A Letter to a Dear One — Page 80
80 Letter to a Dear One with the certainty that He listens to prayers. That nothing is beyond Him. It should also be remembered that He is Lord and Master and is Most Compassionate and Merciful and accepts prayers but that He also has total control over mankind. Man does not always have the insight into the matter that a prayer he makes is truly beneficial for him or is detrimental in anyway. Allah is the Knower of the unseen, and is indeed aware of the conclusion and outcome of everything. At times, He does not listen to a certain prayer. His Mercy dictates that the particular prayer is not accepted because its acceptance is detrimental to the person who is supplicating. However, Allah does not let one’s sincerity go fruitless, if the prayer is made with true intention and sincerity then man always reaps its reward, no matter in what form. Therefore, man should neither try to test his Lord while praying, nor should he put conditions regarding his love of God. Fasting Along with sal ā t , another important form of worship is fasting. It is obligatory for each Muslim, apart from those exempted, to fast in the month of Ramadan. Apart from the fasting in Ramadan, one can keep optional fasts at other times. During the hours of fasting, as you know, food and drink and conjugal relations between husband and wife are forbidden. It is enjoined that during fasting in general and in the month of Ramadan in particular, one should pay attention to remembrance of God and study the Holy Qur’ ā n in abundance. If one is not regular in offering the Tahajjud sal ā t , then make a point to do so in Ramadan. One should try to curtail one’s worldly pastimes as much as possible during Ramadan , and to be particularly inclined towards charity and almsgiving, and to avoid wrangles and disputes. There are numerous blessings of Ramadan that require detailed description. However, I shall briefly explain a few factors. Human life is dependent on food and drink and the continuation of the human race depends on the marital relationship. While fasting, one refrains from them both. As if bearing witness to God that for His pleasure man gives up the factors upon which his very existence depends. Although this refraining is temporary, (the objective of fasting is not to wipe out humanity, but to reform and bless it) but this temporary sacrifice is presented as a covenant that if the need should arise, one will be ready