Imamat Day July 11, 2011 - Mashallah! 54 Years!

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Updated: July 8, 2008

Khushi-Ali Mubarak and Didaar Mubarak Everyone!

Imam of the Ismaili Muslims - His Highness the Aga Khan at the 50th Imamat Day Golden Jubilee Celebrations amongst a gathering of his followers - Imam of the Time, Lamb of the Ages

Imamat Day is celebrated every year by Ismaili Shia Muslims on the day that the Imamat transferred from the past Imam to the Present Living Imam. The current Imam is the direct successor in the chain of 49 Imams when Hazrat Ali was appointed as Prophet Muhammad's successor. This anniversary is celebrated with great rejoicing by the followers of the Imam, for it is a unique occasion full of symbolism wherein the continuance of Allah's covenant is celebrated.
"Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet, the Ummi (who can neither read nor write), whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are) with them. He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is wrong. He will make lawful for them all good things and prohibit for them only the foul; and he will relieve them of their burden and the fetters that they used to wear. Then those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and follow the Light which is sent down with him: they are the successful ones." - Quran 7:157
This year, we are celebrating the 54th anniversary of the Present Living Imam's accession to the seat of Imamat. This year's Imamat Day is even more significant as the Imam has agreed to meet his followers for a Didaar (conference) in East Africa. This is equivalent to having a meeting with the Noble Prophet, the current Imam's great-great grandfather, peace be upon him! As Momins (believers) we renew our pledge, to carry out in our Din wa Duniya (spiritual and material lives) what God wants us to do and stay away from what He prohibits, to obey the Imam in acheiving this goal. In helping Mowlana Hazar Imam in his work in secular and spiritual arenas, we rejoice in the bargain we have made. He gives to his community and to humanity more each year, a veritable role model to follow. Mashallah!
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 who at Gadhir-e Khumm was installed by Prophet Muhammad as his successor and was to be the Lord of the believers after him.
As explained in my intro pages this Grace described by God, 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 and to be "the successful ones" described in Sura 7:157 above! Mashallah!

The Truth - Haq
Quran 35-24 Sura Fatir
"The Truth sent by Allah...

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Transliteration

Inna arsalnaka bil Haqqi Basheeran wa Natheeran wa-in min ommatin illa khalafeeha natheer
Sahih International
Indeed, We have sent you with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And there was no nation but that there had passed within it a warner.

Pickthall
Lo! We have sent thee with the Truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner; and there is not a nation but a warner hath passed among them.

Shakir
Surely We have sent you with the truth as a bearer of good news and a warner; and there is not a people but a warner has gone among them.

Swahili
Hakika Sisi tumekutuma wewe kwa Haki, kuwa ni mbashiri na mwonyaji. Na hapana umma wowote ila ulipata mwonyaji kati yao. 2. Quran 24:35

For every age, Lord God Almighty has left us with a Witness and a Warner to guide us to the right path. It was inspired by this that our Ismaili hero Nasir Khusraw converted to Shia Ismaili from Sunni as he questioned why God's hand was on the shoulders of the people (refer to Quran 48:7-10) during Prophet Muhammad's time and so what about the people of the current time, why would they lose out on this Grace? To answer this question, he was prompted to search and found the Rightful Legatees of the Holy Prophet in Cairo during the Fatimid period.

"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

"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
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!

"Say [Prophet Muhammad]: this is my Path, I call [others] to Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosever follows after me. To Allah be glory! And I am not among the idolaters." Chapter Joseph (Yusuf) Quran 12:108

Dance, Dervish Dance by Hafiz

Dance, Dervish dance—
Bring the Face of God before you
Only 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!

The Master and the Disciple By Nasir-i Khusraw The master turned my night into broad daylight with proofs as clear as radiant sunlight. Since he made me drink from the water of life, death has become quite insignificant to me. When I looked from the corner of his eye, I saw the earth rotating beneath my feet. He showed me the visible and hidden worlds, both located in one place, my own body. I saw the two guardians of paradise and hell inhabiting the same place, my own breast. He pointed to one who is the keeper of paradise and said to me: "I am his disciple." I saw eight gates, closed in the same place, and seven other gates open, one above the other. He said to me: "If you wish to enter a gate, you have to obtain his permission first." When I asked him to explain the secret to me, he recited its story from beginning to end. The master said: "He is the lord of the time, chosen by God from men and jinns."

Everyone's dancing!

Salwaat Audio