blissful and flowing with divine inspiration and love. May it serve to illumine and guide the heart of humanity. May it help to bring peace.

Fariha Fatima al Jerrahi