Salam
Philosophy of fasting Ramadan and the Surah it's mentioned in
One of the things in Quran is that it repeats a lot, but there is still uniqueness to Surahs repeating same facts. I talked a lot about how the precise chosen ones mentioned and in the way they are mentioned upon reflection is not random at all.
Today I want you guys to notice something unique about Surah Baqara:
1. The emphasis on belief in "the hidden/unseen" is unique
2. The mention of fasting is unique
3. The mention of Talut (a) is only found in this chapter and his story only appears here.
This is not coincidence.
To explain, fasting, the Quran integrates some subjects here. There is a verse with "seek help from patience and Salah and indeed it is hard except on the humble", the it is singular and not dual plural, and this is because if you are patient it is implied you will perform Salah. But it's said patience is also linked and what is alluded to here, is fasting. If you are patient, you will be able to fast, and Salah will be formed, and so it's one and the same thing. This is usage of singular against plural.
Another place we find this is that there is a singular reference to "left" imply the family of Musa and family of Haroun are one family and this is used to emphasize on Talut's (a) Authority.
Talut (a) tests his followers with water, most are unable to not drink from it, and hence he says "they are not from him", what does it mean to be from Talut? Believers are from Talut and he is their leader and light.
Before that there was also talk of the Mana and that Bani-Israel didn't want to be patient on one food. The mana from sister of Haroun (a) and Musa (a), Mariam (a) the first one, was supernatural and linked to God's light and next world. Thus it shows preferring food of lower type, was in a way, succumbing to the lower self over the higher spiritual reality.
This emphasis is also uniquely found here in this Surah.
Government and justice, needs discipline by followers. Linking to how Bani-Israel got established government in an oppressed state, shows, that God wants pious to help enforce justice and did not want government to be build on superficial worldly impatient reasons. This is why Samuel (a) warned them, they may not fight. They could not foresee the test, but this shows, fighting in God's way should be with full submission to the leader and guide of their time. Talut (a) and Samuel (a) appear no where else.
Also, Samuel (a) name doesn't appear, but in the start of every chapter but one, it says "by the name of God..", that is Arabic version of Samuel's (a) name without shortened. Imam Ali (a) in a ziyarat we address him as "Peace be upon you name of God that he is pleased with"
There is many topics in this Surah and they are all linked. But we can see, that fasting is about being disciplined to obey God and his Messengers. Talut (a) was disobeyed with respect to thirst. They were thirsty, but he said, you can drink a bit. So they all drank a lot and were not disciplined. Same with the Mana of Mariam (a) the first one, they were not patient.
God is the reward per hadiths of fasting. Also linked with this, is the impatience of followers of Musa in that they didn't support the Prophets and didn't drink of the Twelver rivers alluded to by Musa's(a) miracle, in form of Guides after Musa, but sought even dark arts from devils of Jinn and their friends of humans, and accused Sulaiman (a) of it.
The Quran is said to be revealed in Ramadan. But we know not all of it was revealed that month. It can be that this saying something else about month of Ramadan. It can be saying the month itself is a time where the universe is in a state where Quran is revealed at higher level. Somehow the Ramadan, has Quran in it, in a way other months do not.
God is telling us we can drink and eat of the Quran in Ramadan, in ways, other months it's not as accessible. Thus the month of Ramadan, has been revealed the Quran or it's brought down in it.
The family of Mohammad and Ali (peace be upon them) in this time are well received. The devils have less control. They are in a way shackled. What does shackled mean?
This holy month, because the reminder which is in Mohammad's (s) heart is easier and found therein over all months.
Thus Quranic light and Wilayat of the Twelve Jaffars (oceans/lakes/rivers) after Mohammad (s), is heavily alluded to. We see there is emphasis on bani-ISrael to eat the sustenance of God and that all knew their drinking place with respect to the Twelve Rivers and they are condemned for instead killing and denying the Prophets.
What does this all mean? The unseen reality of Ramadan is witnessed by the heart. The Quran is reminding of a higher reality, that higher reality has more influence in Ramadan. The Quran is somehow found and brought down in this month over all other months.
The Ayat Kursi is also peak of Quran. The word Mulk in Quran appears 40 times in Quran. It's as if also that this peak is supposed to give spiritual water and life to all the "mulk" verses because it's God's seat that extends to all things and over whole of universe.
This is what was actually entrusted to Musa (a), and his successors (1) Haroun (a), (2) Samuel (a), (3)Talut (a), (4) Dawood (a), (5)Sulaiman (A), (6) Elyas (a),(7) Alyasa (a), (8) Dul-Kifl, (9) Imran (a), (10)Zakaria (a), (11) Yahya (a), (12) Isa (a) in Bani-Israel, and now given to Ahlulbayt of Mohammad (s) and his Twelve Successors (a) for rest of humanity till the day of judgment.
Tranquility is found in these holy souls and fasting is about connecting to the unseen hidden reality of God's Authority (mulk) and it's by his name that God reigns through his seat. That is how God is upon his seat. Through his name.
Ramadan is itself unseen belief. It's signs are hidden except for those who seek help from God through patience and through connecting to God through ritual prayers.
The households chosen by God - they are meant to be entered through their doors and not from behind. Most of humanity wants to claim one of these houses for themselves, and go to leaders that are not doors of God.
So we see Samuel (a) and Talut (a) appearing and his story appearing in this Surah and no where else, is calculative and associating the story with fasting. The link to Ayat Kursi and his authority which is God's Authority which he gives to who he pleases, is undeniable.
Than a cool down happens after Ayatul Kursi, in which, it's mentioned Tyrants reject God's Kings like Ibrahim (a) in the past, because of what God has given Ibrahim (a) of the authority, they can't submit to it. People largely arguing and disputing the truth of God, heaven and hell, also do so so they don't submit to God's Authority on earth.
People want to follow their low desires and hence argue about God only due their knowledge, God has given his authority to who he pleases. They don't want to submit.
Fasting is a way, to fight lower desires then as well. It's a leap of faith with the unseen reality of Ramadan (the month) but it's also a choice to not want the lower world, but the higher unseen pleasures and sustenance of God. It also is a huge contrast that one connects to God's chosen ones and means than to succumb to dark magic and that world of demons.
Patience is heavily emphasized and we see this is the longest Surah also with the longest verse in Quran. The link of that, with Mohammad (s) and Ali (a), and their chosen offspring through Fatima (a) is undeniable.
But the nation was reckless in preferring the Dunya and let the Imams (a) be killed one by one. To God is the complaint and we do with what the cards we been dealt.
I have talked about somethings that if you reflect, should begin to see, the Quran although repeats, is also calculative in what it repeats and what it does not, and in which place something or someone is mentioned. Indeed these are signs for a people who reflect.
