Spring is the manifestation of creation’s beauty, and Norooz is the beginning of the growth season, renewed life and life of nature. Norooz comes with spring and invites all of us to change, transform, and become new because if Norooz is not fulfilled in our inner side, the autumn of sin and crime will burn our being.
There are a lot to say about Norooz, but here, we look at the beauties of it briefly.
Thinking and Cognition:
Norooz comes and along itself brings the spring, the spring which is a glimmer of the unique divine beauty, the spring which itself is as a university with the expanse of all world which teaches the secrets of the creation to all people who seek the truth and reality and desire the union (with God) clearly.
Norooz can be as the spring of worship; if the heart is changed too, the revolution is not a highly ambition. It only needs a little God’s grace because God is
«مقلب القلوب و الابصار» and «محول الحول و الاحوال»
The One who changes our years and conditions; The One who changes our hearts and sights.
We should follow the lessons and messages of spring carefully and take lesson from this small resurrection and renewed life of nature, understand the greatness and power of God by looking at the beauties and masterpieces of creation and surrender to the providence and willpower of Him.
The spiritual purity
A real Muslim should be after God’s satisfaction in the whole arenas of life, seek nobody save Him and pass no way save His way.
Although, Norooz is an Iranian and national ancient tradition, it has been proved and emphasized by religious subjects in many cases. So, it is worthy that we refer to Islam’s commandments so that the halo of spirituality surrounds Norooz and each moment of these days gets the divine color, that if this work is done, the divine blessing will include all of us undoubtedly.
The rituals and deeds which are suggested in religious sources and narrative books for Norooz are as follows:
A) Performing Ablution
B) Fasting in order to get close to God
C) Decorating that day with recollection of God especially saying “God is great”
D) Reading the specific prayer of Norooz which is as follow:
« يا مقلب القلوب و الابصار، يا مدبر اليل و النهار، يا محول الحول و الاحوال، حول حالنا الي احسن الحال»
E) Doing 4 rak’at prayers (2 prayers with 2 rak’at) after noon and afternoon prayers as follow:
In the first rak’at, we read the Qadr Süra for ten times after reading Hamd Sura, then we read Kafarun Süra for ten times after reading Hamd Sura in the second rak’at. Also, in the second 2rak’at prayer, we read Tohid Süra for ten times after reading Hamd Sura in the first rak’at and in the next rak’at we read the Falaq Süra and Naas Sura for ten times after reading Hamd Sura.
After the end of the prayer, we bow down as we thank God and utter praise (peace be upon the Prophet).
– The intention of getting close to God in the nice and value rituals and traditions of Norooz such as visiting the relatives, visiting the patient, and giving gifts.
– Reading the existing prayers in the prayers book.
Memorial of the occasions and historical events
The day of ancient Norooz is coincided with the vital and momentous incidents and happenings that paying attention to them can be effective in order to look at Norooz more spiritually. Some parts of these occasions are as follows with the narration of Imam Sadiq:
A) The day God got the promise from His servants for believing in oneness and unity of Him and this matter that we should not worship anyone save Him and we do not take a partner for Him.
B) The first day of sunrise.
C) The first day of the blowing of winds that make trees pregnant.
D) The revelation of Gabriel on the Prophet of Islam, Holy Mohammad and appointment of the Prophet, peace be upon him.
E) The iconoclasm of Holy Ibrähim and Imam Ali in Kába.
F) The allegiance of people with Imam Ali, the son of Abitaleb, as the Commander of the faithful.
G) The day of the advent and deliverance of the Savior of humanity’s world, Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him.
Exchange of visits and social intercourse:
The exchange of visits and social intercourse with people are always desirable, however this matter finds more importance in Norooz days. In the other words, Norooz is a specific season for the exchange of visits. Exchange of visits have been a very favored issue from the viewpoint of Islam and have been emphasized constantly, provided that the canonical and moral matters are observed and it doesn’t lead to the act and affair which are religiously prohibited. The companionship with the scholars and using their words and preaching and also visiting the believers, competent, grandees, neighbors and relatives are the cases which have been advised in the narrations.
In addition to these matters, observing the privacy of close family members with whom one cannot marry(Mahram) and also a man in front of whom a woman is to cover her hair (non-Mahram), the veil (Hijab) and chastity, avoidance of talking behind one’s back, lying, slander, extravagance, overeating,… are the rules of etiquette which should be noticed.
Suitable appearance:
The holy religion of Islam is a comprehensive religion which has presented various plans according to the human’s nature and his needs. One of these plans is that a Muslim should have a suitable appearance and avoid from “sloppiness and disorder”.
Wearing clean and neat clothes, paying attention to the appearance such as combing hair and beard, cutting moustache, putting on perfume for men generally and for women when the man in front of whom a woman is to cover her hair, is not present are the recommendation of Islam. In the Biography of infallible Imam especially Holy Mohammad we read that he was obligated to wear the clean and neat cloths, used to embellish himself in front of mirror and comb his noble hair and beard whenever he left for mosque.
This good tradition has a specific position in Norooz, for Norooz is the climax of visitation and it is not right that a person bothers a Muslim with bad smell of mouth or sweat of the body and …
Imam Sadiq says to Moálly, the son of Khanis: wear the cleanest clothes and put on the best perfume whenever Norooz comes”.
What is observed in this narration, is the obligation of human towards the clean cover not luxury and deluxe clothes which lead to boasting, extravagance, humiliation of the others and megalomania.
Visiting relatives
The position of kindness towards one’s relatives is so much important in Islam that Imam Ali says:
«صلوا رحامکم ولو بالسلام»
“Visit your relatives even if this is limited to just saying a hello.”
Visiting relatives has many worldly and spiritual effects like this matter that it increases the lifespan, makes ethics good, softens the spirit, develop daily bread and makes the calculation of Dooms day easy for human being.
It is evident that visiting parents has a specific position according to Quran’s divine decree. This matter includes the kinsmen, relatives and kindred. It is worthy that we deal to intimacy and fellowship more and act to remove the hostilities and enmities in Norooz that visiting relatives has an especial importance.
Creation of peace between two sides:
One of the other beauties of Norooz which can be the source of many charities is the creation of peace between two sides. Norooz is a very worthwhile opportunity in order to send away and remove the enmities, hostilities and frustrations and plant the friendship and intimacy tree.
A Muslim consider the reconciliation among the people and creation of understanding between them as a part of his/her duty, because the Exalted God says in the Holy Quran,
«فاصلحوا بين اخويکم»
It means that we should create peace, adaptation and reconciliation among our religious brothers. We see the example of this matter in the practical way of life of Infallible Imams who used all facilities and instruments in order to strengthen the relationship of Muslims and remove the estrangements.
Imam Baqir, peace be upon him, says, “If two Muslims break off friendship with each other more than three days, I hate them”.
Tidiness and spring cleaning
Being clean is considered as a part of faith in Islam and observing it in life is one of the Muslim’s duties. In a narration by the Prophet of Islam we read that:
«إن الله طيب يحب الطيب نظيف يحب النظافة»
“God is pure and likes purity, He is clean and likes cleanness”
In other narration, Imam Ali says that dirtiness and pollution of home brings poverty.
The favored tradition of cleaning house are not allocated to a specific time, and the house of a Muslim should always be clean and neat, however when Norooz arrives, the motivations for cleaning the house increase and the willpower of people especially women becomes more concerning this job.
The subtle issue which is posed concerning this matter is that we want God that the cleaning of the house leads to the heart’s cleaning, and as we clean the houses and homes from dirtiness and dust, clean the heart’s home from the ethical meanness, hostilities, enmities, pessimisms too.
Going to and throwing party
One of the desirable traditions of Norooz is to go to party and throw party that this matter has found an especial manifestation in accordance with the traveling and visitations of these days. From the view point of Islam, hospitality is one of the valuable virtues in the social relations and the infallible Imams have considered it as one of the important ethical principle.
In the narrations, guest has been interpreted as “God’s gift”. Accepting the invitation of a believer has been considered as his/her right and rejecting his invitation has been considered as the oppression for the believer.
Of course, observing the social manners and canonical limits, avoiding sins such as talking behind one’s back, extravagance, mingling with Mahram and non-Mahram, bothering the householder, are the main principles which should be observed. We review narration in order to become familiar with party’s rites.
A person invited Imam Ali to his party. That Holy Imam said:
“I accept this party on three conditions;
First, you shouldn’t purchase anything from outdoors.
Second, bring whatever exists at home!
Third, you shouldn’t bother your wife and children!
Healthy Entertainments
Entertainment is the requirement of human being, source of spiritual cheerfulness and physical relaxation of him. The Norooz holidays and leisure times resulted from it, are a suitable arena in order to be more benefited by this divine blessing. Islam is not against the happiness, cheerfulness and entertainment of course, it has presented the instructions for this matter as it has plan for the whole human dimensions and requirements and finally this matter that it has red line in this case which it is the observance of canonical and ethical scale. It is a good oppurtunity that we increase our spiritual and physical cheerfulness and benefit by the educative effects of entertainment such as the manifestation of creativity, innovation, sense’s concentration, self-confidence and …
Visiting Holy places, the martyrs and dead grave:
The people are gratified to visit holy places, holy shrines in Najaf and Karbala and holy mausoleums of the Infallible Imams (Peace be upon them), and also the shrines of an Imam’s descendents in Norooz days based on a desirable tradition.
Furthermore, visiting the martyrs and dead graves has specific importance in this period. These deeds are valuable intrinsically and visiting the dead grave has high position in addition to visiting the Saints and Infallible Imams shrine which has an excellent wags and reward by the Exalted God. Visiting the dead grave is first as a re-promise with valuable martyrs who presented their holy blood so that Islam is revived and becomes prosperous and honored. Second, attendance in martyrs flower garden and graveyards is an instruction and lesson for all of us in order to think about our eternal home which is the position of the other world and not involve in ignorance with the glitter and tinsel of the world. Third, this work is benefited by a great reward and compensation.
Imam Sadiq says that if a believer takes a visit to the grave of a believer and read the noble Sura of the Qadr for seven times, God forgives and blesses him and the dead.
Giving gifts
Giving gifts is one of the beautiful traditions of Norooz. This act causes the happiness to be entered in Muslim’s heart, and has a great influence on the implementation of friendship and intimacy among them. The monetary aspect is not important in this tradition and its spiritual and emotional aspect is more important as we read in the narrations that if the gift is given for the purpose of sincerity, it is considered as a kind of worship and has got a great reward in the presence of the Exalted God.
The Prophet of Islam says, “Gift something to each other, because giving a gift increases the friendship and annihilates the enmities and hostilities”. It is evident that giving a gift to all people is a good work, but it is more desirable work to gift something to kids and children.
Planting trees:
Agriculture is a very sacred and valuable job in Islam and planting trees is considered as the favorite job of God. The Prophet of Islam says in a narration that there is no Muslim who plants a tree and a human being or an animal is benefited by it unless it is written alms for him until the Doomsday.
Norooz days and springtime are a good opportunity in order to do this favored tradition due to good condition of this season.
Consoling the afflicted and visiting the family of the devoted:
The respected families of the martyrs and also freemen are the greatest investment of the Revolution and according to Imam Khomeini’s word “the cynosure of the nation”. They are a benefactor to the revolution and nation, and the security and comfort of our today’s time are due to the devotions and sacrifices.
It is worthy that we attend in the gathering of these grandees, conciliate them and announce our appreciation and honoring to them in Norooz days.
Furthermore, attendance in the gatherings or houses of the afflicted families is of the deserved traditions of Norooz which is noticed.
Consoling the orphans and showing kindness towards them have suitable position in these days. Imam Sadiq says, “If everyone pats the orphan’s baby on the head kindly and affectionately, God grants him a light in Doomsday by the number of the hairs which have been touched by him/her”. Going to sanatoriums and hospitals, and visiting the patients are considered as a valuable work and positive habits and customs of Norooz days which have been considered as the absolute rights of faith brothers in the social culture of Islam.
More intimacy with family
Norooz is an excellent opportunity in order that the members of the family create more and better relationship with each other. In the other days, this relationship and intimacy exist less in the families due to work, education, but the specific atmosphere of Norooz can fill this gap well and be the problem-solver of many problems and complications. From the viewpoint of Islam, a man is obligated to meet immaterial and spiritual needs of the family in addition to providing the materialistic needs of the life. The Holy Quran says, « قوا انفسكم و اهليكم نار» . It means: “Maintain yourselves, your wife and children from divine chastisement and fire of the Hell”. Undoubtedly, the only way of family’s salvation is resorting to divine piety and making home and family’s atmosphere full of divine and religious teachings.
On the other hand, in the narration we read that if the faith of a man is high, his affection towards his wife will increase. In a Hadith by Imam Reza we read, “Behave well towards your children and show your favor, because they think that you are their bread provider”.
The Prophet of Islam says, “Kiss your children, for it is granted you a degree in Paradise in return for every kiss”.
Source : www.ido.ir