HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Said At-Tabatabai Al-Hakim, one of four grand Maraje’ in the Holy Najaf, has while bringing to light value of the holy month of Ramadan has urged all to avail its opportunities.

In a message on the start of Ramadan, Ayatullah quoted a saying of holy Prophet (p) narrated by Al-Imam Ali (p): Holy Prophet (p) addressed to us one day and said: O people! Month of Allah has come to you with blessings, mercy and forgiveness, the month which is best of all months in the sight of Allah, its days are best of the days and its nights are the best of nights and its hours are the best of hours, this is the month in which you are invited to Allah as His guests … your breathing in it is praising of Allah, your sleep in it is worship, your deed in it is accepted, your prayer in it is fulfilled so ask Allah with true intentions and pious hearts to make you able for fast and recitation of His Book, and he is unfortunate who deprives himself from Allah’s forgiveness in this great month, remember hunger and thirst on the Day of Judgment by your hunger and your thirst in this month, and give charity to poor, and respect your elders, and show kindness to your younger and keep binding your relationships, and save your tongues, and turn your eyes from that which is not legal for you, turn your ears from listen to that which is not legal for you, show mercy to the orphans, repent Allah for your sins, raise your hands for dua in times of your prayer as it is the best of hours in which Allah looks at His servants with mercy, says them yes when they call Him, and gives them when they ask Him and answers them when they call Him.

The Ayatullah urged the need to recite and understand holy Quran during Ramadan. A saying of Al-Imam Al-Baqer (p) is: For everything there is a spring, and spring of month of Ramadan is Quran. Also supplications and prayers should be recited as Al-Imam As-Sadeq (p) said that Amir`ol Mo’minin Al_Imam Ali (p) said: During the month of Ramadan you should offer prayers and forgiveness, prayer will remove hardships from you while seeking forgiveness will erase your sins.

He advised to respect this holy month by keeping fast therein as a saying of Al-Imam As-Sadeq (p) goes: he who does not keep a fast in one day of Ramadan, spirit of faith goes out of him.