Ramadan & Beyond (3, 10, 17, 24 June, 1 & 8 July 2012)
3 Jun 2012
Why do we fast? Now is the era of asking WHY. In the past, the people can feel it automatically. For majority of us, we borrow other people's wisdom but never experience them. We follow blindly, do not feel connected to Allah and cling on to the interpretation of the book that we read.
When we mature, our mind interpret differently. Do not be satisfied with what we know about Ramadan.
4 questions were post to us to reflect and answer in class:
1) Who are you?
2) What are you doing here?
3) What do you want from this workshop?
4) Why do you want what you want?
State of awakening: We are more than just a human being. We were, are and will be a soul. Our soul is experiencing a human experience (feeling emotional, having desires etc). We have the potential to be higher than who we are now. Life being a human being can never be complete. When you are single, you want to get married, then you want children, then you want to earn a higher income, then you want to get a new house. It will go on and on.
Be AWARE and REALISE that we are just souls going through human experience. Death: Fear it? We tend to fear the outcome. Maybe the souls are waiting for us happily at the other side of the world. Similarly to a new born baby who were enjoying his stay in the mother's womb. Suddenly it is time to him to be born into the earth. He cried but the rest of us are embracing and exciting at his arrival. Our souls are experiencing human for a reason. We can find out the reaon now, tomorrow or even 10 year later.
ABOUT IBN QAYYIM
His full name is Shamsudin Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakar Ibn Qayyim Al Zawiyah. He went through a period of doubt and confusion. His quote, "All these ways did I try and I fell into a net fluttering like a bird that knows not where to fly." He, just like Imam AL-Ghazali, is a high level scholar. Ibn Qayyim met his teacher, Ibn Taymiyyah when he was 21 yrs old. His teacher and his students were imprisoned in Egypt as they were perceived to cause unrest in the society. Upon his teacher's death, he was freed and continue his studies. He passed away at the age of 60. His two most illustrious students are Ibn Rajah and Ibn Kathir.
ABOUT RAMADAN & FASTING
Ramadan has 3 root letters: ra, mim, dad. It literally means intense, scorching heat. So why is Ramadan special then since it means intense, scorching heat. It is special because Quran was sent down. Same goes to the other books of Allah; Taurat, Zabur, Injil. That makes Ramadan special.
Kak Muna's Mantra: I now only need what I now have. I do not need what I do not have now.
10 Jun 2012
Surah Al-Baqarah verse 183:
"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you so that you will achieve TAQWA."
The spiritual aspect of fasting (not only during Ramadan) is to achieve taqwa.
TAQWA: God consciousness, Faith in Allah, Fear & Love Allah, Submission, Deep reverence, Awareness of Allah etc.
Linguistic origin of Taqwa:
- To preserve something
- To protect something
- To prevent something
- Tp guard something
Islamically it means:
A state of awareness of Allah in everything we do and letting that awareness guide your action and shield you from harm. Take Allah as your Protector. Not your father, your husband, policemen etc.
Umar Ibn Abd al-Aziz: "Taqwa of Allah is giving up what Allah has forbidden and performing that which He made obligatory." Do not look at Allah's command as restriction but something that has goodness for us.
Al-Hassan: "Taqwa continues with the people of Taqwa to the point where they give up much of that which is permitted for fear of that which is forbidden."
Musa Ibn Ayun: "The people of Taqwa purify themselves of some permitted things for fear that they should fall into that which is not permitted and so Allah names them the poeple of Taqwa."
For eg shopping for branded bag is permitted. It becomes otherwise if financially we could not afford, make us in debt and neglect our other needs. The desire of buying the branded bag occupies the heart and the intention of working is to buy branded bag. If we need approval from other people so you can be happy, something is wrong with you.
Ibn al-Mu'tazz: "Leave wrong actions, the small and the great; that is taqwa. Be as if walking on top of thorny ground, taking precautions against what you see."
The first moment you wake up, your mind is empty and we choose what we want to enter our mind.
Surah al-Talaq verse 2-3 (Ayat seribu dinar):
"Whoever has taqwa of Allah, He will make him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect."
It is the meaning and connection of us to Allah that make us rich, not the verse. Connect our soul to the meaning of the verse. How much do we reflect, digest the meaning. Have belief and certainty.
The goal of fasting is to achieve TAQWA. It trains us to put aside what is permitted and not to commit anything that is forbidden.
17 Jun 2012
What is so special about Ramadan?
Surah al-Tawbah verse 36:
"Indeed, the no. of mths with Allah is 12 lunar mths in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth, of these, 4 mths are sacred...."
Allah did not mention the 4 mths. It is from Prophet Muhammad's Hadith.
Surah al-Baqarah verse 185:
"The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful."
Ramadan was made special as Quran was revealed in Ramadan. Fast in Ramadan and you will see guidance. MEMORISE - "Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship". Sometimes when we fast, we can gain more strength. BREAK THE SHELL that make us believe that fasting make us weak. When we feel hungry, we can differentiate our body and soul.
There is no other mths that Allah mentions in the Quran except Ramadan. Same like the only female name mentioned is Mariam. Our community focus in Ramadan and fasting. CHANGE TO fasting and Quran. Then our entire Ramadan will be different. We can connect to fasting better. We can connect to revelation better. Allah tells us that this is the mth of the Quran and therefore we were told to fast. Ramadan was already holy before we were told to fast.
What does fasting got to do with Quran?
Prophet Muhammad had been fasting, meditating before he received revelation. When revelation was revealed to him, he is ready to receive it and he understand thoroughly. Thus we can understand the deeper aspect of Quran when we fast. Upon fasting, we will achieve taqwa. It is achievable that fasting can help us understand the Quran.
It is our spiritual boot camp. To make us a stronger (emotionally, physically etc) person after the camp. Spiritual aspect is strong and it will manifest the physical side of you.
EGO AND THE LIMBS by Ibn Qayyim
The devil, ego and the desires- being the 3 controlling powers- join forces against the servant with the members of the body, which are only subjugated (enslaved) instruments. They carry out their ends and cannot do otherwise.
Imam Al-Ghazali: Each part of the body are a part of the army. The General is the heart. The body just do whatever the heart commands.
In Ramadan, the ego must give out positive commands to the other parts of the body. Fasting is the way to control the 3 powers.
Imam Al-Hadad:
1) ORDINARY FASTING - Against eating, drinking, sexual intimacy.
2) SPECIAL FASTING - Guard your body parts: eyes (reading FB newsfeed, cute guys), ears (away from negative speaking people), tongue (Sahaba did not speak at all during fasting. No negativity, backbiting, putting people down), fingers (commenting on FB), feet (away from undesired places).
3) EXTRA SPECIAL FASTING - Guard your thoughts, heart.
These are 3 stages just like when we are running on a treadmill- we have to elevate the angle, resistance, in order to build up our stamina. Same goes to fasting. We move from ordinary fasting to special fasting and then extra special fasting.
Allah does not leave us without any tool to achieve these stages. He give us SHOLAT. Sholat can help guard our thoughts, heart and other parts of our body. Beside that, we can also search for tools that help us be aware of our thoughts.
24 Jun 2012
The spiritual gifts of fasting:
1) Gift of depending solely on Allah for strength.
Food vs Allah. Who is stronger? Destroy our belief system that food make us strong. Eating heavily during sahor so that we can be stronger during the day. No! Allah is the one who give us strength. Don't make food as your source of strength.
2) Gift of separation from the world (mind and body) to a spiritual space (soul).
3) Gift of realizing how dependent we are on food, and realizing consequently that true source of physical strength is not really food but Allah (your soul).
4) Gift of experiencing human's weakness in a deep way.
Our weaknesses are shopping, eating chocolate, lazy etc. During Ramadan, we can see the deeper weakness of the weaknesses. We will lose interest in feeding the weaknesses in Ramadan.
5) Gift of sensitivity (of your own bad deeds and sins)
There is really a need to ask for forgiveness in Ramadan. Do something to rectify the bad deed on the spot. Do not want to commit the sin again. During off day in Ramadan, CONTINUE the flow of fasting, wake up for sahor, control the food to eat etc. It is scientifically proven, to cultivate a habit, need at least 30-40 days to carry out the habit continuously.
6) Gift of deeper focus and unparalleled obedience to Allah.
Compare to out previous ways of obedience to Allah. Is it higher than before? Do not comapre with other people. Be aware of Allah in the true kind of way. Going through 30 days of fasting, we can achieve a true kind of awareness of Allah.
Make intention but do not tell anyone (esp in FB). They are supposed to be secret between you and Allah. Be patient in worshipping Allah. Do not expect changes in you and receiving these spiritual gifts drastically. Keep seeking and experiencing knowledge. Keep going and do not stop.
7) Gift of transcending the natural & experiencing the spiritual world.
Whatever we do naturally, there is a spiritual aspect to it. Adopt different perspectives of deaths, natural disasters etc. Stop listening to what people say, society say. We are deluded by what society say. Take a step back and reflect.
1 Jul 2012 (Missed session)
Taste the REAL Ramadan, not a better Ramadan. Hadith on the blessing of Fasting:
1) "Every action of son of Adam is given manifold rewards. Each good deed receive up to 700 times. Allah the most high said, "Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me". (al-Bukhari)
There is no numerical rewards for fasting. The harder the worship is, the higher your awareness of Allah. Fasting is the highest level of worship. How much it can change a person spiritually, emotionally and physically. It is also the most impact-full form of worship for a human being. The benefits are for us directly. We fast so that we can understand Quran.
2) "For the fasting person, there are two times of joy; the time he break his fast and the time he meets his Lord (in the Hereafter)" (al-Bukhari)
3) "The bad smell that come from the mouth of fasted person is more beloved than the smeel of musk to you" (al-Bukhari)
We control what we say during Ramadan.
4) "No servant fast on one day in the path pf Allah except that Allah remove hell fire 70 years further away from his fact" (al-Bukhari)
Go deeper than the literal meaning - > We fast to be away from calamities, mishaps, psychological problems, emotional heartbreak etc. That is hell. Need not be in Ramadan only. But we must fast the special fasting.
5) "There is a gate to Jannah that is named al-Rayyah. On the day of resurrection, it will say "Where are those who fasted?". When last one has passed it will be locked." (al-Bukhari)
There is no mention of Ramadan only. This is made special for those who fast outside Ramadan too. Go beyond fasting in Ramadan only. We have the key to spiritual bliss- FAST. Use it!
6) "When the mth of Ramadan starts, the gate of Heaven are opened, the gate of Hell are closed and the devils are chained."
There is ّ (shadda) in the words; Opened and Closed. This is to emphasize on the meaning. The gate opened drastically with force. Same goes to close with force.
8 Jul 2012
Qns) If the devils are chained up, why do people still do evil?
Ans)
Level 1 people's perspective:
People are used to the current habits that in Ramadan, even though devils are chained, we continue to do it. Eg. Dating, gossiping. These are distractions to our soul.
Level 2 people's perspective:
We are the Syaitan. Let's look at it metaphorically. Syaitan is our mind when it focus on the past and the future. Mind does not want to look at the present, reality, now. Sholat can help the mind to see the reality. Companions prepared 6 mths for Ramadan and 6 mths after Ramadan, they prayed for the next Ramadan.
Hadith: "Whoever fast in Ramadan, the person fast with iman, this person will be pardon whatever had passed".
Ibn Qayyim's 5 Degrees of Prayers:
1) The lowest: The one who wrongs his own soul who is negligent, who curtails his ablution and the times, limits and essential elements of prayers.
2) The one who keeps the times, rules and elements of prayer; who keeps his ablution but is taken away by distractions; which he lacks the inner strength to resist.
3) The one who keep the limits and essential elements of the prayer and struggles against distractions, preoccupied with striving against his foe. In prayer, he is in sacred combat.
4) The one who, standing in prayer, completes its requirements, its essential elements and its limits. His heart is absorbed in the rules of prayer. His entire concern become performing the prayer s it should be.
5) In addition, places his heart before his Lord- ever vigilant before him filled with His love and glory. The distractions vanish, as the veil between him and his Lord is lifted. He is occupied only with his Lord in prayer, in which he finds his source of gladness.
3 kinds of Heart by Ibn Qayyim:
1) The one devoid of faith and devoid of all good. With such a heart, the devil relaxes his whisperings, for he has already taken residence in this heart, a territory for him to rule as he pleases in complete control.
2) The one illuminated by faith. Lamps are lit therein, but the shadows of passions and impulses remain. In this heart, the devil sometimes finds welcome, sometimes rejection; but it is a territory he yearns for.
3) The one brimming with faith illumined by its light, the hearts from whom the veils of passion have been lifted. In that glow, distractions are burnt up when they approach. When a devil approaches, a metor is cast down and he is burnt up. God protects him even more.
Why do we fast? Now is the era of asking WHY. In the past, the people can feel it automatically. For majority of us, we borrow other people's wisdom but never experience them. We follow blindly, do not feel connected to Allah and cling on to the interpretation of the book that we read.
When we mature, our mind interpret differently. Do not be satisfied with what we know about Ramadan.
4 questions were post to us to reflect and answer in class:
1) Who are you?
2) What are you doing here?
3) What do you want from this workshop?
4) Why do you want what you want?
State of awakening: We are more than just a human being. We were, are and will be a soul. Our soul is experiencing a human experience (feeling emotional, having desires etc). We have the potential to be higher than who we are now. Life being a human being can never be complete. When you are single, you want to get married, then you want children, then you want to earn a higher income, then you want to get a new house. It will go on and on.
Be AWARE and REALISE that we are just souls going through human experience. Death: Fear it? We tend to fear the outcome. Maybe the souls are waiting for us happily at the other side of the world. Similarly to a new born baby who were enjoying his stay in the mother's womb. Suddenly it is time to him to be born into the earth. He cried but the rest of us are embracing and exciting at his arrival. Our souls are experiencing human for a reason. We can find out the reaon now, tomorrow or even 10 year later.
ABOUT IBN QAYYIM
His full name is Shamsudin Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakar Ibn Qayyim Al Zawiyah. He went through a period of doubt and confusion. His quote, "All these ways did I try and I fell into a net fluttering like a bird that knows not where to fly." He, just like Imam AL-Ghazali, is a high level scholar. Ibn Qayyim met his teacher, Ibn Taymiyyah when he was 21 yrs old. His teacher and his students were imprisoned in Egypt as they were perceived to cause unrest in the society. Upon his teacher's death, he was freed and continue his studies. He passed away at the age of 60. His two most illustrious students are Ibn Rajah and Ibn Kathir.
ABOUT RAMADAN & FASTING
Ramadan has 3 root letters: ra, mim, dad. It literally means intense, scorching heat. So why is Ramadan special then since it means intense, scorching heat. It is special because Quran was sent down. Same goes to the other books of Allah; Taurat, Zabur, Injil. That makes Ramadan special.
Kak Muna's Mantra: I now only need what I now have. I do not need what I do not have now.
10 Jun 2012
Surah Al-Baqarah verse 183:
"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you so that you will achieve TAQWA."
The spiritual aspect of fasting (not only during Ramadan) is to achieve taqwa.
TAQWA: God consciousness, Faith in Allah, Fear & Love Allah, Submission, Deep reverence, Awareness of Allah etc.
Linguistic origin of Taqwa:
- To preserve something
- To protect something
- To prevent something
- Tp guard something
Islamically it means:
A state of awareness of Allah in everything we do and letting that awareness guide your action and shield you from harm. Take Allah as your Protector. Not your father, your husband, policemen etc.
Umar Ibn Abd al-Aziz: "Taqwa of Allah is giving up what Allah has forbidden and performing that which He made obligatory." Do not look at Allah's command as restriction but something that has goodness for us.
Al-Hassan: "Taqwa continues with the people of Taqwa to the point where they give up much of that which is permitted for fear of that which is forbidden."
Musa Ibn Ayun: "The people of Taqwa purify themselves of some permitted things for fear that they should fall into that which is not permitted and so Allah names them the poeple of Taqwa."
For eg shopping for branded bag is permitted. It becomes otherwise if financially we could not afford, make us in debt and neglect our other needs. The desire of buying the branded bag occupies the heart and the intention of working is to buy branded bag. If we need approval from other people so you can be happy, something is wrong with you.
Ibn al-Mu'tazz: "Leave wrong actions, the small and the great; that is taqwa. Be as if walking on top of thorny ground, taking precautions against what you see."
The first moment you wake up, your mind is empty and we choose what we want to enter our mind.
Surah al-Talaq verse 2-3 (Ayat seribu dinar):
"Whoever has taqwa of Allah, He will make him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect."
It is the meaning and connection of us to Allah that make us rich, not the verse. Connect our soul to the meaning of the verse. How much do we reflect, digest the meaning. Have belief and certainty.
The goal of fasting is to achieve TAQWA. It trains us to put aside what is permitted and not to commit anything that is forbidden.
17 Jun 2012
What is so special about Ramadan?
Surah al-Tawbah verse 36:
"Indeed, the no. of mths with Allah is 12 lunar mths in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth, of these, 4 mths are sacred...."
Allah did not mention the 4 mths. It is from Prophet Muhammad's Hadith.
Surah al-Baqarah verse 185:
"The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful."
Ramadan was made special as Quran was revealed in Ramadan. Fast in Ramadan and you will see guidance. MEMORISE - "Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship". Sometimes when we fast, we can gain more strength. BREAK THE SHELL that make us believe that fasting make us weak. When we feel hungry, we can differentiate our body and soul.
There is no other mths that Allah mentions in the Quran except Ramadan. Same like the only female name mentioned is Mariam. Our community focus in Ramadan and fasting. CHANGE TO fasting and Quran. Then our entire Ramadan will be different. We can connect to fasting better. We can connect to revelation better. Allah tells us that this is the mth of the Quran and therefore we were told to fast. Ramadan was already holy before we were told to fast.
What does fasting got to do with Quran?
Prophet Muhammad had been fasting, meditating before he received revelation. When revelation was revealed to him, he is ready to receive it and he understand thoroughly. Thus we can understand the deeper aspect of Quran when we fast. Upon fasting, we will achieve taqwa. It is achievable that fasting can help us understand the Quran.
It is our spiritual boot camp. To make us a stronger (emotionally, physically etc) person after the camp. Spiritual aspect is strong and it will manifest the physical side of you.
EGO AND THE LIMBS by Ibn Qayyim
The devil, ego and the desires- being the 3 controlling powers- join forces against the servant with the members of the body, which are only subjugated (enslaved) instruments. They carry out their ends and cannot do otherwise.
Imam Al-Ghazali: Each part of the body are a part of the army. The General is the heart. The body just do whatever the heart commands.
In Ramadan, the ego must give out positive commands to the other parts of the body. Fasting is the way to control the 3 powers.
Imam Al-Hadad:
1) ORDINARY FASTING - Against eating, drinking, sexual intimacy.
2) SPECIAL FASTING - Guard your body parts: eyes (reading FB newsfeed, cute guys), ears (away from negative speaking people), tongue (Sahaba did not speak at all during fasting. No negativity, backbiting, putting people down), fingers (commenting on FB), feet (away from undesired places).
3) EXTRA SPECIAL FASTING - Guard your thoughts, heart.
These are 3 stages just like when we are running on a treadmill- we have to elevate the angle, resistance, in order to build up our stamina. Same goes to fasting. We move from ordinary fasting to special fasting and then extra special fasting.
Allah does not leave us without any tool to achieve these stages. He give us SHOLAT. Sholat can help guard our thoughts, heart and other parts of our body. Beside that, we can also search for tools that help us be aware of our thoughts.
24 Jun 2012
The spiritual gifts of fasting:
1) Gift of depending solely on Allah for strength.
Food vs Allah. Who is stronger? Destroy our belief system that food make us strong. Eating heavily during sahor so that we can be stronger during the day. No! Allah is the one who give us strength. Don't make food as your source of strength.
2) Gift of separation from the world (mind and body) to a spiritual space (soul).
3) Gift of realizing how dependent we are on food, and realizing consequently that true source of physical strength is not really food but Allah (your soul).
4) Gift of experiencing human's weakness in a deep way.
Our weaknesses are shopping, eating chocolate, lazy etc. During Ramadan, we can see the deeper weakness of the weaknesses. We will lose interest in feeding the weaknesses in Ramadan.
5) Gift of sensitivity (of your own bad deeds and sins)
There is really a need to ask for forgiveness in Ramadan. Do something to rectify the bad deed on the spot. Do not want to commit the sin again. During off day in Ramadan, CONTINUE the flow of fasting, wake up for sahor, control the food to eat etc. It is scientifically proven, to cultivate a habit, need at least 30-40 days to carry out the habit continuously.
6) Gift of deeper focus and unparalleled obedience to Allah.
Compare to out previous ways of obedience to Allah. Is it higher than before? Do not comapre with other people. Be aware of Allah in the true kind of way. Going through 30 days of fasting, we can achieve a true kind of awareness of Allah.
Make intention but do not tell anyone (esp in FB). They are supposed to be secret between you and Allah. Be patient in worshipping Allah. Do not expect changes in you and receiving these spiritual gifts drastically. Keep seeking and experiencing knowledge. Keep going and do not stop.
7) Gift of transcending the natural & experiencing the spiritual world.
Whatever we do naturally, there is a spiritual aspect to it. Adopt different perspectives of deaths, natural disasters etc. Stop listening to what people say, society say. We are deluded by what society say. Take a step back and reflect.
1 Jul 2012 (Missed session)
Taste the REAL Ramadan, not a better Ramadan. Hadith on the blessing of Fasting:
1) "Every action of son of Adam is given manifold rewards. Each good deed receive up to 700 times. Allah the most high said, "Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me". (al-Bukhari)
There is no numerical rewards for fasting. The harder the worship is, the higher your awareness of Allah. Fasting is the highest level of worship. How much it can change a person spiritually, emotionally and physically. It is also the most impact-full form of worship for a human being. The benefits are for us directly. We fast so that we can understand Quran.
2) "For the fasting person, there are two times of joy; the time he break his fast and the time he meets his Lord (in the Hereafter)" (al-Bukhari)
3) "The bad smell that come from the mouth of fasted person is more beloved than the smeel of musk to you" (al-Bukhari)
We control what we say during Ramadan.
4) "No servant fast on one day in the path pf Allah except that Allah remove hell fire 70 years further away from his fact" (al-Bukhari)
Go deeper than the literal meaning - > We fast to be away from calamities, mishaps, psychological problems, emotional heartbreak etc. That is hell. Need not be in Ramadan only. But we must fast the special fasting.
5) "There is a gate to Jannah that is named al-Rayyah. On the day of resurrection, it will say "Where are those who fasted?". When last one has passed it will be locked." (al-Bukhari)
There is no mention of Ramadan only. This is made special for those who fast outside Ramadan too. Go beyond fasting in Ramadan only. We have the key to spiritual bliss- FAST. Use it!
6) "When the mth of Ramadan starts, the gate of Heaven are opened, the gate of Hell are closed and the devils are chained."
There is ّ (shadda) in the words; Opened and Closed. This is to emphasize on the meaning. The gate opened drastically with force. Same goes to close with force.
8 Jul 2012
Qns) If the devils are chained up, why do people still do evil?
Ans)
Level 1 people's perspective:
People are used to the current habits that in Ramadan, even though devils are chained, we continue to do it. Eg. Dating, gossiping. These are distractions to our soul.
Level 2 people's perspective:
We are the Syaitan. Let's look at it metaphorically. Syaitan is our mind when it focus on the past and the future. Mind does not want to look at the present, reality, now. Sholat can help the mind to see the reality. Companions prepared 6 mths for Ramadan and 6 mths after Ramadan, they prayed for the next Ramadan.
Hadith: "Whoever fast in Ramadan, the person fast with iman, this person will be pardon whatever had passed".
Ibn Qayyim's 5 Degrees of Prayers:
1) The lowest: The one who wrongs his own soul who is negligent, who curtails his ablution and the times, limits and essential elements of prayers.
2) The one who keeps the times, rules and elements of prayer; who keeps his ablution but is taken away by distractions; which he lacks the inner strength to resist.
3) The one who keep the limits and essential elements of the prayer and struggles against distractions, preoccupied with striving against his foe. In prayer, he is in sacred combat.
4) The one who, standing in prayer, completes its requirements, its essential elements and its limits. His heart is absorbed in the rules of prayer. His entire concern become performing the prayer s it should be.
5) In addition, places his heart before his Lord- ever vigilant before him filled with His love and glory. The distractions vanish, as the veil between him and his Lord is lifted. He is occupied only with his Lord in prayer, in which he finds his source of gladness.
3 kinds of Heart by Ibn Qayyim:
1) The one devoid of faith and devoid of all good. With such a heart, the devil relaxes his whisperings, for he has already taken residence in this heart, a territory for him to rule as he pleases in complete control.
2) The one illuminated by faith. Lamps are lit therein, but the shadows of passions and impulses remain. In this heart, the devil sometimes finds welcome, sometimes rejection; but it is a territory he yearns for.
3) The one brimming with faith illumined by its light, the hearts from whom the veils of passion have been lifted. In that glow, distractions are burnt up when they approach. When a devil approaches, a metor is cast down and he is burnt up. God protects him even more.