Issue No: 207
25th July 2014
26th Ramadhan 1435 A.H.
Bidding farewell: an emotional moment:
One of the emotional moments in life is when one is departing and is bidding farewell to a loved one or one with whom you have visited and spent some enjoyable time; be it for work, leisure, family or social purpose. You would feel somewhat heartbroken at this departure. This would be an emotional moment for all. In these instances some of the parting conversations you would have would be to recount to the host wonderful moments you had enjoyed being together, appreciate the cordial hospitality offered to you, look forward to visiting again and other words of bidding farewell.
Similarly the host would acknowledge the joy of having you, providing the hospitality, pray for your safe journey and even invite you to visit again next time. Further it is common that the host would request you to inform of your safe arrival and insist that you do not get out of touch, but to remain in close communication. These final requests would be repeated as the host waves you goodbye…….
During this blessed Shahru Ramadhan we are being hosted by Allah SWT and are abundantly partaking the Divine banquet of Sawm.
By undertaking Sawm(restraint) from the muftiratas sawm – nullifiers of fasting- one has undertaken a huge change in daily life as compared to the other months. By undertaking Sawm we have been provided with a wonderful opportunity to keep a leash on our tongues from uttering what should not be spoken, guard our gaze from what is not permissible to be seen, refrain from hearing the forbidden, protect our limbs from carrying out evil and above all to train ourselves in improving our nature. At the same time increased recitation of Qur’an, duas, acts of charity, compassion and meeting the needs of others, seeking istighfar and tawba are undertaken. Above all one strives to improve one’s conduct.
Jum’atul Wida : Last Friday of Shahru Ramadhan:
Today is the last Friday of this blessed month of Ramadhan. We are now drawing closer to the culmination of the Divine Banquet of abundant Blessings and Mercy which we have been enjoying as guests of Allah SWT.
A number of people are preparing for the Eid ul Fitr celebrations. At the same time we are doing earnest prayers to Allah for the acceptance of our various deeds undertaken during this blessed month.
In these departing moments when the guest bids farewell to the host:
Are you recounting to your Magnanimous host, Allah SWT, the wonderful moments you had enjoyed to witness Shahru Ramadhan?
Do you appreciate the cordial hospitality offered to you?
Is your bidding farewell an emotional one like one departing from a beloved?
Are you looking forward to spending personal time again with your host?
Do you feel/hear /sense your host, Allah SWT, is enjoining you, “Be safe (practise taqwa), do not get out of touch, but do always remain in close communication. I am always by your side whenever you call upon ME?....”
Bidding Farewell:
Sayyid Ibn Tawus and Shaykh al-Saduq have both narrated the following:
Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari visited the Messenger of Allah on the last Friday of Ramadhan. As he saw me, he said, “Jabir: This is the last Friday of Ramadhan. You should thus bid it farewell by saying the following:
The Noble Prophet has recommended to bid farewell by reciting:
???????? ?? ????????? ????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????? allahumma la taj`alhu akhira al`ahdi min siyamina iyyahu O Allah: (please) do not make it the last of our fasting in this month;
?????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ??????????? ??????????. fa-in ja`altahu faj`alny marhuman wa la taj`alny mahruman but if You decide so, then (please) make me enjoy (Your) mercy and do not make me deprived (of it).
Verily, anyone who says this supplication will win one of the two good things; either attaining the next Ramadhan or having the forgiveness and mercy of Almighty Allah.”
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat