Aan baithhey hai takht ke oopar Shah Karim Shah Wali

Mubarak!

We are fortunate once again, to celebrate the day he was installed in the line of Divine Guidance, July 11, 1957, when he was a student at Harvard University and took over the Imamat from our beloved Mowlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, the 48th Imam in the chain of progeny of the Prophet (the Hablillah as referred to in the Holy Quran).

The Holy Prophet said:

"As the stars in the sky are the source of guidance to travelers, the Holy Ones of my Ahl al Bayt (the Imams descended from the Prophet's family) are the source of  guidance for the people. And, as the stars will remain in the sky until the day of judgment, the earth will never be without a Divine Guide from my Ahl al Bayt, that is an Imam".

Verily, Allah has ordained blessings for Prophet Muhammad and his progeny and that is why the Salawaat is recited at all occasions and believed to bring many blessings upon the reciter and the congregation as Allah Himself ordered this practice. The following are a few verses in the Holy Quran justifying the Guide on earth at all times as Allah's mercy to mankind (21:107), Alhamdulillah!

Say: In the bounty of Allah and in his mercy, in that rejoice: that is better than the wealth they hoard (10:58)

Now hath come to you a messenger from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that you should suffer, ardently anxious is he over you: to the believers is he most kind and merciful (9:128)

And remember Jesus the son of Mary said: O children of Israel, I am the messenger of Allah sent to you confirming the Torah (which came) before me, and giving glad tidings of a messenger to come after me whose name shall be Ahmad (61:6)

The arrival of the greatest Prophet of Allah and his message was also observed by Allah and all the Prophets in a special gathering where Allah recited and discussed the characteristics and attributes of the Holy Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) and took a pledge, a covenant from all the Prophets that they would believe in him and be his helpers:

  Behold! Allah took the covenant of the Prophets, saying: I give you a book and wisdom: then comes to you a messenger, confirming what is with you; do ye believe in him and render him help.  Allah said: ìDo ye agree, and take this my covenant as binding on you? They said: We agree. He said: Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses. If any turn back after this, they are perverted transgressors. (3 :81,82)

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 (33:45,46)

Alhamdulillah! Prophet Muhammad has indeed perfected his message to us (5:3) and chose Hazrat Ali to be his rightful heir and his progeny to lead the future generations. We are graced by this auspicious occasion of Imamat Day and I have collected some more Suras and Verses from the Quran (and I find more everytime) all shouting the same message that his Divine Guidance will remain Hazar (present) on this earth at all times until the Qiyamat (Day of Judgement). Please read on...

     The Light [24.55]
     Allah has promised to those of you who believe and do good that He will most certainly make them rulers in the
     earth as He made rulers those before them, and that He will most certainly establish for them their religion which
     He has chosen for them, and that He will most certainly, after their fear, give them security in exchange; they shall
     serve Me, not associating aught with Me; and whoever is ungrateful after this, these it is who are the transgressors.

     [3.19] Surely the (true) religion with Allah is Islam, and those to whom the Book had been given did not show
     opposition but after knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves; and whoever disbelieves in the
     communications of Allah then surely Allah is quick in reckoning.

     [3.72] And a party of the followers of the Book say: Avow belief in that which has been revealed to those who
     believe, in the first part of the day, and disbelieve at the end of it, perhaps they go back on their religion.

     [3.73] And do not believe but in him who follows your religion. Say: Surely the (true) guidance is the guidance of
     Allah-- that one may be given (by Him) the like of what you were given; or they would contend with you by an
     argument before your Lord. Say: Surely grace is in the hand of Allah, He gives it to whom He pleases; and Allah is
     Ample-giving, Knowing.

     [4.125] And who has a better religion than he who submits himself entirely to Allah? And he is the doer of good
     (to others) and follows the faith of Ibrahim, the upright one, and Allah took Ibrahim as a friend.

     [4.146] Except those who repent and amend and hold fast to Allah and are sincere in their religion to Allah, these
     are with the believers, and Allah will grant the believers a mighty reward.

     [5.54] O you who believe! whoever from among you turns back from his religion, then Allah will bring a people,
     He shall love them and they shall love Him, lowly before the believers, mighty against the unbelievers, they shall
     strive hard in Allah's way and shall not fear the censure of any censurer; this is Allah's Face, He gives it to whom
     He pleases, and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing.

     [5.57] O you who believe! do not take for guardians those who take your religion for a mockery and a joke, from
     among those who were given the Book before you and the unbelievers; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah if
     you are believers.

     [5.77] Say: O followers of the Book! be not unduly immoderate in your religion, and do not follow the low desires
     of people who went astray before and led many astray and went astray from the right path.

     [7.51] Who take their religion for an idle sport and a play and this life's world deceives them; so today We
     forsake them, as they neglected the meeting of this day of theirs and as they denied Our communications.

     [7.89] Indeed we shall have forged a lie against Allah If we go back to your religion after Allah has delivered us
     from It, and it befits us not that we should go back to it, except if Allah our Lord please: Our Lord comprehends all
     things :n His knowledge; in Allah do we trust: Our Lord! decide between us and our people with truth; and Thou
     art the best of deciders.

     [9.33] He it is Who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail
     over all religions, though the polytheists may be averse.

     [12.38] And I follow the religion of my fathers, Ibrahim and Ishaq and Yaqoub; 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.

     [12.40] You do not serve besides Him but names which you have named, you and your fathers; Allah has not sent
     down any authority for them; judgment is only Allah's; He has commanded that you shall not serve aught but Him;
     this is the right religion but most people do not know.

     [22.78] And strive hard in (the way of) Allah, (such) a striving a is due to Him; He has chosen you and has not
     laid upon you an hardship in religion; the faith of your father Ibrahim; 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!

     [23.52] And surely this your religion is one religion and I am your Lord, therefore be careful (of your duty) to
     Me.

     [23.53] But they cut off their religion among themselves into sects, each part rejoicing in that which is with them.

     [30.43] Then turn thy face straight to the right religion before there come from Allah the day which cannot be
     averted; on that day they shall become separated.

     [42.13] He has made plain to you of the religion what He enjoined upon Nuh and that which We have revealed
     to you and that which We enjoined upon Ibrahim and Musa and Isa that keep to obedience and be not divided
     therein; hard to the unbelievers is that which you call them to; Allah chooses for Himself whom He pleases, and
     guides to Himself him who turns (to Him), frequently.

     The Victory [48.28]
     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.

     The Ranks [61.9]
     He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true religion, that He may make it overcome the religions,
     all of them, though the polytheists may be averse.
 

     Allah says in the Quran: Inna lazeena yuba yunaka innama yuba yunallah, ya dullahi fauka aiydim, fa manna qas fa
     innama, yan quthu Allah nafsihi, wa mann aufa bimaa ahad, wa Allaihullahu fasayutihi ajran azeem.
     "(O Prophet!) Verily, those who give you their allegiance give it but to Allah himself. God's hand is upon their
     hands and he he fulfils what he has pledged, Allah will reward him in plenty".

"Believe in My apostles, honour and assist them".

"So it is those who believe in him, honour him and help him".

O ye who believe, make not unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, but commit no excess; for Allah loves not those given to excess. Eat to the things, which Allah has provided for you, lawful and good; but fear Allah in whom you believe. (5:87,88)

Ya Ali Khoob Majaalis Jannat Karke

Audio of Ginan

O Ali how beateous gathering, as if we are in heaven
The whole earth is spread like a carpet
for Sultan Muhammad the Lord has come
and is sitting on His throne

Blessed be this day
the kingdom of the Noor of Mowlana Ali,
Mowlana Shah Karim is (also) the pearl of the eye of Mowlana Ali
The Lord who is descendent of Nabi, this kingdom be blessedly His.
Blessed be this day...1

O Ali your Jamat from Hind have come for your didar
They bend down in prostration offering their tributes
while bending down.
Blessed be this day...2

O Ali your exalted position right from the day of creation
shows its (supernatural) quality and capacity
Mowlana Sultan Mahomed Shah has spoken
(in designating) Shah Karim (as the Imam).
Blessed be this day...3

O Ali do I call You Lord, indeed yours is a very exalted destiny
In your young age this is a mark of the dawn of your glorious station.
Blessed be this day...4

O Ali the throne and the parasole (of authority) be blissfully yours,
O the beloved Zahra (Bibi Fatima Tuz-Zahra)
O Hasanshah (Aga Shah Hasanali Ali Shah) all these actions are yours,
the heaven on earth that we are experiencing now is decorated by You.
Blessed be this day...5

O Ali having heard of your throne and parasol (authority of Imamat)
Noor rains from the heavens
Taking bowls full of pearls, the houries are showering them on You
(as an augmenting ceremony of welcome).
Blessed be this day...6

O Ali all in the gathering congregation in celebration reciting prayers
Shamsi (the Sayyed author who was a descendant of Pir Shams)
Recited the Salawaat, it was a celebration of Maarifat.
Blessed be this day...7

O Ali Sayyed recites this song of praise and prayer in order to congratulate you
O the Lord of Najaf (Mowlana Ali)
With your support and backing all enemies give up enmity
Blessed be this day...8

Imamat Day Page from 1998
His Highness the Aga Khan - A Birthday Tribute

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