In the name of Allah, the Compassionate the Merciful

«وعهِدنا اِلى ابراهیم و اسماعِیل أن طهرا بیتِی لِلطّائفین و العاکِفِین و الرکّعِ السُجُود»

We advised Abraham and Ishmael to keep My house clean for the pilgrims, the worshippers and for those who bow down and prostrate themselves in worship. (Quran, 2:125)

One of the many acts of worship which God has legislated for man's spiritual growth, perfection and evolution is E'atekaf. It is one of the worship acts which have special benefits, significance and virtues. It is so important that even Allah, the Almighty instructed two of His great prophets, Abraham and Ishmael (peace be upon them) to prepare and purify the best and most important place i.e. the House of God for the Mu'takefeen (those retiring from the world in a holy place) and those bowing and prostrating themselves in worship. E'atekaf is an act of worship which separates man from the worldly expressions and places him in the center of worship, invocation and communion with God. The worshipper makes himself intimate with God and favorite of Him. As a Mu'takef, he detaches from impurities, pollution and any un-Godly position as he resettles in the abode of truth. It is E'atekaf through which one can boost and elevate the spirit of supplication and invocation and rise up to a height of proximity to God. E'atekaf helps a person cover the various stages of Istighfar (seeking forgiveness), stages which cannot be reached or attained in ordinary situations. It is through E'atekaf that one can succeed in doing Istighfar and reaching hope, modesty, repentance, yearning, fear, obedience, confession, sincerity and trust. E'atekaf makes one's heart luminous and enables him to ascend to the pinnacle of spirituality. And finally, E'atekaf helps one reach the love of the hearts of the mystics and worshippers.

In such a weird circumstance and time in which the tyrants and oppressors are leaving no stone unturned to eradicate Islam and Muslims and to turn off the light of God by killing the weak and gaining hegemony over them, the Muslims especially the clerics, students and the youth should further equip themselves with the weapon of piety and faith so that they can stand against the oppressors with pure and confident spirits. They have to revive through E'atekaf the divine power in themselves so as to combat against all satanic expressions and anti-God powers.  They must multiply the strong power of piety and faith in themselves to the extent that they should overpower all internal and external temptations and fear no one other than God.

I hope that, in the current year in which the evils of the illegitimate government of Israel have further been exposed and men, women and children are being savagely killed in Lebanon, we pray for their victory and the reappearance of the Savior of humanity, the Imam of the Time (may Allah hasten his reappearance) and for dignity of Islam and Muslims all over the world – Insha Allah.

یا من لایصرفُ السوءَ الا هو یا من لایُدَبّرُ الاَمرَ الا هُوَ یا من لایَغفِرُ الذنبَ الا هو صلّ على محمّد و آل محمّد.

Muhammad Fazel Lankarani
Rajab al-Murajjab/ 1427