The world religious leader used to attach a great significance to Ramadan, and insisted that the rituals of this holy month must be promoted into a full fledge nationwide culture among the Muslim societies.
The founder of the Islamic Republic also highlighted the importance of Ramadan as it consists of the night of power or decree (al-Qadr) and the divine book of Quran was revealed during this holy period.
According to the Islamic traditions and conduct by infallible successors of the holy prophet, staying awake to perform worships during these holy nights and reciting Quran bear great rewards.
Imam Khomeini used to insist on observing fasting, giving charity, seeking forgiveness from God the Almighty, expressing mercy towards orphans and cementing bonds with relatives are considered tasks of great significance during this holy month.
The great Imam maintained that the Muslim seminaries and national broadcaster must remain at forefront to underscore the beauties of rituals of Ramadan.
The blessed month of Ramadan across the Islamic countries is not identical to any type of festival, but a massive feast and celebration and the landscape of the cities reflect great sense of happiness.
Traditions show several expressions and notes in Arabic such “welcome to the banquet of God” can be seen written on cities and town walls.
It is noteworthy that the people across the Persian Gulf nations celebrate this month with a great pomp and show and prepare themselves for a great divine feast.
In several regions, people stay awake, from late night to dawn, to hold divine discussions and recite supplications and prayers.
They also remember conduct of the holy prophet and his infallible successors especially the peak of eloquences by Imam Ali (peace be upon him), such as the following expression:
Imam Ali (peace by upon him) said: Each of certain days when a man doesn't commit a sin should be considered an Eid for him.
We see that in Quran and Hadith, a lot of virtues have been stated for the holy month of Ramadan that we point to some of them here briefly:
The Ramadan has been called as month of God and it is the only month whose name has been mentioned in Quran and it directly refers to Exalted God.
Imam Khomeini used to emphasize that the blessed month is a divine opportunity for developing self training and spiritual purification.
The holy prophet of Islam also used to say, “The month of Ramadan is the month of Great God …” The messenger of the God also said as following:
“Indeed, this month is not similar to other months of year”.
At the time of saying goodbye to the month of Ramadan, Imam Sajjad (PBUH), one of the infallible truthful successor of the holy prophet said:
“We hail the greatest month of God and the feast of God`s friends”.
The virtue of one night of the nights of this month has been preferred to the virtue of the nights of other thousand months and God named it as “The Grand Night”.
The divine agents adorn paradise due to the entrance of the holy month of Ramadan.
The month of revelation of the Quran: Quran, the most superior Heavenly Book and the best divine word, has been reveled in the month of Ramadan and in the holy “Grand Night”. (Qadr, verse 2). This night is more superior to thousand months according to Quran`s verse and the word of the Prophet.
There is no limitation in divine feast due to endlessness and expansion of the range of divine kindness and compassion.
We read in Imam Sadiq (PBUH) life history that he used to say at the threshold of Ramadan,
O`my God! The holy month of Ramadan that Quran was reveled in it, arrived.
Of the important matters in verses and narration is paying attention to the important results of this month. Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic also invited to think and ponder deeply about the verses and tradition about this holy month.
Spiritual leaders of Islam also used to say that explicating these favors will play an important role in increasing people`s love towards the month of feast and their double effort in the direction of optimal use of this divine blessing.
One of the divine promises is the materialization of prayers. God wanted the Prophet to inform people.
“And your lord says: call upon me, I will answer you; surely those who are too proud for my service shall soon enter hell abased”.
The great Imam wanted the believers to maximize avail spiritual opportunities for self-training, development and self-purification during this blessed month.