Reflection of the Supplication of Dua-e-Iftitah.
If Our Enemies besiege us Economically, we are children of Ramadan and if the besiege us militarily we are the children of Ashura with Ya Ali on our lips.
Breaking the fast as a community and praying in congregations was one of my most enjoyable parts of night of the holy month of Ramadan, however the recitation of supplication (Dua) Iftitah made me feel good, and happy.
As a young boy in Mombasa, Kenya I always avoided having to sit and listen; mostly there was no big screen to follow the translation so, I would wait impatiently for supplication to finish so I could hang out with my friends.
What is the supplication of Iftitah - An Ocean of Lights and its commentary?
The name of this supplication is "al-Iftitah" (beginning) because this supplication begins with the praise of God in this manner: "O God, I begin the song of glorification of you by praising you.”
The supplication holds a special place in the heart of many Muslims and was recited every night by the awaited savior Imam Mahdi (a) during the month Ramadhan. It is an excellent dua for molding man’s attitude towards his Creator.
This supplication is divided into two parts: First part is the relationship with Lord (Allah) and the second part is connection with the divine or heavenly leaders – The awaited savior Mahdi.
Following the praise of the Almighty Lord and glorification it follows different qualities of Allah followed by hope and fear with the generosity of Allah.
In this month Allah perpetually opens doors of mercy. It reads: “God never banishes his servant from Him and does not close the doors of His mercy and does not render him hopeless.”
The treasures of Allah do not cease, nor His doors are always closed, and no supplication to Him is rejected without some answer. Human beings are often ungrateful and greedy.
One always expects that his supplication will be immediately granted. When such gratification is not forthcoming, he turns away, instead of reminding himself of all the favors Allah has bestowed upon him.
The last passages of this supplication, which have been heavily emphasized upon, are regarding expressing one's affection towards the Islamic government that will establish itself under the rule of Imam al-Mahdi upon his reappearance.
The supplication urges us to take lessons from the past nations and emphasizes that Prophet Muhammad and the infallible after him are the most precious blessing of God.
The supplications end with sending blessings on the Holy Prophet, his family (Ahlul Bayt) and then discusses the role of the Mahdi the savior who will return with the Prophet Issa ibn e Maryam – Jesus Christ.
The supplication describes the qualities of Muslims towards leader - or guardianship of the Islamic jurist and expressing affection for the Islamic government in the light of the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi.
It also describes the goal of the Islamic rule and our responsibilities in its etymology. The supplication is very touching as it talks about his coming, preparing believers of the responsibility and for the anticipated establishment of the justice.
Supplication of Iftitah is not only a supplication for our needs, but a teaching of the roots of faith and opportunities of self-purification.
Imam Khomeini in a historic message said, God has invited us in the banquet hall of Ramadan; that is nothing except abandonment of carnal desires, and abandonment of egoism.
The supplication talks about the waiting for the advent of Imam al-Mahdi to bring peace and justice by eliminating tyrants, tranny, oppression, and humiliate hypocrites.
The verse from the supplication: “Annihilates the autocrats, destroys rulers, and appoints others instead, all praise be to Allah; the Eradicator of the tyrants, the Terminator of the unjust ones, the Catcher of the fugitives.”
What is our duty during this period of occultation – Intezar?
We must strive as much as we can in preserving the religion. Our spiritual condition must be such that if the Imam of the Time comes, we will be able to identify the false one and unconditionally obey the orders of the Mahdi.
As the world just celebrated International Women’s Day, it has allowed Zionist Israel to deliberately kill 8,400 Muslim women in Gaza and slaughter 12,300 children.
Remember, when the Prophet and his family were under siege in Sh’ab Abi Talib and denied food and water, how starvation as a weapon of war was used to kill his most beloved wife Khadijah and Uncle Abu Talib.
Let Ramadan liberate our eye and mind so that we can zoom into Gaza today where for five months our brothers and sisters have been denied food and water.
Every day is Ashura, every land is Karbala – Today it is the Hezbollah of Lebanon and Ansarullah of Yemen, and Iran has stood shoulder to shoulder with the Palestinians.
The Muslim Ummah today lack leadership which have neither the piety nor courage to stand against the colonial imperialist Zionist like the Rahbar the supreme leader of Iran.
However, when a good leader arises, like Imran Khan in Pakistan, he risks being assassinated or imprisoned by the Pakistan military and mafia of Shariff, Zardari and Bhutto.
God willing (inshallah) Muslims will begin to reflect and seeds of better leadership planted in places like Yemen, Lebanon and Iran, Pakistan, is beginning to sprout. A partial message from Imam Khomeini on the martyrdom of Allama Arif Hussain Hussani.
“Lover of Islam, the defender of the oppressed and deprived; son of Syedul Shohada Aba Abdallah Al Hussain (AS). We should think deeply by putting the example of martyr Syed Arif in front of us. There is no greater achievement for the pious than to leave his abode with wounds that are medals on his chest, and his face covered in blood, in the struggle for justice. It is imperative to keep martyr Syed Arif’s thoughts alive and to pass his message on. I have lost my dear son.”
The genocide is created by the Israeli Zionists, enabled by imperial America, Britain, European Union, Arab monarchies, dictatorial regimes, and the silence of the Muslim nations and Ummah.
For me it is very difficult to break my fast knowing that in Gaza, children are starving to death and the Israelis are feasting on the blood of innocent people.
Remember the three-pong arrow that pierced the neck of 6-month-old baby Aliasgher, the beloved son of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet at Karbala and the Zionist tanks that now crush little Ali and Fatima’s in Gaza.
Be inspired by supporting the resistance movement by looking back at the battle of Karbala when Abu Fadel al- Abbas went to retrieve water for the camp of Imam Hussain, how the enemies viciously attacked him by cutting both his hands.
Now think about the Palestinians who are attacked and killed when they go out in search of water and food - The Flour Massacre. There is no difference between Yazid of 1400 years ago and today.
The verses of the Qur’an expose those who are responsible for the miserable state of the Muslim world and the suffering in Gaza. It is Egypt which is a Zionist colony ever since the traitor Anwar Sadat “abnormalized” with Israel in 1979.
Gaza Is Karbala: “Every day is Ashura and Every Land is Karbala