Ramadan Kareem, ninth month of Islamic Lunar Calendar is very dear to Allah (SWT). It is the most august of all months, pure, generous and merciful. Do not let its nights go waste in slumber, its days in careless omission or loss of remembrance of Allah (SWT).

Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) reports that Holy Prophet Mohammad (saw) has said that Sha'ban is my month and Ramadan is the month of Allah (SWT). Therefore, if anyone observers one day of fasting during Sha'ban, I will do his/her "Shafaat" on the day of judgment, and one who observers two days of fasting then his/her previous sins would be forgiven and if someone observers three days of fasting then it would be just like all the sins have been washed away.

Imam Ali Raza (as) has said that if someone observes fast during the last three days of Sha'ban and combines them with the fasting during the month of Ramadan then Allah (SWT) will grant the sawab (reward) of two months of continuous fasting to that person.

During Meraj (Night Ascension) the Holy Prophet Mohammad (saw) asked: "O Allah, what is the gift of fasting?"

Allah (SWT) said: "Fasting leads to wisdom, enables you to understand my signs and ways that will elevate you to a stage of certitude. And when a person has reached the stage of certitude, he or she cares not whether the days pass in plenty or scarcity".

Ali ibn abi Talib, Amir al-Mu'menin (Peace be Upon him)

(This part gives) an account of the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, the first of the Imams of the believers, of the rulers (wulat) of the Muslims and of God's (appointed) successors in religion after the Apostle of God, the truthful one and the trusted one, Muhammad b. Abd Allah, the seal of the Prophets, blessings on him and his pure family. (He was) the brother of the Apostle of God and his paternal cousin, and his helper (wazir) in his affair, his son-in- law (being married) to his daughter, Fatima the chaste, mistress of the women of the universe.

Imam Baqar's Commandments to his Shias

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, peace be on him, and all the Imams of the members of the House (AhlulBayt), peace be on them, took great care of their Shias. They wanted them to follow their guidance and behavior.

They wanted them to be pious in their earnings. Moreover, they wanted them to cleave to the affairs of their religion to be an example to all Muslims. For the Shias have bright Islamic abilities. With these abilities they are able to illuminate the way to the perplexed, and to show the great position of the members of the House (AhlulBayt), peace be on them.