Hawzah News Agency- Hojatoleslam Seyyed Naqi Mahdi Zaidi made the remarks during a series of Quranic exegesis sessions titled “Commentary on Surah ar-Rahman and Explanation of the Shabaniyeh Sermon” held at the Jafariya Seminary in Taragarh, India.
Ramadan: The Month of Divine Hospitality
Referring to the well-known Shabaniyeh sermon of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the cleric said the Messenger of Islam introduced Ramadan as a month in which believers are invited to the divine feast.
Citing the sermon, he noted: “It is a month in which you have been invited to the banquet of Allah and have been made among the people of His honor; your breaths in it are glorification, your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted, and your supplications are answered.”
Zaidi explained that the phrase “invited to the banquet of God” signifies a universal call to spiritual elevation. “In Ramadan, humanity is not merely a guest, but an honored guest. Divine grace and mercy are made widely accessible,” he said.
Everyday Life Transformed into Worship
According to the Indian scholar, one of the most remarkable features of Ramadan is that even ordinary acts take on devotional significance.
“Beyond obligatory and recommended acts of worship, even involuntary and routine aspects of life acquire spiritual value. Breathing becomes glorification and sleep becomes worship,” he stated, adding that this spiritual climate transforms daily existence into a continuous opportunity for nearness to God.
Acceptance of Deeds and Answered Prayers
Zaidi underscored that the true worth of good deeds lies in their acceptance by God. While actions may be undermined by insincerity or moral shortcomings during the year, Ramadan offers a heightened opportunity for divine acceptance.
“The promise that ‘your deeds are accepted’ provides a powerful incentive for self-purification and sincerity of intention,” he said.
He further stressed that Ramadan is a season of answered prayers. “When God invites His servants to His feast, it is only fitting that the Generous Host responds to the needs of His guests. This is the most suitable time for repentance, seeking forgiveness, and asking for goodness in this world and the hereafter.”
Multiplication of Rewards
The cleric also referred to traditions attributed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which indicate that rewards for good deeds are multiplied manifold during Ramadan.
He noted that providing iftar to a fasting person carries immense merit, while the reward for obligatory prayers and Quran recitation is multiplied far beyond ordinary measure.
“This multiplication of rewards is a clear manifestation of divine generosity,” he said, encouraging believers to maximize their spiritual efforts throughout the month.
Opening of the Gates of Paradise
Among the distinctive spiritual features of Ramadan, Zaidi highlighted narrations describing the opening of the gates of Paradise, the closing of the gates of Hell, and the chaining of devils.
“These conditions create a spiritually conducive environment for growth and moral reform, reducing the obstacles to obedience and self-discipline,” he stated.
Ramadan and Hajj: Two Divine Invitations
Drawing a comparison between Ramadan and the pilgrimage season, the cleric said that God invites His servants twice in a special manner: once during Hajj and once during Ramadan.
While the pilgrimage requires financial and physical ability, Ramadan transforms every home into a space of divine hospitality.
“Just as a person prepares outwardly and inwardly to attend a formal gathering, believers must prepare their hearts and conduct to enter this sacred banquet—with purity of intention, moral refinement, and dedication to worship,” he said.
Laylat al-Qadr and the Revelation of the Qur’an
Zaidi pointed out that Ramadan is further distinguished by the revelation of the Holy Qur’an and the presence of Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree), described in Islamic teachings as better than a thousand months.
“These blessings complete the spiritual framework of the month—mercy is opened, divine guidance is renewed, and an unparalleled night of destiny is granted,” he noted.
The Beginning of the Spiritual Year
In his concluding remarks, the Indian scholar referred to a narration attributed to Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (PBUH) and transmitted by the renowned scholar Sayyid Ibn Tawus, stating that Ramadan marks the beginning of the spiritual year.
Although the lunar calendar begins with Muharram, he explained that for worshippers and spiritual seekers, Ramadan represents the true turning point of transformation.
“If Ramadan is observed properly, the entire year will be set on a righteous course,” he said.
Zaidi concluded that Ramadan is not merely a period of abstention from food and drink, but a comprehensive school of ethical refinement, spiritual discipline, and moral reconstruction—capable of reshaping not only a single year, but an entire lifetime.
Your Comment