Ramadan - introduction

It's not only fasting....

• The Sermon Given By The Prophet (s) On The Last Friday Of Sha'ban On The Reception Of The Month of Ramadan 
• Ramadan: The month of Mercy
• About Ramadan
• Form of Spiritual Purification 
• Daily Ramadan Dua's 
• Eid-ul-Fitr (Id al-Fitr)
• The holy month of Ramadan 'resource portal on Ramadan'

Fasting in the month of Ramadan, like Namaaz (prayers) is a divine command. Allah says in the Holy Quran, "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil)." (2:183)

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About Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar and the holiest of the four holy months. It begins with the sighting of the new moon after which all physically mature and healthy Muslims are obliged to abstain from all food, drink, gum chewing, any kind of tobacco use, and any kind of sexual contact between dawn and sunset. However, that is merely the physical component of the fast; the spiritual aspects of the fast include refraining from gossiping, lying, slandering and all traits of bad character. All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of thought and action is paramount. Ordained in the Quran, the fast is an exacting act of deeply personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of God-consciousness. The act of fasting redirects the hearts away from worldly activities, towards The Divine.

The month of Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. The fasting is intended to help teach Muslims self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity. It also reminds them of the suffering of the poor, who may rarely get to eat well. It is common to have one meal (known as the Suhoor), just before sunrise and another (known as the Iftar), directly after sunset. This meal will commonly consist of dates, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him. Because Ramadan is a time to spend with friends and family, the fast will often be broken by different Muslim families coming together to share in an evening meal.

Ramadan derives from the Arabic root: ramida or ar-ramad, meaning scorching heat or dryness. Since Muslims are commanded to fast during the month of Ramadan, it is believed that the month’s name may refer to the heat of thirst and hunger, or because fasting burns away one’s past sins. Muslims believe that God began revealing the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan (in the year 610 C.E.). The Qur’an commands: “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint…Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting... (Chapter 2 verses 183 and185)   Fasting during Ramadan did not become an obligation for Muslims until 624 C.E., at which point it became the third of the Five Pillars of Islam. The others are faith (Shahadah); prayer (Salah); charitable giving (Zakah); and the pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj).

Another aspect of Ramadan is that it is believed that one of the last few odd-numbered nights of the month is the Laylat ul-Qadr, the “Night of Power” or “Night of Destiny.” It is the holiest night of the holiest month; it is believed to be the night on which God first began revealing the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Jibril (Gabriel). This is a time for especially fervent and devoted prayer, and the rewards and blessings associated with such are manifold. Muslims are told in the Qur’an that praying throughout this one night is better than a thousand months of prayer. No one knows exactly which night it is; it is one of God’s mysteries. Additionally, Muslims are urged to read the entire Qur’an during the month of Ramadan, and its 114 chapters have been divided into 30 equal parts for this purpose.

When the first crescent of the new moon has been officially sighted by a reliable source, the month of Ramadan is declared over, and the month of Shawwal begins. The end of Ramadan is marked by a three-day period known as Eid ul-Fitr, the “Festival of Fast-breaking.” It is a joyous time beginning with a special prayer, and accompanied by celebration, socializing, festive meals and sometimes very modest gift-giving, especially to children.

When Ramadan ends, Muslims give charity in a locally prescribed amount, calculated to feed one poor person in that region for one day. This is known as fitra, and is meant as another reminder of the suffering endured by many. Many Muslims also take this occasion to pay the annual alms which are due to the poor and needy, known as Zakah (2.5% of assets).

At the beginning of Ramadan, it is appropriate to wish Muslims “Ramadan Mubarak” which means “Blessed Ramadan.” At its conclusion, you may say “Eid Mubarak.

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Form of Spiritual Purification 

It was reserved for Islam to formulate and perfect a form of spiritual purification for every one of its followers, notwithstanding the state of society they belonged to, and which could be performed without interfering with their normal avocations and callings in every day life.

Whatever calling or vocation he is engaged in, does not hinder a Muslim from carrying out this annual requirement of the Faith, the fast of this month of Ramadan, which incidentally, is also one of the five cardinal points of Islamic tenet.

The Muslim fast means a complete abstention from eating or drinking between daybreak and sunset. The sighting of the thin sickle of the new moon of Ramadan heralds for the Muslim the beginning of a month of glory and of spiritual elevation, when, at Allah's command, he voluntarily and of his own free will, denies himself between day-break and sunset, the blessing of food and drink, and surrenders himself up wholly to Allah, observing the same abstention throughout the whole month in his thoughts, his speech, his behavior, his every act.

For this month, for the Muslim, means the triumph of the spiritual and the pure in his nature over all the grossness and carnation, which is an inevitable component of our human make-up. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the following words beautifully explains the actual significance of the fast: -

"One who, while fasting, does not guard his tongue from telling lies, does not refrain from doing bad deeds, is not respecting his fast and Allah does not approve of mere abstention from food". When you are keeping fast, you should not speak ill of anybody, nor should you be boisterous and noisy. If anybody speaks ill of you or tries to pick a quarrel with you return him not, but say unto him that you are fasting.

Divine Revelation: Ramadan however, has another deeper significance for the Muslim, Ramadan's greatness is manifest in the fact that Almighty Allah chose it for the revelation of His Scriptures from time to time.

Abraham [Ibrahim (A.S.)] received scriptures on the first or third of Ramadan, David [Dawood (A.S.)] on the twelfth or the eighteenth, Moses [Musa (A.S.)] on the sixth, and Jesus [Esa (A.S.)] on the twelfth or the thirteenth of Ramadan.

It was in the very month of Ramadan that the Holy Quran, the last revealed Book, started descending upon Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It testifies: (Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Quran as a guide to mankind ...) (2:185)

But the Holy Quran, the divine revelation from Allah to mankind through the medium of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), has remained. In every Ramadan the Muslims celebrate the spiritual significance of that divine fact the eternal abiding permanence of the Holy Quran.

During this Holy month therefore, the Muslim takes himself more assiduously to the reading of the Holy Book of Allah, the standing miracle of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the miracle which he stated would remain to testify to the authenticity of Allah's message even after he, Muhammad (S.A.W.) passed away.

Throughout this holy month, therefore, from every Muslim home is heard, during the day and night, the pleasant and beautiful cadences of Quranic recitation.

Then there is the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) saying as an incentive to renewed reading of the Holy Quran especially in this month: "A man gets the same reward by reading one verse of the Holy Quran as others do by reading the whole of the Holy Quran in other months." In this holy month of Ramadan it should be the duty of every Muslim to read the Holy Quran and thereby gain an insight into the Divine secrets. It breathes peaceful spirit to the human body. It imparts purity to the human soul and removes many a curtain hanging between man and God.

As the month of Ramadan is a specified period of purification, so the Holy Quran must carefully be studied by every devotee of Islam for self-guidance. Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth and the Holy Quran a light for the seekers of truth. It wards off the evil effect of unhealthy atmosphere, it sanctifies the cause of the fast and keeps the true believer in direct communion with Allah, and it does but speaks His own words.

Only constant experience can tell the tremendous amount of pleasure one finds in reading the Holy Quran.

"Says verily, my prayer, my sacrifices, my living and my dying are but offerings to Allah, the Lord of Creation" - like a beacon of hope for the faithful, these heartening words occur in the Holy Quran to strengthen the hearts of the believing Muslim in the realness of their whole-hearted surrender to Allah.

What has the believing Muslim to fear after reading this clear promise by Allah of His nearness to His servants, not only throughout this life but also in the hereafter?

In the holy month of Ramadan, especially, this promise of Allah's has a particular significance for the believing Muslim who dedicates his prayers and his sacrifices (in the form of his fasts) up to Allah, the Lord of Creation.

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http://yabaqiyatullah.blogspot.com/ 

 

I begin in the name of Allah. The Beneficent, the Merciful. He is the Creator of heavens and earth, the Master of the Universe and of the Creation. One who alone deserves to be worshipped and who is the light of hope in the hour of darkness and of despair, One whose mercy encompasses all the creation and who is the most forgiving.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil) [2:183]

The month of Mercy is upon us once again. The month which brings with it great rewards and blessings has dawned on the Ummah of muslims. Yes it is a month of refraining from the forbiddin and embracing the goodily acts but the one has to look at the bigger picture of this Holy month. The narrations from the Prophet [pbuh] and the Imams [as] have stressed the need to use this Holy month for self reformation and self development. One needs to ponder on these narrations and find the answer as to why has there been such great importance on this month? Reflecting, something which the Quran stresses immensely. Why? because through this reflection one breaks the barriers and evolves. He or She starts to break free from their attachments and start to see their purpose of existence, purpose of their lives, purpose of their worship and much more. Allah created the human race to be the supreme of all creations. He blessed the humans with the intellect and the wisdom along with ambition and desires, through this intellect and wisdom and the right use of ambitions this creation can reach those high levels of spirituality.

This month also brings with it the cries of the household of the Prophet [pbuh], the cries of Imam Al Hujja [ajtf] and of Lady Fatima [sa]. The month of Ramadan bears the death of Ali ibn Abu Talib [as], the man who was the gate of knowledge, the protector of Islam and the father of the youths of paradise. What would be the Imam of our time Al Mahdi [ajtf] be feeling on the day of his grandfather's martyrdom, the one who was born in the house of Allah and the one who departed from the house of Allah too. It was a day of eternal sadness, the Angels, the Prophets [as] and Lady Fatima [sa] mourned for the loss of the man who was the peak of eloquence.

The purpose of our existence is to know Allah and worship Him. As the Quran states: "And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me" [56:57] so now the question is that how do we achieve this goal? And what are the obstactles in our path? The obstacles on our path are our sins and our disobedience to Allah [swt] and these shortcomings prevents us from evolving and progressing towards Allah [swt]. We are asleep on different levels of negligence and we need to truly awaken ourselves to the real goal in life which is to move towards our Creator and Sustainer.

"The one who knows himself knows his Lord" - a small but very meaningful narration. What does knowing ourselves mean and how does this knowing part comes about? The first step in the process of awakening is to reflect and contemplate on our destination and we need to work out for ourselves that are we following teh path or are we not? And if not then what are the reasons for it and how can we change that. A man has to reflect and find solutions himself. Imam Ali [as] in Nahjal Balagha says that the cure for everything is within us yet we are unaware of it. A beautiful narration states: 'One hour of reflection is better than 70 years of worship' and we find the perfect example to this narration on the plains of Karbala in Janabe Hurr, who contemplated for a few hours and in those few hours he realised the truth and his entire goal in life changed and his destination in life too.

'Oppurtunities come like clouds' - how true is that statement. We never realise the importance of something unless we lose it. The same can be said for the month of Ramadan. A month packed with blessings, rewards and spirituality. The month which is described by Ayatollah Tabrizi, in his book 'Spiritual Journey of the mystics' as the month in which Allah has invited the wayfarers (followers) of His path for a feast. At first that may seem a bit off since we are abstaining from eating and drinking but if one thinks and reflects upon those words then it truly makes sense. This is the month where a believer through his deeds and his supplications can fulfil his hunger for spirituality from this feast.

The Holy month of Ramadan is the month of mercy as in this month the doors of heavens are open and the door of hells are closed. Allah [swt] through His infinite mercy for His creation has blessed them with such an oppurtunity. This is a month where breathing is also worship of Allah. A month in which all the Divine books were revealed, the Torah was revealed on the sixth day of the month of Ramadhan, the Bible, on the twelfth night of the month, the Psalms on the eighteenth night of the month and the Qur’an on the Night of Qadr. It is the month whose beginning is mercy, its middle is forgiveness and its end, emancipation from the fire (of helI). Listed here are a limited number of virtues however the list goes on...

Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) - The most important night in the Islamic calender. A night which is superior than a thousand nights, one thousand months of jihad, one thousands months of reign and the worship in it is superior than one thousand months of worship. This was the night when Allah the Almighty revealed the most Perfect Divine book the Quran to the seal of Prophethood, His last messenger Mohammad [pbuh]. It is a night when the sustenance and age of servants of Allah, and the good and evil of their affairs are destined. A night when prayers are answered, no one finishes this night empty handed. It is narrated that every lawful wish of a servant is answered in this great night. The Angels descend on this night all over the earth and when they pass through the gatherings of believers, they send salutations and praises upon them, and consider their prayers until the dawn.

Ayatollah Mirza Tabrizi in his book mentions about the Night of Power in such beautiful words, it would not be justice if I tried to write a summary about his work so I have copied the below passage from his book:

"...The invitation of Allah [swt], who is the King of all kings-is the King of Earth and Heavens - has invited us for His feast; in order to invite us has dispatched, his favourite angels, pious Prophets [as] and sinless Imams [as] as his couriers. He has assigned His angels to announce his invitation kindly and compassionately to us; has given us the glad tidings of giving us a permanent abode in the Paradise in return for a sincere worshipping during one single night; has promised such bounties, which have not been seen by any eye; have not been heared by any ear and have not been imagined through any human being's mind, as well as given us the glad tidings of illumination, ectasy, majesty, splendor, nearness, union and countenance, for whose least comprehension and understanding, faculties of reason and thoughts find themselves astonished and helpless..

Are we among those who have prepared for this night and invitation the way we ought to be and must be, in order to attain the eternal blessing and salvation? Or are we among those negligent and idle ones, who do not achieve any thing except loss and eternal doom? We must know better than the ones who act naively and lazily and do not strive to take advantage of the magnificent generosities of this night, when in the Hereafter, would see that those who were zealous, committed and vigilant during these nights - what they have achieved, and what magnificence, splendor and glory have been bestowed upon them. But they would gain nothing except regret - the regret so great and painful that the Hell's blazing fire and its torturous punishments would seem smaller as compared to their regrets and then together with the eternally doomed ones, they would cry loudly:

Lest a soul should say: O woe to me! for what I fell short of my duty to Allah, and most surely I was of those who laughed to scorn; [39:56]


But on the day when the gates of repentence would have been closed, there would be nothing left for compensation for the damage, every one would have seen the ultimate outcome of his deeds, and then feeling sorry and being regretful would not produce any gain. Therefore we must take a look upon ourselves, and before falling into such regret and grief, must admonish ourselves for being so lazy, naive and easy going. And before that we are called for accounting and be condemned into the state of wretchedness and destitution for wasting our precious capital - the capital through which we could have accomplished most precious and greater gains - we better put ourself to scrutiny."

I finish this piece with a short poetry from a book by Imam Khomeini, which says the following couplets:

May Allah give us the ability and the strength to make the most of the Holy month of Ramadan. May He forgive all our sins and give us the ability to reform ourselves. May He give us a chance to serve the Imam of our time Al Mahdi [ajtf]... Ramadan Mabrook!

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Ramadan Daily dua's

1. O Allah, on this day make my fasts the fasts of those who fast (sincerely), and my standing up in prayer of those who stand up in prayer (obediently), awaken me in it from the sleep of the heedless, and forgive me my sins , O God of the worlds, and forgive me, O one who forgives the sinners.

2. O Allah, on this day, take me closer towards Your pleasure, keep me away from Your anger and punishment, grant me the opportunity to recite Your verses (of the Qur'an), by Your mercy, O the most Merciful.

3. O Allah, on this day, grant me wisdom and awareness, keep me away from foolishness and pretension, grant me a share in every blessing You send down, by You generosity, O the most Generous.

4. O Allah, on this day, strengthen me in carrying out Your commands, let me taste the sweetness of Your remembrance, grant me, through Your graciousness, that I give thanks to You. Protect me, with Your protection and cover, O the most discerning of those who see.

5. O Allah, on this day, place me among those who seek forgiveness. Place me among Your righteous and obedient servants, and place me among Your close friends, by Your kindness, O the most Merciful.

6. O Allah, on this day, do not let me abase myself by incurring Your disobedience, and do not strike me with the whip of Your punishment, keep me away from the causes of Your anger, by Your kindness and Your power, O the ultimate wish of those who desire

7. O Allah, on this day, help me with its fasts and prayers, and keep me away from mistakes and sins of the day, grant me that I remember You continously through the day, by Your assistance, O the Guide of those who stray

8. O Allah, on this day, let me have mercy on the orphans, and feed [the hungry], and spread peace, and keep company with the noble­minded, O the shelter of the hopeful.

9. O Allah, on this day, grant me a share from Your mercy which is wide, guide me towards Your shining proofs, lead me to Your all encompassing pleasure, by Your love, O the hope of the desirous.

10. O Allah, on this day, make me, among those who rely on You, from those who You consider successful, and place me among those who are near to you, by Your favour, O goal of the seekers.

11. O Allah, on this day, make me love goodness, and dislike corruption and disobedience, bar me from anger and the fire [of Hell], by Your help, O the helper of those who seek help.

12. O Allah, on this day, beautify me with covering and chastity, cover me with the clothes of contentment and chastity, let me adhere to justice and fairness, and keep me safe from all that I fear, by Your protection, O the protector of the frightened.

13. O Allah, on this day, purify me from uncleanliness and dirt, make me patient over events that are decreed, grant me the ability to be pious, and keep company with the good, by Your help, O the beloved of the destitute.

14. O Allah, on this day, do not condemn me for slips, make me decrease mistakes and errors, do not make me a target for afflictions and troubles, by Your honor, O the honor of the Muslims.

15. O Allah, on this day, grant me the obedience of the humble expand my chest through the repentance of the humble, by Your security, O the shelter of the fearful.

16. O Allah, on this day, grant me compatibility with the good, keep me away from patching up with the evil, lead me in it, by Your mercy, to the permanent abode, by Your Godship, O the God of the worlds.

17. O Allah, on this day, guide me towards righteous actions, fulfil my needs and hopes, O One who does not need explanations nor questions, O One who knows what is in the chests of the (people of the) world. Bless Muhammad and his family, the Pure.

18. O Allah, on this day, awaken me with the blessings of its early mornings, Illuminate my heart with the brightness of its rays, let every part of my body follow its effects, by Your light, O the illuminator of the hearts of those who know.

19. O Allah, on this day, multiply for me its blessings, and ease my path towards its bounties, do not deprive me of the acceptance of its good deeds, O the Guide towards the clear truth.

20. O Allah, on this day, open for me the doors of the heavens, and lock the doors of Hell from me, help me to recite the Qur'an, O the One who sends down tranquility into the hearts of believers.

21. O Allah, on this day, show me the way to win Your pleasure, do not let Shaytan have a means over me, make Paradise an abode and a resting place for me, O the One who fulfills the requests of the needy.

22. O Allah, on this day, open for me the doors of Your Grace, send down on me its blessings, help me towards the causes of Your mercy, and give me a place in the comforts of Paradise, O the one who answers the call of the distressed.

23. O Allah, on this day, wash away my sins, purify me from all flaws, examine my heart with (for) the piety of the hearts, O One who overlooks the shortcomings of the sinners.

24. O Allah, on this day, I ask You for what pleases You, and I seek refuge in You from what displeases You, I ask You to grant me the opportunity to obey You and not disobey You, O One who is generous with those who ask.

25. O Allah, on this day, make me among those who love Your friends, and hate Your enemies, following the way of Your last Prophet, O the Guardian of the hearts of the Prophets.

26. O Allah, on this day, make my efforts worthy of appreciation, and my sins forgiven, my deeds accepted, my flaws concealed, O the best of those who hear.

27. O Allah, on this day, bestow on me the blessings of Laylatul Qadr, change my affairs from (being) difficult to (being) easy, accept my apologies, and decrease for me [my] sins and burdens, O the Compassionate with His righteous servants.

28. O Allah, on this day, grant me a share in its nawafil (recommended prayers), honor me by attending to my problems, make closer the means to approach You, from all the means, O One who is not preoccupied by the requests of the beseechers.

29. O Allah, on this day, cover me with Your mercy, grant me in it success and protection, purify my heart from the darkness of false accusations, O the Merciful to His believing servants.

30. O Allah, on this day, make my fasts worthy of appreciation and acceptance, according to what pleases You, and pleases the Messenger, the branches being strengthened by the roots, for the sake of our leader, Muhammad, and his purified family. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

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Eid-ul-Fitr (Id al-Fitr)  (source: The holy month of Ramadan)

Eid-ul-Fitr (Id al-Fitr) is linked with the Holy month of Ramadan. It signifies the end of the month of fasting (the first day of the month of Shawwal).

Eid-ul-Fitr is a unique festival. It has no connection with any historical event nor is it related to the changes of seasons or cycles of agriculture. It is not a festival related in any way to worldly affairs.

Its significance is purely spiritual. It is the day when the Muslims thank God for having given them the will, the strength and the endurance to observe fast and obey His commandment during the holy month of Ramadan.

This day, in Muslim world, brings rejoicing and happiness. The rejoicing is not, however, at the departure of the month of Ramadan; it is the happiness which man feels after successfully completing an important task.

It is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Eid-ul-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Gifts are exchanged. Friends and family gather to pray in congregation.

The feast of Fitr is God's reward for those who fast during the holy month of Ramadan. In this month, man should try to add to his true knowledge of God, do acts of charity for the needy, renew his beliefs towards his Lord and this will be a real Bairam Feast (Turkish word meaning festival) for him. The prayers of the day of Bairam a reason of unity and solidarity of Muslims all over the world. On this day do honor God for His endless and all-enhancing mercy.

In view of the great significance attached to this day of Eid, numerous traditions consisting of prayers and worship of God on this day, have been quoted from the Holy Prophet and his Ahl-al-Bait.

Taking a solemn bath (Ghusl) on the night preceding Eid is highly recommended (Sunnat). This is a night of great sanctity and profound virtues, and should be preferably spent in worship and prayer to God.

Imam Zainul Abedin (A.S.) used to spend this whole night in devotion, and has said: "This night is as important as that of Shab-e-Qadr" (that is to say, the odd night towards the latter part of Ramadan when the Holy Qur'an was first revealed to our Holy Prophet [S.A.W.]).

It is quoted from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) that "one who offers six Rakat prayers on this night reciting in each Rakat Sura 'Al-Hamd' once and Sura 'Qul Huwallah' five times God will pardon his sins".

Haris Aawar narrates that Hazrat Ali (A.S.), on this night, after Maghrib prayers, used to offer two Rakats prayers. In the first one he used to recite Sure 'Al-Hamd' once and Sura 'Qul Huwallah' one hundred times, and in the other both the Suras only once. After completion of the prayers he would bow his head in prostration and recite "Atubo Ellallah" 100 times and then would say, "I swear by one (God)! He has the sole command over my life". Whoever will, in this way, offer two Rakats prayers, the Beneficent will positively fulfill any wish begged from Him. (Aamal-e-Shabe Eid Al-Fitr)

The conception of Eid in Islam is not confined only to celebration extravagance, luxurious feasts, friendly handshakes and embraces. The Muslims should rather devote this day to the worship of God and should beseech Him to approve their virtuous deeds and forgive their sins. This is because the doors of God's pardon are kept open this day and His Blessings are bountiful.

Once Imam Hassan (A.S.) noticed some folks in a most jovial mood merry making on the occasion of Eid. He, turning to his companions said. "God has made this month of Ramadan, a course of action for His slaves to render their due homage to their Lord and earn His pleasure. Some of them who have fasted successfully reached their goal, and those who did not fast have lingered behind and have missed a golden opportunity. When reward is assured for fasting, how strange it is on the part of those who do not fast to indulge in idle pastimes. I swear by God, if the curtains of Divination (Ghaib) wore to be lifted today, both the virtuous and the sinful could afford the physical sight of the rewards of their good and evil deeds respectively".