24 Ramadan 1431

From Ramadan

O God, guide me in it (in this month) to do good.

And decree for me in it what I need and what I hope.

O Who has no need for explanations or for supplications,

O Knower of what is in the breasts of all the nations,

send blessings on Muhammad and on his folk, the pure ones.

Ramadan is coming to a close. There is less than a week left, and yet there is so much left to do. We begin with the self, the examination of conscience, review of habits and faults, and speculate on how to stand back and take charge of our lives. Next, we need to notice that we are not fasting alone. We seek to stand together against injustice even while we fast.

In traditional Islamic and Medieval Christian practical philosophies, the areas to which practical wisdom are applied were divided (following Aristotle) into three: the self, the family, and the community.

Today I have been thinking about the family. We fast together as families. Even those who are too old or too young or too sick to observe the formal rules of the fast are yet in some manner observant. There is the reading of the Qur’an, the gathering of iftār, prayers. We need to also be observant of the roles we play in our families, and to reform them, to break bad habits in our family relationships, and to develop good ones. As families, to we need to break the bad habits that we as families have and to improve ourselves as families.

The Prophet of Allah (ṣ) is reported to have said:

“The more one is faithful, the more one shows kindness to his spouse.”

Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 103, 228.

and

“Whoever is more well-behaved is more complete in his faith. The best among you is one who does good to his family.”

Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 103, 226.

and

“He is not one of us who possesses money but keeps his family away from his wealth.”

Mustadrak, vol. 2, 643.

Imam Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said:

“Whoever is our friend shows greater kindness to his spouse.”

Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 103, 227.

So, I pray, too, that I may improve myself as a son, husband, brother, and father, and grandfather (!), and that God and my family members may forgive me for my odius shortcomings in relation to them.

O God, I beseech You in it for that which pleases You,

And I seek refuge in You from whatever offends You,

And I beseech You in it for success in being obedient to You,

And never to sin against You, O Abundant Giver to those who ask!