Golden Jubilee Mubarak!
![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. Victory [48:28]](goldenjubilee707.jpg)
"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.
Victory [48:28]"
| Sura 110 Nasr--Help | |
|---|---|
| 1. Idzaa ja'aa nasrullahi walfath
2. Wa ra'aytan naasa yadkhuluuna fee deenilla hi afwaajaa 3. Fasabbih bi hamdi Rabbika wastaghfirhu innahuu kaan tawwabaa |
When comes the help of Allah and victory
And you do see the people enter God's religion in multitudes Celebrate the praises of your Lord and pray for His forgiveness: for he is oft-returning |
Help from God and Victory Very Near
Quran 61:13
Notes on above verse from the Quran:
Ibn al-Ṭuwayr is also responsible for details about writing in official processions. Describing the New Year’s ceremonial,[78] he records that the banners twenty-one of the Troops of the Stirrup (sibyān al-rikāb) carried in the official procession displayed the phrase nasr min allah fath qarīb (Help from God and Victory Near at Hand), part of Qur’ān 61:13.[79] This writing was variegated in color, and fashioned in silk. Each banner had three tirāz bands placed on the lances of the horsemen.[80] They helped provide a colorful procession, predominantly red and yellow in color.
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by Rumi Everywhere the secret of God is coming, see how the people are coming
uncontrollably;
From him for whom all souls are a-thirst, to the thirsty the cry
of the water carrier is coming.
They are milk drinkers of divine generosity, and are on the watch
to see from whence the mother is coming.
They are in separation, and all are waiting to see whence union
and encounter are coming.
From Moslems, Jews, and Christians alike every dawn the sound of
prayer is coming;
Blessed is that intelligence whose heart's ear from heaven the
sound of "Come hither" is coming.
Keep your ear clean of scum, for a voice is coming from heaven;
The defiled ear hears not that sound, only the deserving gets his
desserts.
Defile not your eye with human cheek and mole, for that Emperor
of eternal life is coming;
And if it has become defiled, wash it with tears, for the cure
comes from those tears.
A caravan of sugar has arrived from Egypt; the sound of footfall
and bells is coming.
Ha, be silent, for to complete the ode, our speaking King is
coming.
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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.
Prophet Muhammad (sas) took Hazrat Ali's hand in his hand, raising it high, declared articulately:
"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 50th anniversary of the Present Living Imam's accession to the seat of Imamat. The Golden Jubilee! 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!
Mubarak!
"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.
Just as a normal man can climb
A high mountain
And on a clear day
See for many miles all around,Hafiz can stand on a blessed peak
Inside his heart
And see for hundreds of years
In all directions.And I tell you, dear ones,
That the Saheb-e Zamaan (Lord of the Age)
The Christ
The Prophet
The Ancient One
Has made a date to Whirl,
To Whirl
With this Earth again!
- Hafiz
"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!
"The future of Ismailism depends on those of your ages and mine. Are we to follow the example of those who, in the olden days, in Egypt, in Iran, and in Sind, on different occasions, by faith and devotion, raised the banner of Hazar Imam till the whole world saw its light?
I say yes. For we young men must not fail, where our fathers succeeded so gloriously."
- Prince Sadruddin, July 30, 1950
Let us end with the Ismaili Anthem the Salaami
