A Discussion of the Narrations

The Reality of Festival

From the Commander of the Faithful: “It is only a festival for one whose fasting God has accepted and whose standing [in prayer] He has appreciated; and every day in which God is not disobeyed is a festival.” (262)

Allusion: Return and going back to the source of life and receiving the abundance (kawthar) of gnosis (maʿrifa) and deliverance from defilement (rijs), corruption (rajz), frivolity (lahw) and play (laʿb), adornment (ārāyish), boasting (tafākhur) and rivalry (takāthur), are clear instances of festival and joy, and the first condition for this is avoiding sin, which according to the statement of the Qur’an brings with it filth, impurity, and the like. (263)