A Ceremony to Appreciate Blessings of God

Literally, Eid (Feast) is taken from reversion and means to return. From the historical point of view, Eid Norouz dates back to Sasanian Period, and it is the only Eid which has long being welcomed by all people.

Norouz or the new day means the first day of the Iranian year and the first day of Farvardin in the beginning of spring, Norouz is one of the most important cultural and national festivals of millions of Iranian and non-Iranian who live in all parts of the world.

According to the historical findings, Norouz is born from the Iranian beliefs. What has been inferred from the historical sources is: “it is obvious that the origin of a day called Norouz or Nirouz existed in the history and in the background of geographical territory of Iran from thousands of years ago, so that in all Persian literature, words and stories of the Infallible Imams (SA), we can see the footstep of Norouz. It is crystal clear that there is no need to prove a day called Norouz from the historical point of view. For instance, the view of Allama Mulla Mohammad Baqir Majlisi (died in 110 AH), one of the first-level jurists, scientists and scholars in Abbasi government period, verifies this subject. He stated that it is too clear and obvious that Norouz has been the first day of the Persian year and, furthermore, it is mentioned in many stories like the story of Moallem Ben Alkhanis and other stories that Norouz is the first day of the Persian year.

Norouz is not only the magnificent display of national, religious, and social culture, but also it is the symbol of religious beliefs revival like happiness, cleaning, grass working, affection, ingenuity, friendship and social tie along with happiness and smile and expressing love to each other.

Norouz is the ceremony to celebrate the procreation of human and nature and it is the promise of flower and beauty and modernism. It is the promise of nature, floriculture, and blossoms of trees.

These are the symbols of power of God and the signs of wisdom and mercy and kindness of God to the servants. The Glorious God changes all things from equilibrium, solace, silence, and necrosis to movement, life, exhilaration, freshness, and beauty, and he provides the requirements for human’s thanksgiving before God Almighty and he calls human to meditate in signs and effects of God’s mercy.

Therefore, look carefully at the signs and prints of Allah’s mercy (in creation): how He quickens the earth after her death. Lo! He verily is the Quickener of Dead, and He is Able to do all things (Al-Room/Surah 50).

So, it means that Eid Norouz is an appreciation ceremony for God’s blessings and satisfaction and Renascence that has revealed the signs of His might and glory throughout the nature for people to create some changes in their speaking and individual and social behaviour in the best way. As we say “Oh Reformer of hearts and minds; Director of day and night; Transformer of conditions; Change ours to the best in accordance with Your will “in the prayer of the start of New Year, the change in the nature has to be the change in group and individual encounters and perhaps the faults we might have and we have to perform this change in the best ways which are desired by Islam and human. This is because Islam brought the best speech and behavioural ethics in all areas for the human with its innovation and taught him how to change himself at the beginning of New Year and to tend to proper moral and behaviour along with the emerging phenomenon of nature and to turn from individual and collective violence to Islamic and humane kindness and mercy and compassion and to put justice and moderation in his methodology and to avoid behavioural, speech, economic, and moral extremes and to perform Quran’s commands (help ye another unto righteousness and pious duty-Maidah, Verse 2) in the way to reach the best conditions, that is the eradication of poverty, having altruism, good cooperation, removing cultural, economic, and mental poverty and social disorders.

Hojatoleslam Ali Khademi

Director General of Lorestan Province IDO

Monday, April 02, 2012 - 9:7