Salgirah Mubarak! Khushiali Mubarak Everyone!
Most of you share with me a common cultural background. I was born into a Muslim family, educated as a Muslim and spent many years studying Muslim history. Then, almost fifty years ago, I became Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, responsible both for interpreting the faith to the community, and for helping improve the quality and security of the community’s daily life. From that day to this, my dominant preoccupation has been with the developing world, and particularly the countries of South and Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East, where Ismailis are concentrated among other Muslim populations...
From the very beginnings of Islam, the search for knowledge has been central to our cultures. I think of the words of Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first hereditary Imam of the Shia Muslims, and the last of the four rightly-guided Caliphs after the passing away of the Prophet (may peace be upon Him). In his teachings, Hazrat Ali emphasized that “No honour is like knowledge.” And then he added that “No belief is like modesty and patience, no attainment is like humility, no power is like forbearance, and no support is more reliable than consultation.”
Notice that the virtues endorsed by Hazrat Ali are qualities which subordinate the self and emphasize others ---modesty, patience, humility, forbearance and consultation. What he thus is telling us, is that we find knowledge best by admitting first what it is we do not know, and by opening our minds to what others can teach us.
Transliteration and English rendition of Qasida Dam hama dam Ali Ali By Mowlana Rumi English Rendition by Arif Babul
Saki e ba wafa manam,
dam hame dam Ali Ali ... 1Sufi e ba safa manam,
dam hame dam Ali Ali ... 2Ashike Murtaza manam,
dam hame dam Ali Ali ... 3Mutribe khushnava manam,
dam hame dam Ali Ali ... 4Adam ba safa tueen,
Yusufe mah laka tueen ... 5Khidhre rahe khuda tueen,
dam hame dam Ali Ali ... 6Shahe shariyatam tueen,
pire tariqotam tueen ... 7Haq ba hakikatam tueen,
dam hame dam Ali Ali ... 8Ham dame sayeedul basher,
raj e shamshul qamar ... 9Babe shabirro ham shabbar,
dam hame dam Ali Ali ... 10Sayeede sarware karam,
goft bato ay ibne am ... 11Lahamak lahmi dammak dammi,
dam hame dam Ali Ali ... 12Ayah e Innama barat,
taje la fata sarat ... 13
Shamsh gulame Kambarat,
dam hame dam Ali Ali ... 14A humble poet, I am, Let me be your muse drink of me
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali Ali
A Sufi, I am, Pure of heart
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali AliA lover, I am, of Murtaza Ali
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali AliMy joy uncontained, I am in song
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali AliAdam the Pure be you,
Yusuf the Beautiful tooTis you who's Khidr's guide
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali AliHis teacher, his inspiration
Lord, Lawgiver, Teacher, True GuideTruth be, you are the Truth; the Absolute
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali AliFaithful Companion, in virtue incomparable
In whose company pales even the Sun, the moonOh, Father of Hassan, Hussein
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali AliDeclared Muhammed, the Most Generous of generous
My cousin, the son of my uncleMy flesh is your flesh, my blood your blood
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali AliYou are the Guardian, the Master of believers,
That the Holy Quran makes clear,
Garbed, Crowned, Invincible, UnvanquishedShams, your humble servant, your Kambar Gulam, am I
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali Ali"And peace on him on the day he was born, and on the day he dies, and on the day he is raised to life" Holy Quran 19:15
"And I follow the religion of my fathers, Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ishaq (Isaac) and Yaqoub (Jacob); 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." [12.38]
"He it is Who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions." [9.33]
"And strive hard in (the way of) Allah, (such) a striving as is due to Him; He has chosen you and has not laid upon you any hardship in religion; the faith of your father Ibrahim (Abraham); 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!" [22.78]
"And He it is Who is God in heaven and God on earth; and He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge" [43.84]
Alhamdulillah! We are truly fortunate to be led by the progeny of Prophet Abraham and Prophet Muhammad (sas)
And even more blessed to be members of the community led by the Prince of Peace of the world. Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) We have every reason to rejoice on his birthday anniversary as we rejoice on the birthday anniversaries of our beloved Prophet Muhammad and Hazrat Ali.
"In Islam, the Holy Koran says that man is God’s noblest creation to whom He has entrusted the stewardship of all that is on earth. Each generation must leave for its successors an enhanced and sustainable social and physical environment. I am sure every responsible citizen in every part of the world would share this aspiration." - from Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Ninth Award Cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture at the AKDN site
How can we as his Murids, do more for our world and for our spiritual uplift? Let us do our part in educating everyone about what it means to be a Muslim, this year and every year. Inshallah!
Index of Speeches made by Mowlana Hazar Imam at AKDN site
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