Ramadan Mubarak…
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012
The very root of Islam has been based on Love and Surrender, echoed Prasanthi offering a comprehensive presentation on the occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr on August 20, 2012 in Prasanthi Nilayam. Eid-Ul-Fitr marks the end of Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Wishing the august assembly greetings on the holy auspicious occasion, the presentation began with postgraduate students enacting a conversation involving an enthusiastic and curious youngster by name Hemant with some of his Muslim acquaintance. As an innocent Hemant grew curious to know the finer aspects of Ramadan festivity, the conversation prolonged converting Sai Kulwant Hall into a ‘virtual’ classroom, where ‘Ramadan and its finer aspects’ was discussed most comprehensively, helping the august gathering enlightened about the subject.
The word Ramadan is derived from the Arabic word Ramida, meaning scorching heat and dryness, symbolic of fire of hunger and thirst at a physical level while spiritually it connotes to intense spiritual yearning. It is only when one is turned away from senses, he is turning towards God; main principle behind Ramadan is the control of the mind.
Discussing what entails the festivity, a group of turbaned boys clad in typical Islamic wear got into offering ‘Namaz’, the Muslim prayer, to the backdrop of recital of Holy Qur’an.
The ambient chanting that emanated with a soothing and heavenly touch wafted like a rhythmic music lifting every ‘heart’ presented in the august assembly.
Ramadan is a penance that is undertaken to make it habituated in life, firmly engraving the same in character. Fasting is the external side of the festivity, while real significance lies in the transformation within. Mind should be singularly focused like the star on the crescent, said an enlightened Ahmed Bhai answering the curious youngster. Fasting entails crossing the gross ‘body’ aspect to get the mind absorbed in peace, get it fixed on Allah, the Almighty. A beautiful story about a painting competition was quoted from the Holy Qur’an, illustrating this point.
Singing His glory, the students soon burst into a Quwwali ‘Rahanuma Rahanuma Thujhse Roshan Hey Jahan…,” accompanied by soulful musical score.
The five pillars of Islam, the five important tasks Allah has instructed for every true Muslim to adhere to, were discussed next. The five pillars are: Shahada, declaration of faith in Allah, as One God and Mohammed as His final messenger, Salah, the five-time prayer offered as per Islamic faith, the 3rd one is the month-long fast observed, and Hajj, the fourth pillar, holy pilgrimage to Holy Mecca. Fifth and final Pillar is Zakat, charity offered during the holy month as the very religion is based on love and surrender.
Enacting an episode involving two youngsters, Faizal and Rafeeque glorifying the fifth pillar, Zakat, the musical troupe burst a soul-stirring rendition, singing the popular Quwwali, Parvar Digare Alam…
Depicting the most important virtue desired by a Muslim, Faith, an anecdote from the life of Mansoor, great saint from Benares was enacted next. When the young lad Mansoor, refraining from going for academia, moved around the streets shouting Analhaq, Analhaq, meaning ‘I am God…” none could understand his holy nature. When the lad was taken to the king, despite the king’s wise counselling, Mansoor declared that he knew he was God and so was with the king and everyone else. An enraged king ordered to take Mansoor to the ordeal room to chop his organs and limbs one by one as an act of punishment. At the end, when the king entered the room to assess the situation, he was shocked to see that every drop of blood of Mansoor’s body was chanting Analhaq…Analhaq…”I am God…I am God.”
Singing paeans to Allah, the programme reached its final phase declaring: Each individual is a spark in the Supreme Consciousness and different religions are different paths leading to that one destination. Today’s world is divided into many by people who have not understood the purpose of religion.
The presentation ended on a glorious note affirming that Prasanthi Nilayam endorses the sentiments of Oneness of all Religions, Oneness of Humanity; Prasanthi Nilayam is the destination of all our destinies.
Singing the final song, Shirdiwale Sai Baba aaya hai tere dar pe sawali the students wound up the fifty minutes presentation.
Bhajans continued for sometime and Mangala Arathi was offered at 1800 hrs.
II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
Posted in Reports |
