"O Allah, appoint me this day to be among those who plead for Your forgiveness; place me therein among Your righteous and obedient servants; and appoint me therein among Your close friends, with Your compassion O Most Merciful of the merciful!" What you heard was the special supplication in the Divine Court today, on the 5th day of the blessed fasting month of Ramadhan. As is clear by its wordings, we ought to beseech God Almighty for forgiveness, coupled with earnest request for becoming virtuous. However, what is important is the practical doing of good deeds that should convey our sincerity of intention, and it is for us to strive on the path of virtue, since God has given us the free will to decide and act. The month of Ramadhan indeed affords us the chance to rectify our behavior, for which certain acts have been recommended. For instance, according to narrations, there are several observances pertaining to the nights of Ramadhan, which should not be treated as ordinary nights of the year. First, to open one’s fast and it is musta¦ab to do so after the Isha' or Night Prayer, unless one is feeling weak, or when others are waiting for one to join. Second, to open the fast with a food which is neither unlawful nor of dubious lawfulness. It is better to open the fast with lawfully obtained dates so that one receives a reward for prayer that is four-hundred-fold. It is better to open the fast with any of these: dry dates, water, fresh dates, milk, sweetmeat, sugar, because these food items ensure our health after a day without food. Then there is food for our spirit and soul through acts of worship. For example, at the time of breaking the fast, Surat al-Qadr should be recited. It has also been recommended to give charity at the time of breaking the fast, and to offer food to those are fasting even if it is a small number of dates or a drink of water. Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) is reported to have said that someone who provides food to those who are fasting shall have a reward like them without anything being diminished from their reward and that he/she shall have the reward of the righteous works they perform with the strength obtained from that food. It is said, “A believer who provides a morsel of food to another believer every day during the month of Ramadhan is granted by God Almighty a reward equal to that of someone who frees 30 believing slaves, and God shall answer his/her supplications. There are certain supplications to be recited at nighttime, and one of the famous is called Dua al-Iftetah, which literally means The Opening. This supplication, narrated from the Lord of the Age, Imam Mahdi (AS) – may God hasten his reappearance to establish the global government of peace, prosperity and justice on earth – is indeed an opener and enlightener of minds and souls. Its contents are indeed worth pondering upon and provide tranquility to hearts. Here we present you some passages from this remarkable supplication: "O Allah, indeed Your pardoning of my sins, Your overlooking of my faults, Your taking a lenient view of my wrongdoing, Your covering up my of ugly deeds, Your forbearance in spite of my many offences, committed by me willfully or out of negligence, have tempted me to ask for something that I do not deserve from You— You, who have provided me out of Your mercy, shown me Your power, and apprised me of Your favourable response to my requests—I was emboldened to call out to You, feeling secure and reassured, asking You in a familiar tone, without fear and trepidation, taking liberties with You with respect to my demands." This supplication dwells on so many interesting points that are outside the scope of this brief radio programme. Towards its ends, there are earnest requests to God Almighty to speed up the reappearance of the Redeemer of mankind so that the Earth would get rid of oppression and oppressors, and corruption and the corrupters, who have made life miserable for the human race. "O Allah, make Your religion prevail through him, as well as the sunnah of Your Prophet, until nothing that is true and genuine is kept concealed out of fear of any of the creatures. O Allah, we ardently beseech You to bring about the noble government through which You may strengthen Islam and its followers, and humble and humiliate the imposters, and appoint us in it to be among those who invite people to Your obedience and lead them to Your approved path, and grant us through that government dignity in this world and the Hereafter."