Today, as you are driving home from work, it happens. After the initial jolt, you find yourself strangely detached from your body and the twisted metal around you. As you assess the situation, you realize that this is an accident you won't survive.

As you begin to evaluate your life, your thoughts turn to Imam Ali (peace be upon him), approaching death after receiving the fatal blow while he offered his prayers. He had exclaimed, "By the Lord of the Ka'ba, I am successful!" What an upright life he lived – a model of success for all – and what perfect, simple advice he had left in his last will and testament!

Read more: The Last Will and Testament of Imam Ali [a]

When Imam Ali ibn Musa Ridha (peace be upon him) was requested to make his way to the city of Toos (present-day Mashhad) and was ordered to be the heir-apparent of Mamun ar-Rashid, a group of the Shia came to see him and requested permission to enter into his presence. The Imam asked his servant who the people at the door were, to which the servant replied, "They claim that they are the Shia of Ali." The Imam did not give them permission to enter into his presence. This event continued on the second day, third day, and so on. For a period of two months, every day they would come, ask for permission to see the Imam, to which he would not give them the permission. On the final day, this group of people told the servant, "Tell the Imam that if we are to return back to our home town after being in the city of Toos for two months, and the people ask us if we had a chance to visit the Imam or not, and we tell them that he did not give us the permission to meet him, then no one shall respect us." The servant went to the Imam and told him what these people said, and at this point, the Imam permitted them to meet him.

Read more: The True Followers of Ali ibn Abi Talib [a]

1. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) tells us that Satan is locked during the holy month of Ramadan. In his well-known sermon before the holy month, he is reported to have said: "O People….and the Satans are chained, and hence ask Your Lord not to allow him overpower you." (Al-Amaali)

What is the actual meaning of this? Does it resemble a material scenario where Satan and his army have been chained and thus cannot attack the fasting ones, or does it have another implication? Having studied the traditions on this subject, scholars of authority say that it is the hunger of fasting in the Holy month of Ramadan that hampers Satan from penetrating into the human being. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: "Surely Satan flows in the son of Adam the way the blood flows. Therefore block his channels through hunger." ('Awaali al-La'aali)

Read more: Utilizing the Opportunity of the Month of Ramadan

One of the effects of Muslims living in a non-Muslim society is the desensitization that many may develop towards sin. This is the natural result of living in a society utterly void of any regard for the purity Islam seeks to instil in our hearts. If for example a man has from his childhood seen women dressed in an immodest manner, how can the sight of such a woman cause any repulsion in his heart? If one has always had close peers of illegitimate birth, how can a pure lineage be valued? Worse yet, Muslims in such a society may begin to regard purity and sin to be no different from one another. When a child grows up with friends, teachers, and role models who do not hold such pure values dear to them, what is to be expected of the child?

Read more: Khadija: the Pure One

Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani has issued a statement authorizing that a third of the Imam's share of the khoms charity tax be donated to help victims of the floods in Pakistan.

In the statement issued on Saturday, Ayatollah Lotfollah Golpayegani offered his condolences to the families of victims of the natural disaster in Pakistan and gave permission for a third of the Imam's share to be donated as humanitarian assistance to the Muslim people of Pakistan.

Read more: Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani Authorizes Donation of Part of Khums to Pakistan Flood Victims

You're invited! Although the invitation hasn't come in the mail, your presence would please the Most Honorable One during the month of Ramadan. So clear your calendars and get ready, because this is one invitation you don't want to pass up!

While Rajab is the month of our Creator and Sha'ban is the month of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him and his progeny), the blessed month of Ramadan is our month – the month of the Ummah. It is during these few weeks that we are the guests of the Most Gracious. Taking our role into consideration, we should try to be the best of guests – after all, we do want to be worthy of being invited again!

Read more: Guests of the Almighty