Verses on Imamat from the Holy Quran
The following list is incomplete as I have put it up prematurely, in response to an entry to my guestbook today.
However, composing this page was a very pleasant exercise for me as I was able to reconfirm the many references from the Holy Quran all pointing to the Guide of the Age, our present Imam Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Husayni, His Highness the Aga Khan, the direct descendent of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through his daughter, Fatima and cousin and son-in-law, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
Over the 49 generations of the Holy Imams, Ismailis have practiced their belief with the above guiding principle and with maintenance of their dignity. When faced with rejection of our tenets, I choose to point to another verse from the Quran:
The Disbelievers 109.006 (translations)
YUSUFALI: To you be your Way, and to me mine.
PICKTHAL: Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion.
SHAKIR: You shall have your religion and I shall have my religion.
and
002.256
YUSUFALI: Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out
clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped
the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and
knoweth all things.
PICKTHAL: There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is
henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and
believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break.
Allah is Hearer, Knower.
SHAKIR: There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has
become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the
Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle,
which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
-- [3.19] Surely the (true) religion with Allah is Islam, and those to whom the Book had been given did not show opposition but after knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves; and whoever disbelieves in the communications of Allah then surely Allah is quick in reckoning.
-- [3.72] And a party of the followers of the Book say: Avow belief in that which has been revealed to those who believe, in the first part of the day, and disbelieve at the end of it, perhaps they go back on their religion.
[3.73] And do not believe but in him who follows your religion. Say: Surely the (true) guidance is the guidance of Allah-- that one may be given (by Him) the like of what you were given; or they would contend with you by an argument before your Lord. Say: Surely grace is in the hand of Allah, He gives it to whom He pleases; and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing.
-- [4.125] And who has a better religion than he who submits himself entirely to Allah? And he is the doer of good (to others) and follows the faith of Ibrahim, the upright one, and Allah took Ibrahim as a friend.
[4.146] Except those who repent and amend and hold fast to Allah and are sincere in their religion to Allah, these are with the believers, and Allah will grant the believers a mighty reward.
-- [5.54] O you who believe! whoever from among you turns back from his religion, then Allah will bring a people, He shall love them and they shall love Him, lowly before the believers, mighty against the unbelievers, they shall strive hard in Allah's way and shall not fear the censure of any censurer; this is Allah's Face, He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing.
[5.57] O you who believe! do not take for guardians those who take your religion for a mockery and a joke, from among those who were given the Book before you and the unbelievers; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah if you are believers.
[5.77] Say: O followers of the Book! be not unduly immoderate in your religion, and do not follow the low desires of people who went astray before and led many astray and went astray from the right path.
-- [7.51] Who take their religion for an idle sport and a play and this life's world deceives them; so today We forsake them, as they neglected the meeting of this day of theirs and as they denied Our communications.
[7.89] Indeed we shall have forged a lie against Allah If we go back to your religion after Allah has delivered us from It, and it befits us not that we should go back to it, except if Allah our Lord please: Our Lord comprehends all things :n His knowledge; in Allah do we trust: Our Lord! decide between us and our people with truth; and Thou art the best of deciders.
-- [9.33] He it is Who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions, though the polytheists may be averse.
-- [12.38] And I follow the religion of my fathers, Ibrahim and Ishaq and Yaqoub; it beseems us not that we should associate aught with Allah; this is by Allah's grace upon us and on mankind, but most people do not give thanks.
[12.40] You do not serve besides Him but names which you have named, you and your fathers; Allah has not sent down any authority for them; judgment is only Allah's; He has commanded that you shall not serve aught but Him; this is the right religion but most people do not know.
-- [22.78] And strive hard in (the way of) Allah, (such) a striving a is due to Him; He has chosen you and has not laid upon you an hardship in religion; the faith of your father Ibrahim; He named you Muslims before and in this, that the Apostle may be a bearer of witness to you, and you may be bearers of witness to the people; therefore keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and hold fast by Allah; He is your Guardian; how excellent the Guardian and how excellent the Helper!
-- [23.52] And surely this your religion is one religion and I am your Lord, therefore be careful (of your duty) to Me.
[23.53] But they cut off their religion among themselves into sects, each part rejoicing in that which is with them.
-- [30.43] Then turn thy face straight to the right religion before there come from Allah the day which cannot be averted; on that day they shall become separated.
-- [42.13] He has made plain to you of the religion what He enjoined upon Nuh and that which We have revealed to you and that which We enjoined upon Ibrahim and Musa and Isa that keep to obedience and be not divided therein; hard to the unbelievers is that which you call them to; Allah chooses for Himself whom He pleases, and guides to Himself him who turns (to Him), frequently.
The Victory [48.28]
He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true religion
that He may make it prevail over all the religions; and Allah is enough
for a witness.
The Ranks [61.9]
He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true religion,
that He may make it overcome the religions, all of them, though the polytheists
may be averse.
After the time of the Prophet (pbuh), the Imams were appointed by heredity, through Hazrat Ali (r.a.) and Bibi Fatima, the Prophet's own daughter, otherwise whose allegiance could I take and receive God's hand upon mine? This is the same question that Nasir Khusraw asked himself and he then converted to Ismailism after discussions with Al Muayyad fi din Shirazi.
Nasir Khusraw Famous Ismaili Dai
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