12 Ramadan

  AN EXPLANATION OF THE REASON FOR THE FAST

Allah created the intellect.
He asked it to go up.
It went up.
He asked it to go down.
It went down .
He asked it to go away.
It went away, He asked it to come near.
It came near.

Then Allah created the self.
He asked it to go up.
It refused.
He asked it to go down.
It refused.
He asked it to go away.
It refused.
He asked it to come near.
It refused.

So Allah sent the self to the Fire for 10,000 years.
Finally He brought the self before Him.
He asked it to go up.
It refused.
He asked it to go down.
It refused.
He asked it to go away.
It refused.
He asked it to come near.
It refused.

Allah sent the self to the Fire for another 10,000 years.
He brought the self before Him.
He asked it to go up.
It had become even more proud and rebellious.
It refused.
He asked it to go down.
It refused.
He asked it to go away.
It refused,
He asked it to come near. It refused.

Finally Allah deprived the self of food and drink for
   10,000 years.
After 10,000 years with no food and drink
Allah brought the self before Him.
He asked it to go up.
It trembled and wavered.
It went up.
He asked it to go down.
It trembled and wavered.
It went down.
He asked it to go away.
It went away.
He asked it to draw near.
It drew near.

In this way the self was broken
and became the
slave of Allah.