Elaborating upon the blessings of Ramadan, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) said:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ
“[The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’an was sent down (2:186)] is also a phrase that signifies the greatness of the month of Ramadan. The Sufis have written that this month is an excellent time for the illumination of the heart. In this month, visions occur in abundance. Salat purifies the soul, and fasting brings about the manifestation of divine light in the heart.
“Purification of the soul means that one attains distance from the carnal desires of the nafs-e-ammarah (the self that incites to evil). And manifestation of divine light in the heart means that the door of divine visions opens upon a person, allowing them to behold God. Thus, in which the Qur’an was sent down alludes to this very concept. There is no doubt in the fact that fasting carries a great reward, but illnesses and worldly distractions often deprive a person of this blessing.
“I recall that in my youth, I once saw in a dream that observing the fast is a practice of the Ahl-e-Bayt (the noble family of the Holy Prophetsa). Regarding me, the Prophet of God, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
سَلْمَانُ مِنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ
(Salman is from among us, the Ahl-e-Bayt)
“Salman means al-Sulh (peace), indicating that this person will establish two forms of peace—one internal and the other external—and that he will accomplish this with gentleness rather than the sword. I do not follow the disposition of Hussain, who fought battles, but rather that of Hasan, who did not.
“I understood this dream as an indication towards fasting, and accordingly, I observed fasts for six months. During this period, I saw in a vision that columns upon columns of divine light were ascending to the heavens. It remains uncertain whether these columns of light were rising from the earth to the heavens or from my own heart. However, all of this was possible in my youth, and had I desired, I could have continued fasting for four years.”
[Malfuzat, vol. 3, pp. 424–425, 2022 ed., translated from Urdu]