“Kuntu kanzan makhfiyyan fa ahbabtu an u`rafa fakhalaqtu al-khalqa fa bi `arafuni - (I was a hidden treasure and loved to be known so I created the world that I might be known.)” - Sacred Hadith Kudsi
His Highness the Aga Khan addresses the Marketplace on Innovative Financial Solutions for Development at a conference in Paris co-hosted by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank Paris France March 4, 2010
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By Nina Nazneen Jaffer "Allah was a mystery... 'I was a hidden treasure And yearned to be known, Therefore I created the world' 1 He created man And breathed of His spirit unto him Now, He is more of a mystery... We are told 'Allah is everywhere' Yet He is nowhere to be seen. Ikra! Read! I search... 'I'm closer than your jugular vein' He reveals in the Holy Quran I search for a hidden message and find:
'Light upon Light, Allah guides to His
Allahuma salle Allah
1. Hadith Kudsi
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The above poem was written by me in the early 90s and I had submitted it for a contest by the then ITREB (Ismailia Association). I didn't hear back from them but a few years later, I published it on my website which I had started in 1993 for a contest I held for our Beloved Imam's birthday in 1996. Please view the other wonderful submissions too at the above link.
"Believe in My apostles, honour and assist them". (Quran 5:12)
This year, we are celebrating the 53rd anniversary of the Present Living Imam's accession to the seat of Imamat. He gives to his community and to humanity more each year, a veritable role model to follow. Mashallah!
Ayatana fil afaq wa fi anfusihim - "We shall show them Our signs on the horizons and within themselves until it will become clear to them that it is the Truth. Does it not suffice that your Lord is Witness over all things?" Quran 41:53
As a spiritual follower of the Imam, a Muslim approaches everything he or she sees as a sign, as an Ayah, by which the believer is led to the hidden meaning, the exoteric leading to the esoteric, to the divine origin, to the Creator Himself.
"Verily! We have sent you with the Truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner; and there is not a nation but a warner has passed among them." Quran 35:24
"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.Salawaat And as Ismailis, we are very fortunate indeed, to have been gifted with this unique opportunity to be called his spiritual children.
In bravery you are the Lion of the Lord,
In generosity who indeed knows who you are? - RumiKarim = Generous!
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.
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
"What Allah has ordained, will surely come to pass." [6:134] 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!
Dance, Dervish Dance by Hafiz
Dance, Dervish dance—
Bring the Face of God before youOnly love can lift the heart up so high
That its true Color is restored by the Sun!
See Him near and clapping,
That Perfect One who fathers Divine Rhythm.O dance, Dervish Dance
And know you bring your Master happiness
Whenever you smile.Last night,
So many tears took flight because of Joy
That the sky got crowded and complained
When I discovered God hiding again in my heart
And I could not cease to celebrate.O dance, Hafiz, dance
Write a thousand luminous secrets
Upon the wall of Existence
So that even a blind man will know
Where we are,
And join us in this Love!Dance, Dervish dance—
Bring the Face,
O bring the Face of your Beloved
Before you!
Yours truly dancing
Salwaat Audio
See More Pictures from this year's Imamat Day Celebrations July 2010
Pictures from Imam's Birthday Celebrations 2009
Imamat Day Links at IsmailiMail
Golden Jubilee Tribute View some of Mowlana Hazar Imam's achievements, awesome!
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
Related Links
Muslim Celebrations
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