"He has ordained
for men the faith He has revealed to you and formerly enjoined on Noah
and Abraham, on Moses and Jesus, saying: "Observe this Faith and be united
in it" Quran 42:13 (The Faith is Islam! - Submission to the Will of God)
"O
Messenger (Prophet), deliver to the people what has been revealed to you
from your Lord and if you do not do so then you will not have delivered
His message and Allah will protect you from the people. For God does not
guide those who reject Faith." Ya 'ayyuhar Rasoolu ballig maa unzila
ilayka mir-Rabbik. Wa illam taf'al famaa ballagta Risaa latah. Wallaahu
ya'simuka minan naas. Innal'laaha laa yahdilqawmal kaafiriin. Quran
5:67
The foregoing
verse was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in 632 A.C., before he called a
halt at Ghadir
Khumm, 3 months before his demise. The Prophet thence declared "'Man
Kuntu Mawlahu fa haza Aliyun Mawlahu (audio)' - 'He of whomever
I am the Master-Lord (Mawla), Ali is his Master-Lord (Mawla). Prophet Muhammad
had been discoursing all the other revelations among the muslims regarding
the tenets and practice of the faith and about material life, and what
could this verse of surpassing urgency mean and why was he admonished that
if he did not reveal that message then his mission would be unfulfilled!
Why had he been warned so strongly by Allah to deliver the message right
away.
According to
Shia Muslim tradition, Prophet Muhammad had been apprehensive about declaring
his own son-in-law and cousin Ali
ibn Abu Talib, as his spiritual (Amirul Momineen, Commander of the
believers) and secular (Caliph, King) heir, for fear that it would divide
the nascent muslim community and in the above revelation God reassures
him. Prophet Muhammad felt great relief upon accomplishment of his mission
and thereupon received the final revelation: "This day have I perfected
for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you
Islam as a religion" Quran 5:3. Several verses
in the Quran speak about the Light of God and Rope of Imamat which
is a continuous chain (Hablillah) since Hazrat Adam, through all the Prophets
including, Noah,
Abraham,
Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and after him through the hereditary Imams. For
further knowledge, refer to The
Religion of My Ancestors by Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III
"Mann kunto Mowlahu fa-Aliyun Mowlahu" meaning, "He of whom I am Lord, Ali is also his Lord".
He then added, "Ali is to me as Harun (Aaron) was to Musa (Moses)", and prayed, "O Allah! Be a friend of Ali's friends and a foe to his foes. Help those who help Ali and frustrate the hopes of those who betray Ali."
Audio files of Mann kunto Mowla
As Prophet Muhammad completed this message, Umar bin Khattab, (later the second Caliph of Islam) came before Hazrat Ali and said, "Congratulations to you, O the son of Abu Talib! You have become the Master of every male and female Momin." Saying this, he took the Baiyah, (Baiyat in Urdu and Gujarati) oath of allegiance, at Hazrat Ali's hand. Following Caliph Umar's example, all the Muslims, both men and women, made the Baiyah at Hazrat Ali's hand accompanied by great rejoicing.
This weighty declaration led to the revelation of the following verse that was recited by Prophet Muhammad in his last sermon: "This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favors upon you and chosen Islam as your religion." - [5:3] This event took place over 1400 years ago and Momins have great joy in their hearts as this unbroken chain of Imamat continues, Nooran Ala Noor (Light Upon Light), through prosperous and perilous periods in history.
"Surely Allah has bought of the believers their persons and their property for this, that they shall have the garden; they fight in Allah's way, so they slay and are slain; a promise which is binding on Him in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and the Quran; and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? Rejoice therefore in the pledge which you have made; and that is a mighty achievement." Quran 9.111
This year, we are celebrating the 51st anniversary of the Present Living Imam's accession to the seat of Imamat. The Glorious Golden Jubilee Year! Mashallah! He has given to his community and to humanity so much. Isn't it time we become his helpers? Then the Help of God will be even nearer!
"And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant,
And those who keep a guard on their prayers;
These are they who are the heirs,
Who shall inherit the Paradise; they shall abide therein." [Quran 23:8-11]
As an Ismaili, my wish for this Imamat Day is that more individuals of our time should take this pledge to heart and with faith, conviction, and righteous action, bring back to us the glory of our Fatimid times. On my Navroz page, I highlighted some of the vision of our beloved Imam regarding balancing spiritual and material life, and applying the daily principles of Islamic ethics in our life in the busy life in the West.
"O Prophet! Truly have we sent thee
as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner and as one who invites
to Allah's grace by His leave and as a lamp spreading light. Quran 33:45,46
As explained in my intro
pages this Grace,
this Lamp spreading Light is none other than the Living and Present Imam
of our time, Noor Mowlana Shah Karim Al Hussaini Hazar Imam. And as Ismailis,
we are very fortunate indeed, to have been gifted with this unique opportunity
to be called his spiritual children.
JEERE VAALAA DHANRE GHADDEE
BY SAYYED MOHAMMED SHAAH
jire vaalaa dhan re ghaddee jo din Sant padhaaryaa
Ali mai taa din kee balee haaree
re vaalaa ghar aa(n)gann maaraa pavitra keedhaa
moro jeev janam sadhaaree
re vaalaa dhan re ghaddee jo din Sant padhaaryaa....1
jire vaalaa - dear brothers
balee haaree - offering, sacrifice
sadhaaree(sudhaaree) - improve
Dear brothers, happy and glorious was the momemt when the Saint(Guide) visited me.
I offered sacrifices to Ali on that day. Brothers, this made my house and it's precinct
holy and improved the condition of my soul (elevated it).
Happy was the moment when the Saint (Guide) visited me.
jire vaalaa jaan ajaan bhaye kirataar toh
saadh sabhaa sukh kaaree
re vaalaa paaras parshe, lohaa rang palatte
to jag mag jot ujaaree
re vaalaa dhan re ghaddee jo din Sant padhaaryaa....2
saadh - enlightened person
sabhaa - gathering; (morning?)
Dear brothers, knowingly and unknowingly, I embraced the Creator. In the company
of the enlightened person I experienced peace and joy (was transformed). Brother this
was in a manner of the philosopher's stone transforming the colour of iron.
The twinkling and flashing of the Light uplifted (enlightened) my mind.
Brother, happy was the moment when the Saint (Guide) visited me.
jire vaalaa adham odhaarann Sant sadhaarann
par aatmaa upakaaree
re vaalaa vi(n)dit ved gaae gunn gitaa
so akall purush avataaree
re vaalaa dhan re ghaddee jo din Sant padhaaryaa....3
adham(adharmee) - irreligious, impious and sinful person
odhaarann - to liberate
akall - incomprehensible
purush - male personality
Dear brothers, He (the Guide) liberates the ignorant and sinful and improves
the pious saints i.e., He elevates other souls. Brother, this is mentioned in the
sacred literature and the Gita also sings about this virtue. This male personality
(the Imaam) is indeed an incomprehensible manifestation.Brother, happy was
the moment when the Saint (Guide) visited me.
jire vaalaa Sant charann raj sureenar ichhe
dharam raaha sardhaaree
re vaalaa naav rupe jug taarann karannaa
to bhav bhaye bhanjan haaree
re vaalaa dhan re ghaddee jo din Sant padhaaryaa....4
charann raj - clay at the feet of
dharam rahaa - the path of religion
sardhaaree (sardaaree) - leadership
naav rupe - in the form of a boat
bhav - age, time
bhay - fears, anxieties
bhanjanhaar - remover of, breaker of
Dear brothers, the pious momins desire even the clay at the feet of the Saint(Guide).
He is indeed the leader of the Path of religion. Brother, in the form of a boat He takes
us across the ocean(of material existence) and all the fears and anxieties of the age
are removed under His protection.
Brother, happy was the moment when the Saint(Guide) visited me.
jire vaalaa or upaay nahi hay taran ko
ye hay taranakee baaree
re vaalaa chott na laage us Sant ku
jamaddaa rahyaa jakh maareeyaa
re vaalaa dhan re ghaddee jo din Sant padhaaryaa....5
or upaay - no other remedy
jakh maareeyaa - to become powerless
jamaddaa - agent of death
Dear brothers, there is no other remedy for the salvation of your souls. This is the only
means of crossing over(the ocean of material existence). The head of the saint is not
burdened by the thoughts of death because the agent of death becomes powerless
against the Light of the Guide which makes the person immortal.
Brother, happy was the moment when the Saint (Guide) visited me.
jire vaalaa hari gunn Sant sadaa sir more
to jugaa jug sharann sadhaaree
re vaalaa jaagyaa bhaagye gur soh dev bhettyaa
to sayyed muhammed shaah karaaree
re vaalaa dhan re ghaddee jo din Sant padhaaryaa....6
Dear brothers, the saintly person always bows his head (in aknowledgement) of the
praises of the Lord. This self surrender to the higher will improves until immortality is
achieved. Brothers, this happens when good fortune arises and you are embraced by
the Light of Peer Sadardeen (the Guide). This is a (timeless) promise given by Sayyed Mohammed Shaah.
Brother, happy was the moment when the Saint (Guide) visited me.
Ginan Audio
|
Ismaili Anthem - Nashid Al Imamah
Listen to Ismaili Anthem - Audio
Noor-i-Rasoolillah se
Banai ho Aga Khan,
Mowlana Shah Karim,
Tum ho Sahebe-zaman.
Mushkil-kusha ke pyare,
Jannat-I-Khatoon ke tare,
Hasan Hussain-ke saare,
Noor-se ho khaandaan.
Panj-tan ke ho sartaaj,
Qaayam hai tera raaj ;
Joog joog jivo,
Tum-ji shaan.
Muridon hai sab tere Gulam;
Sar jooka kar karte hai salaam.
|
Imamat Day is celebrated every year by Ismailis on the day that the Imamat transferred from the past Imam to the Present Living Imam. This anniversary is celebrated with great rejoicing by the followers of the Imam, for this is a unique occasion full of symbolism wherein the continuance of Allah's covenant is celebrated.
Allah has declared that His Light is everpresent and will remain a Guide until Judgement Day. In every Jomma, (period of Imamat) even though the previous Imam passes away, the believers rejoice at the appointment of the new, Living Imam as the Hablillah (Rope of Allah) continues.
"What Allah has ordained, will surely come to pass." [6:134]
This occasion is even more solemn as many events point to its importance. For example, Prophet Muhammad's birthday was also his death anniversary. For Shia Muslims, this was a further endorsement of the divinely ordained appointment of Hazrat Ali at Gadhir-e Khumm where Prophet Muhammad declared him as his successor.
"They rejoice on account of favor from Allah and (His) grace, and that Allah will not waste the reward of the believers." Quran 3.171
Mashallah!
As Ismailis we are truly fortunate to have received this Grace over the centuries and we have been rejoicing this favor and that is why there is always a lot of Daandia Raas and dancing in our tradition!
Not only do we dance and rejoice at this occasion, we also go into deep meditation and Zikr (remembrance) of Allah for granting us this Grace. Our ultimate aim is to concentrate in Ibaadat (meditation in Allah's name), and sit in contemplation of the esoteric meaning of the Didaar, and aspire to become one with the One Who is above all else, Inshallah. Therefore, as we sit in Intezaar (awaiting) for his appearance, we invoke the Salawaat continuously, listen to the Ginans and Farmans (Orders of the Imam) to seek the path to enlightenment and directions our Spiritual Guide wants us to follow in our physical and spiritual lives. I hope that the few words I have presented on this page will move you to join in and to bring about His peace and unity on earth, Inshallah!
Didaar Mubarak! Please visit my Didaar Page and also read the symbolism of Darbaar, Mashallah!
Salwaat
Audio
Golden Jubilee Tribute View some of Mowlana Hazar Imam's achievements, awesome!
Canada's Government recognizes Golden Jubilee
New York Times Comprehensive Article or try NY Times article mirrored at Heritage
Star-Telegram Article The Shia you don’t hear about
Province Canada Article at IsmailiMail Wordpress
Qadi Nomaan's Majlis on Bayah
Al Muayyad's Majlis on Love for the Imams
Lovely Qasida (Madoh) Yi Mehmon Ce Wezg, (The Guest has come)
Transliteration and Translation of above Qasida
Qawaalis in the praise of Hazrat Ali
More Golden Melodies www.iExpressions.ca
50 years of positive religious influence
Golden Jubilee Google Search News
Related Links
50th Imamat Day Page - 2007
49th Imamat Day Page - 2006
48th Imamat Day Page - 2005
47th Imamat Day Page - 2004
46th Imamat Day Page - 2003
45th Imamat Day Page - 2002
44th Imamat Day Page - 2001
43rd Imamat Day Page - 2000
42nd Imamat Day Page - 1999
41st Imamat Day Page - 1998
40th Imamat Day Page - 1997
71 Birthday Page - 2007
70th Birthday Page - 2006
69th Birthday Page - 2005
68th Birthday Page - 2004
67th Birthday Page - 2003
66th Birthday Page - 2002
65th Birthday Page - 2001
64th Birthday Page - 2000
63rd Birthday Page - 1999
62nd Birthday Page - 1998
61st Birthday Page - 1997
Verses in the Quran proclaiming the Imams - Ahl-e Bayt (Family of the Prophet)
Pan Tan Paak Ahl-e Bayt Page
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Muslim Celebrations
Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr View President and Mrs. Clinton's past messages regarding Islam
Eid ul Adha - Prophet Ibrahim's Offering
Eid-e Gadhir
Maulid - Prophet Muhammad's Birthday
Yaum-e Ali - Hazrat Ali's Birthday
Present and Living Imam's Birthday
Imamat Day Succession of Prophet Muhammad's Progeny
Layl tul Qadr - The Night of Power 23rd of Ramadan
Navroz - New Year
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