In the spiritual and intellectual dimension, the fasting person sees himself in the presence of God, he does not break his fast in private and a person manages himself more easily than before in the holy month of Ramadhan. RNA – It may seem that the nature of fasting does not need to be analyzed; We must not eat anything from the beginning of the morning adhan (call to prayer) until the beginning of the evening adhan. This is part of the truth and not all of it. This means that if a person has only a physical and bodily dimension, his fast also includes only this dimension but when a person has other dimensions, fasting inevitably includes those dimensions as well.
Dimensions of mankind and the world
As stated in Hikmah al-Muta’aliyyah (Transcendent Theosophy), mankind has at least three existential dimensions: ruh (spirit), nafs (spirit) and badan (body). The spirit is the centre of beliefs and insight and the heart is the centre of emotions, feelings and dispositions and the body is the centre of activities, behaviours, and actions. When mankind has three dimensions, he also has three needs: rational and doctrinal needs, moral and emotional needs and behavioural and practical needs. What responds to these three human needs in Islam is: usul al-din (the principles of religion), akhlaq (morality) and furu’ al-din (the branches of religion).
The relationship between these three is like the structure of a building – its exterior and interior. In other words, every building has a substructure, an interior and an exterior that are completely coordinated, linked and interconnected like a brain, heart and arm or root, stem and fruit.
The universe also has three dimensions of existence, including alam al-mulk (the heavenly realm), alam al-mithal (the imaginal realm) and alam al-malakut (the realm of dominion), which we usually refer to as the interpretations of the dunya (world), barzakh (purgatory), and qiyamah (resurrection). Of course, what is known are the two dimensions of the body, soul, the temporal world and the hereafter, which do not contradict the three-dimensional theory of seeing mankind and the world.
That mankind and the world have three forms, and not two forms or one form, is very controversial. Because the thinker who sees mankind and the world in three forms will also see the tools and sources of knowledge in three forms: intellect and reasoning, narration and revelation, sense and experience. These three tools and sources of knowledge do not negate each other and are in harmony with each other. For example, Imam Khomeyni, as a philosopher and sage of Transcendent Wisdom who has been teaching transcendent wisdom for more than twenty years, has the same view.
The dimensions of fasting
We have said that the three dimensions of human existence are completely intertwined and separate in mind and on paper and therefore, this must be taken into account when talking about the special act of fasting in each of these dimensions.
In this notion of fasting, the spirit, intellect, and belief of mankind are aware that they are in the presence of God. Even if mankind does not have this sense, then according to the guidance of the greats, it is necessary for him to constantly remind himself and understand that he is in the presence of God and is rather, the guest of God. The supplications that have been recited during this month and the emphasis placed on reciting the Quran are intended to strengthen this dimension of the relationship with God.
In the spiritual and intellectual dimension, because the fasting person sees himself in the presence of God, in solitude, as it is commonly stated, he does not break his fast, even if there is no one present and no one understands. This feeling of being in the presence of God when fasting for thirty days accompanies the fasting person. This belief is the foundation of physical and esoteric fasting and if one succeeds in understanding this presence and nobility of God over oneself and the universe, fasting is real and if the fasting person feels this intimate presence with his soul and intellect during other months and he considers himself a guest of God and fasts in remembrance of other than God.
In the second dimension, which is the dispositions of mankind and the centre of lust and violence in mankind, it is necessary to irrigate love and mercy in God, God’s friends and servants of God, and in return, one must be at enmity with God’s enemies for the sake of God. Forgiveness, generosity, self-sacrifice, love, having no grudges toward others and in general, all virtues and vices are placed in the dimension such that the fasting person must adorn himself with virtues and avoid vices.
In the third dimension, in addition to the nine prohibitions of the limbs and organs of mankind, the fasting person must also avoid divine prohibitions and must not commit sins through the eyes, ears, hands, feet, tongue and skin.
Rasa News Agency