Imam Khomeini the world religious and spiritual leader used to put stress on availing opportunities of self-training and self-purification the holy month of Ramadan.
According to Imam, Ramadan is an Invitation to God's Feast:
Imam Khomeini once in a historic message in this regard said as following:
God has invited us in the banquet hall of Ramadan; that is nothing except abandonment of carnal desires, egotisms, selves and abandonment of egoism.
(Sahifeh-ye Imam, Vol 21, Page 44)
Imam used to stress that fasting and performing prayers in the holy month of Ramadan deck and dress one’s heart for attending to God‟s Reception.
Imam recommended devotees and believer to strengthen themselves morally during Ramadan.
There is a tradition attributed to the Noble Messenger of Islam about informing the people of the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan. One of the phrases is: "You have been invited to God's feast."
According to Imam, the holy month of Ramadan might have been prescribed, because it is a month in which the holy Prophet has perceived the truth. After this perception, the angels and the Qur'an have been sent down.
One of verses form holy Quran points to this fact as follwoing
"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the Criterion (between right and wrong). So, whoever of you sights the month, he/she must observe fasts that month and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not observe fasts must be made up) from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and he does not want to make things difficult for you. He wants that you must complete the same number of days and that you must glorify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him." (2:184).
Imam used to advise devotees to recite divine scripture of Quran, perform prayers and read supplications which have been narrated by the holy prophet of Islam and his infallible successors.
These sacred texts contain matchless mystical treasures and divine guidance.
Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a period of fasting for Muslims.
Fasting in Ramadan helps Muslims grow closer to God, the Almighty and seek His proximity.
One of the verses from holy Quran describes the philosophy of fasting as following:
“Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you may learn self-restraint”.
Fasting is considered by Muslims as a means to improve their moral characters and provides an opportunity for a spiritual renewal.
The real purpose of fasting is not to deprive us some of our comfort but to be conscious of God, the Almighty.
By observing fasting, a Muslims try their best to live by God’s commands and to avoid His prohibitions, show sincerity in faith, and avoid the disobedience to Allah.
Fasting is an invisible act as God, the Almighty and the person who is fasting know whether he or she is fasting or not.
Fasting, which teaches how to control and discipline our desires, also make us learn how to say "no" to things that are otherwise permissible and good, but are forbidden during fasting.
Muslims fast from early dawn to sunset every day throughout the month. The fast requires Muslims to abstain from food, drink, marital relations and ill-conduct during the fast.
The fasting, which inspires us to feel the pain and suffering of poor, takes away some of our selfishness and self-centeredness.
Read more:
Universal message of holy prophet from viewpoint of Imam Khomeini