 شكرا الله شكرا الله شكرا الله شكرا الله صلو على محمد وآله محمد نبدأ هناك محاولة التي نحاولة لها كما نعرف هناك الكثير من أسخحاتنا أصدقائنا في العالم الذين يحصلون على حياتنا ومن المتعجل أن المشاكل في سيريا يحصلون بشكل جيد ومن المتعجلون بشكل جيد أيها حلاتي ومن المتعجلون الذين يحصلون أسخحاتنا they are having to leave they are being sent far away some of them are under attack we know that they're having to take refuge أحضرنا بلنهاتنا for all those around the world in need and especially those in the أم مضطر إذا دعا ويكشفوا الصورة الله يا الله يا الله يا الله بفضلك وبرحمتك يا أرحم الراحنين السروات أريد أن أخبركم بشكل جيد للمساعدة لتساعدتنا على هذه المساعدة إنه يجب أن أكون هنا أريد أن أعمل في المساعدة as best as I can أن أعمل بشكل جيد للمساعدة سلو على محمد وقالي محمد الله سلو على محمد وقالي محمد عظم الله من الشيطان الرجيم بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله رب العالمين الحمد لله الذي هدانا لهذا وما كنا لنهتري لولا أن هدان الله والصلاة والسلام على أشرف الأنبياء والمرسلين خاتم النبيين سيد الممجر بشر المصدق المستفى الأمجد محمود الأحمد أبي القاسم محمد وعلى أهل بيته طيبين طاهلين المعسومين ولا عن الله ولا ظالمين من الأولين والآخرين أما بعد قال إمام زين والعابدين عليه السلام الحمد لله الذي جعل من تلك السبل الشهر شهر رمضان شهر الصيام وشهر الإسلام شهر الطهور وشهر التمحيس وشهر القيام الذي أنزل فيه القرآن ودن للناس وبينات من الهدى والفرقون سلوات أخذت شهر جميعنا أمام زمانة أصبحت أجمال أصبحت أخوات أخوات أمين سلام عليكم جميعا ورحمة الله وبركاته أرسل المرأة في نهاية خطبة قاموا بنا من المساعدة 44 صحيحة سجادية وخذتنا بنا امام زين والعابدين صلوات الله وصلام عليكم قاموا بكامل أقوموا بكامل رمضان قبل أن نتفعل ونتفكير هذا المساعد سأريك أن نتقوم بإمكانك أن ترسل فرقاتنا وأهتمامنا بسبب هذه الأن ونشاء الله سنخبرنا سنرى أمام سنقوم بإمكانك إلى أفتاح كما نعلم أفتاح كان لدينا نمائة ومامنا ومامنا عجر الله وطعاد فرق الشريف دعا افتتاة و this particular month. And considering its author the Imam of our time, what is its relationship between him and the particular words within this دعا. So insha Allah this will be our theme from tomorrow night for the coming weeks. During the day in our session in the afternoons after صلى الله عليه وسلم. Our discussion will be upon practical tools, practical techniques as to how to ponder upon the Holy Qur'an. You see we know that Qur'an has this line, this wonderful verse where it says افَلَا يَتَدَبْ بَلُونَ الْقُرْانَ. Do they not ponder upon the Qur'an? And there is much emphasis especially in this month that you and I when we read the Qur'an we don't just read the translation and the meaning but we try to ponder upon the words. We try to really delve into the ocean that is the Holy Qur'an. The question I pose rhetorically tonight is if I ask my brothers, my sisters, my youngsters, my youth, ponder upon the Qur'an. One question that is normally asked is well how do I ponder upon the Qur'an? What are the techniques? How do I build upon the thoughts that I have? And very importantly when I have a thought how do I know whether that thought is correct or not? How do I know whether my conclusion is a right conclusion? How do I reconcile these issues? And therefore these two topics, insha'Allah, allow us to explore two fundamental issues within this wonderful month. The Holy Qur'an and also Da'a hoping that we can really explore what this month is there for you and I to build upon for the rest of our lives. The Da'a that we recited as we stated comes to us from Sahifa Sajjadiyah and this is Chapter No. 44 of Sahifa Sajjadiyah. The one immediately after No. 45 is Imam's Da'a bidding farewell to this particular month. And therefore this Da'a is one that we find is unique because we do not have another month in the Islamic calendar which is both welcomed and also bid in farewell too. And therefore straight away we are encouraged to read this particular Da'a. Imagine our whole year is building up towards Shahr Ramadan. We look forward to this month. We realize that the blessings in this month are unparalleled. And therefore when the Imam, peace be upon him, provides us with a Da'a welcoming this month, it is almost to the point of obligatory. It is spiritually obligatory that tonight we ensure that we read this particular Da'a and find what treasures are in there from the words of the Imam in welcoming this particular month. In fact when we look at this particular Da'a we find that it is not just a supplication. It is not just seeking proximity towards Allah SWT. The words within this particular Da'a are an exposition of this particular month. It actually describes what this month is about. It describes its attributes. It describes our interaction with this month. It lists for us clearly what our intentions should be and which particular actions we should formulate within this particular month. Therefore the Da'a actually should be considered as a manual. When we say or Quran says to us that we have prescribed fasting upon you just as we have prescribed fasting upon those before you so that you have تقوى لعلكم تتقون. When we say what is this تقوى? How do I identify? How do I understand what this تقوى is? And the answer comes from us from this Da'a. If we want to realize what the objective of this particular month is, let the fourth Imam عليه السلام describe clearly what the actions are of this particular month. Let us now recite a few lines from this particular Da'a. Let us become acquainted with some of the gems that are within this particular Da'a. And then insha'Allah we will try to analyze one particular word within this supplication so that we see how the Imam himself brings this particular month to us. Let us start with the Sala'Allah محمد وعالي محمد. The Imam says all praise belongs to Allah. All praise belongs to Allah for having guided us towards his praise. And by virtue of us praising him he has allowed us to become aware of his blessings upon us. We have thanked him for what he has given to us. And by virtue of us thanking him he has allowed us to begin that path of being recompensed with the reward of the good doers. When I thank Allah تعالى it is because he has allowed me to thank him. He has made me thank him. The result of that thanking is that I am recompensed amongst those people who have been amongst the good doers. All praise belongs to Allah for he has favored us through his religion Islam. And all praise belongs to Allah who has favoured us with this religion and has guided us amongst his roads. And amongst those roads are this particular month. His month. Which month? The month of Ramadan. The month of fasting. The month of submission. The month of purification. The month of purging of the hearts. The month of standing at night in prayer. The one who has revealed the Quran in this month as a guidance for all mankind. And a distinguisher for us. This is the opening lines of the Da'a. As it continues. Imam A.W. now delves into the kinds of actions that he expects from us. As we said this Da'a is a manual for us. If we want to see how we act. We look at these particular lines. He says my lord. Employ me in this month. Make me work. Employ me in this month. In those things which will make you pleased with me. Do not allow my ears to listen to idle talk. Do not allow my eyes to become diverted. Do not allow my arms to be stretched forth towards that which is impermissible. Do not allow my feet to carry me towards those places which are unlawful. And do not allow my stomach to be filled with anything that you have prohibited. Now these lines. They're not just a Da'a. It's not just for us to recite them as a parrot. We have to engage with these lines. I'm genuinely asking for these things. This month when I'm sitting with my friends. When I'm sitting with my family. I do not delve into unnecessary idle talk. I train myself in this month. I train my family members, my youth, my children in this month. To elevate their thinking. To elevate what they want to participate in. And therefore this is why the Imam starts with these kinds of lines. He continues in the Da'a. My lord. I ask you that you help strengthen the bond of kinship. In Shaher Ramadan he's mentioning this. The month of Ramadan is to bring kinship close together. Strengthen that bond of kinship to the extent that I bring them gifts in this month. It's not just a phone call. It's actually going to partake with family members as much as possible. My lord. Let me interact with my neighbors. Imam continues. Let me interact with my neighbors as much as possible. He continues. My lord. I ask you. This is a line of Wasila. An outstanding line of Wasila. This is my lord. I ask you by this month. I ask you by the right of this month. And by the right of all those who have worshiped you in this month. And come close to you. Or it is a prophet who you have sent. Or it be a special human being whom you have picked from the universe. Be pleased with my actions. Help me to fulfill those things which I am supposed to fulfill within this world. And oh my lord. Make incumbent upon me the reward of the same person whom you have seen. Who is striving hard within this month. My lord. I may not be worthy. I know I fall short. I am a weak human being. I am trying. But I recognize that there are human beings who are exemplary human beings. I ask you by them. Because I can't reach their standard. But I ask you by them to fulfill that. And making incumbent upon me the same reward that you are going to give to them. Look at these lines from the Imam. And then he concludes with a wonderful again. Line which provides us with a clear direction as to what this month is really about. He says my lord. Help me to fast during the day. And to stand at night in prayer. Help me. Help me to achieve that. I am weak. I become tired. I have gathering. And the night comes. I curtail that gathering. If the gathering is going on. I have the strength to say. It is one and a half hours until Fajr. I bid you farewell. Please excuse me. There is a time when I fulfilled my social obligation. But there is a time where I am now in communion with my lord. Allah. Look at the line. Help me to fast in the day. But also help me to stand at night. I need your help to fulfill this within these nights. And therefore my lord. Help me to inherit. Paradise. Just like those true servants of yours will inherit. Peace be upon you. This is an extract. This is an extract from the دعاء. Number 44 of صحيفة السجادية. By a fourth Imam. It is a manual for you and I to engage in tonight. And every night. And insha'Allah we'll be able to review our own actions in accordance with this. And see are we fulfilling what the Imam has prescribed. In accordance with these particular words. The line that we stated in the Arabic. Is one of the opening lines in this. We want to analyze for a few minutes. Insha'Allah. Our master says. الحمد لله الذي جعل من تلك السبل الشهر. شهر رمضان. شهر الصيام. وشهر الإسلام. شهر الطهور. وشهر التمحيس. وشهر القيام. Our master says. All praise. All thanks belongs to Allah سبحانه و تعالى. Who has guided us amongst his roads. And all praise belongs to Allah. For amongst those roads is his month. Amongst the pathways to Allah is his month. Which month? The month of Ramadan. The month of fasting. The month of submission. The month of purification. شهر الطهور. وشهر التمحيس. وشهر التمحيس. شهر التمحيس means the month in which we are purged. What does purging mean? Purging is the equivalent to Tezquia. Tezquia is this purification. The process that takes place. So when I want to be purified from something. I need to be cleaned. Or when something becomes purified. If my cloth is nudges. Or it's dirty. I must clean it. And that purges it. From the najasat. From the stain. From the dirt. That is alongside the cloth. The Imam states that this month is the month of purging. The month of the purging of the heart. And therefore we need to understand what is this purging. Because when you look at it Quranically. It is a unique term. It is one which is profound in meaning. And can only be found twice within the Holy Quran. You find this word تمحيس and its derivatives. Only twice within the Quran. Both of them are insured on Imran. Between verses 140 and 155. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم. وليو محيس الله والذين آمن. ويمح قول كافرين. He wishes to purge those who believe. But he will deprive this blessing. From the unbelievers. Those who believe he will purge them. He will purge their hearts. He will make them clean. He will put them through this purification process. But for those who disbelieve. He will keep this blessing away from them. The next verse. That says the same word. The only verse. The second verse in Quran. That says this. وليبط لي الله. ما في صدوركم. وليو محيسا ما في قلوبكم. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says. That he tests the hearts. And having tested the hearts. If you are worthy of being purified. He will purify the heart. وليبط لي الله. ما في صدوركم. وليو محيسا ما في قلوبكم. The heart will go through a test. And at the end of it. Should you be successful. You will be purified. The question we must pose here is. Where are these two verses? What are these in context too? And if these are the only two times this word. تمحيس. And its derivative are found within Quran. What is the link between this. And this. When the Imam calls this. تمحيس. These two verses are found. Only in accordance with the battle of. أحد. Only in regards to the battle of. أحد. And therefore for the Imam. Who has absolute and profound knowledge. Of the Holy Quran. Who knows that these two verses. And these words are only linked. To the battle of. أحد. For him to utilize them. Describing. The month of. رمضان. There must be some relationship. Between these two. Otherwise he would have used a different word. The Imam. He is the inheritor of the Prophet. الله سبحانه وتعالى. Says. وما ينتقوا عن الهواء. إن هو إلا وحين. يوحى. He doesn't speak of his own whim. It is nothing except an inspiration. To him. For the Imam. To specifically use the word. تمحيس. For him to legislate. That this month. Is the month. Of. Of. تمحيس. And for it to only be found. Within the Holy Quran. Under the guise. Of the battle of. أحد. There must be something. Link. There must be a relationship. Between these two. Issues. What does. قرآن مجيد. Say about. The battle of. أحد. And what can we find. Within these. Very same. Verses. Of. إمران. That when we analyze. them. We can see there is a direct relationship. Between. Between. شهر مضان. And the battle of. أحد. As we know. The battle of. أحد. The second battle. In Islam. The Muslim came forth. And when they came forth. They were groups of Muslims. There were some. Who acted in certain ways. And some who acted otherwise. As they were. Engaging in the battle. The Muslims. Who are winning this battle. The Prophet had told certain people. To stay within their positions. Don't leave your positions. No matter what you see. Going on. Strategic. You are in an area. Which has to be there to defend us. Unfortunately. Certain Muslims. Became greedy. For material wealth. As opposed to the. Victory of Islam. Upon its enemies. And when they saw. This material wealth. They literally left. Their own posts. Ran down. From the. From the mountain. Leaving the rest. They army exposed. And as. Turn. What happened was. The enemies. Were able to come back. And slaughter. Many of the Muslims. They were three types. Of groups. Of people. Of Muslims. Who engaged in the battle. Of أحد. The first group. Was the group. That didn't even. Want to be present. In the battle. Of أحد. They were so hypocritical. Within themselves. That when the Prophet. Was calling people. To the battle. Of أحد. They preferred to stay at home. They didn't even. Want to get engaged. There was another group. Of people in the battle. Of أحد. When they were engaged. In the battle itself. Their purpose. Their intention. Was there. To gain material wealth. And then. There was the third group. Within this battle. They were there. For genuine reasons. They loved. To be there. To defend. Islam. They loved. To be there. To defend the Prophet. They loved. To be there. To attain that victory. And go through. They will prefer to sit at home. If you ask them. Would you prefer. To continue eating. And drinking as normal. Or would you prefer. To go hungry for 12 hours. They would prefer. Not even to engage. In شهر مضان. It's the equivalent. And then. There is the second group. Of people. Who they enter. Into شهر مضان. But they are just there. Physically. They are there physically. They will engage. They will stay hungry. And they will stay thirsty. But this is the maximum. Benefit. That will be rewarded. From this. The same way. That there was people. In the battle of أحد. Who were there physically. There will only be people. In شهر مضان. Who were there physically. But then. There is that third group. Of people. In the battle of أحد. Similarly. There will be that third group. Of people. In شهر مضان. They will love. To be in this month. They have been. Looking forward. To this month. Since. Last year. They have been. Counting down. They have been. Practicing fasting. For this time. They will engage. In recitation of Quran. They will engage. In recitation of Da'a. They will engage. In standing. In worship. In the night. And just like. Those people. In the battle of أحد. Who were successful. They were the ones. Who were perged. So will those people. In شهر مضان. Who also go through it. With their whole heart. Who also become. Perged. At the end of the month. It's exactly the same. For the Imam. To state. That there is. From this month. There is a similitude. Here. Between them. But here. There is further. The link. And the relationship continues. We find as we stated. That the Muslims. In the battle of أحد. And were challenged. To the very core. Of who they were. Imagine you're on the battle field. One minute. You're winning. This battle. The enemies are being defeated. You see them fleeing. But because of what others are doing. You see. That now the enemies. Is coming back upon you. Instead of you being. Victorious. All of a sudden. Your own companions. Are being slaughtered. Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Explains the reason for this. Within the Holy Quran. Why would I allow. I am Allah تعالى. I want my religion. Of Islam. To become established. I don't want defeat. In the battle of أحد. I don't want to draw. In the battle of أحد. Why would I allow. This. Circumstance. From victory. To defeat. To take place. Allah سبحانه وتعالى. In Quran. Says. I allow these days. I allow these days. To take place. Where the change. Of circumstance. Happens. For the reason. That I wish to see. Whom amongst you. Actually believe. I wanted to see. Those people. Who are in the mountain. And I wanted to see. What their faith. Was really like. I wanted it. To become. Manifested. And I wanted. Those people. In the battle of أحد. And I wanted. To see. What their faith. Was really like. I wanted it. To become. Manifested. And I wanted those people. In the battle of أحد. Who are fighting hard. And truthfully. And struggling. And I wanted to see. Their faith. Becoming. Manifested. Entire. أمة. So everybody could see. How hard they would struggle. In the same way. In شهر مضان. Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Knows. Who believes. He knows. Already. Whose heart is pure. And whose heart. He wants to purge. But he gives. A شهر مضان. For the same reason. He wants. To put us. In a state. Where he sees. Are struggling. And striving. Hard for his sake. He wants to see us. Go through those. Difficulties. So at the end of it. He can call. To his angels. And say. I recognize. By action. Those people. Who believe. They are recognized. By their own actions. Within شهر مضان. Continues. The Holy Quran. Continues. To describe. The event of أحد. And it continues. To give us. This parallel. To the events. For شهر مضان. And you. To get into. The Jannah. When Allah knows. Who is coming from you. From you. Do you think that you will enter into paradise. Until Allah has seen. And among those. Who is going to strive hard. And among those. Who is going to struggle in the battle of أحد. Again. Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Will I give you paradise. Just for physically. Being present in شهر مضان. Is it just. About the hunger and the thirst. لا يمكن أن تكون يا ربنا لأننا لدينا أولئين مننا who are eight and nine and ten who are just starting Shahramudan for the first time They are going through hunger and thirst. If it was just about hunger and thirst Then there will be no reason to purge the heart Allah سبحانه وتعالى wants to see who is going to strive hard within this month and make a change within the self To the extent that when Ahlul Bayt peace be upon them describe fasting And in describing the nafs they also make this link between Shahramudan and the battlefield itself For example our Holy Prophet of Islam Muhammad مصطفى صلى الله عليه وسلم Narrated to us said a soma junnah Fasting is a fortress for you Can you see how the Prophet himself is bringing in these military terminologies The theme continues A soma junnah That fasting is a fortress for you You will build up that fortress to the extent where your weakness is cannot enter anymore You have built up yourself The commander of the faithful علي ابن أبي قالب صلى الله عليه وسلم وعلي States ميدانكم أنفسكم Your soul is your battlefield ميدانكم أنفسكم Your soul is your battlefield In this month I will be tested Just like in أهد the Muslims were tested I will have to battle my own self The weaknesses I have brought with me in Rajab and Shaaban will continue in the Shahramudan I must fight hard strive hard in order to defeat those weaknesses If I am lazy in this month is the month to overcome them If in this month I listen to things I should not be listening to This is the month to purify myself from it If I look at things speak about things which I shouldn't This is the month of practice and perfection that I am gaining towards The Prophet when he was leading the battle of Badr Imagine the bodies are scattered He turns to his companions and he says Oh my dear companions congratulations be upon you You have just finished جهاد الصغير You are now entering جهاد الكبير يا رسول الله We have just been fighting with swords With spears We leave our companions and our family members On the battlefield bludgeoned to pieces What do you mean we have only been fighting the small fight This small this easy struggle Why now are you saying we are welcoming the larger struggle He says the easy struggle was this struggle on the battlefield The real struggle the hardest struggle is the one in here That is when you are put to the test That is what the difficulty is And that is what this month is about For the Imam to state That this is شحر الطهول وشحر التمحيس وشحر القيام He is giving us the depth of this month In a wonderful analogy He is saying that this is the month of purification This is the month of purging But the only way you will be purged Is the same way the مؤمنين from أحد were purged They strived struggled became worthy of being purged To exit this month You must also become worthy of being purged From those same weaknesses How do we do that How do we actually come across this There are so many of the دعاء that have come to us From our Imam and they have specified And they give us the clear secrets Of how to engage from this particular night onwards Our Prophet has a دعاء In مفاته الجنان He says my lord Oh Allah أرحن مي بلسيغز In the month of رجب إن شعبان Deliver me to the month of رمضان Deliver me Allow me to enter into رمضان Deliver me into the month of رمضان Help me in fasting And standing in prayer before you My lord Do not allow the only thing that I gain In this month to only be hunger and thirst If the Prophet is asking for this Imagine what we should be asking for And then there is that دعاء That we recited at the end Of دعاء افتتاه إلهي وقف السائلون بباب ولا ظل فقراء بجناب ووقفت سفينة المساكين على صاحر بحر جولك وكلمك إلهي إن كنت لا تغفر في حاض الشحر الشريف إلا لمن أخلص لك في صيامه وقيامه فمن للمذنب المقسل إذا غرك في بحل ذنوبه وآثامه إلهي ربها الصائمون وفاز القائمون ونجل مخلصون ونحن أبيد كل ملول My anchor The anchor of the ship Has now begun And has laid down its anchor At the seas of your mercy My lord In this month If the one who fasts and worships you Is the one who is successful Then what about me the sinner How will you judge me My lord The one who fasts Is the one who is gained The one who stands in prayer Is the one who is successful The one who is achieving sincerity Is the one who is achieved within this month And the one who is looking towards This is what this month is about When I look at my month And I assess where I was last year Within this month And I now look towards this month The question is Where was I last year And where am I this year How much have I moved spiritually Has my Quran improved Has my prayer improved Has my fasting improved And for me to judge I'm able to look Upon them And therefore I can use these As a means to assess myself There is an outstanding tradition That comes to us from The Holy Prophet of Islam He says In شحر مضال The شياطين are locked away And in شوال From the first of شوال The شياطين Their locks are opened This tradition Do I understand literally That in the unseen realm The شياطين are being locked And in the moment comes Allah says Unlock them now And they are allowed back into the realm of دنيا Is this how I understand it literally Well here the question is posed Around the world There is a different first of شحر مضال In London it's going to be one day Here it's somewhere else So for me Are the شياطين locked for me in Africa But the rest of the world are unlocked until tomorrow Is that what the tradition means It can't mean this There must be more to this tradition What it means is In شحر مضال By virtue of my own struggle By virtue of my increase of Qur'an By virtue of my increase in دعار Increase in standing and prayer Engaging in the fast As it's supposed to be If I am the one who locks the شياطين That have been circling me And at the end of شحر مضال If I am the one Who does not continue the recitation of Qur'an If I am the one who has not Gamed anything from those fasts If I am the one who does not continue Recitation of دعار Standing and prayer I am the one who unlocks my own شياطين To come and encompass me again From the first of شحر مضال I am the one in control I am the one who locks the شياطين And I am the one who is capable Of keeping them locked For the rest of the year Until شحر مضال next year This brothers and sisters is شحر مضال As how our fourth Imam describes it It is that month of Where we enter into this month With our weaknesses Let us tonight Take stock of ourselves We will have time for برازة We have the whole month We have time for sports We have the whole month Tonight being the first of this month Let us take half an hour Bring a pen and pad before you sleep Assess ourselves What weaknesses do I have What things would I like to improve Of myself within this month And make this the target From this night on And continue this month As we mean to go on Insha'Allah tomorrow night We begin our series Which is the discussion A commentary of دعا افتداء And Insha'Allah from Tuesday afternoon Insha'Allah we will begin Our series in the afternoons Which is practical techniques Towards pondering upon the whole day of Quran And Insha'Allah we will sit together And learn from each other And benefit maximum from this particular month Please raise your hands And let us pray the hour together We ask you Allah And we ask you to hasten The reappearance of the awaited senior We ask you Allah To allow us to be alongside him At all times in our life And in our death If we have to pass away from this world Before we see his coming Raise us from our graves To be alongside him We ask you Allah There are many people around the world Who are in such a dire need There are places Which are going through war Which are going through security And victory We ask you Allah Help us in this month fast As you have ordained for us to fast We ask you Allah in this month Help us to increase Our servitude of you And understanding of the Quran We ask you Allah To forgive our sins The sins of our parents And we ask you Allah For the opportunity to die in the love of Muhammad سبحانه وتعالى