Ramazan Pakistan: Aitikaf rids heart of worldliness, says Noorani

KARACHI: The spiritual exercise of seclusion practised as Aitikaf in the last 10 days of Ramazan cleanses the heart and mind of worldly desires, said the chief of Sawade Azam Ahle Sunnat Haqiqi, Allama Kokab Noorani on Friday. “It is imperative to understand the real spirit of Aitikaf, otherwise the person fails to get its true benefits,” Kokab Noorani said speaking on the special two-hour transmission of Ramazan Pakistan hosted by Allama Nisar Ali Ujagar. These 10 days are for Allah only, keeping busy on the Internet and cell phones, talking needlessly, overeating and oversleeping defeat the idea of Aitikaf, he said. He said Islam teaches us to stay connected with Allah, while carrying on all the worldly affairs. The concept of abandoning day to day life and becoming a recluse to attain nearness to God is alien to Islam.  “Live, work, raise family and go about doing all your daily affairs but don’t forget to pray, that is what Allah demands of us,” Kokab Noorani said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2014.