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Shahnama Banquet - Shiraz, 1444 - Amaana.org Nawruz a festival of joy and delight due to the Imam’s Light!

Norouz, meaning New Day, is celebrated on the Spring Equinox every year. This is a time of rejuvenation and change, bringing more light from the Universe. Over the years, I have written many articles about this joyous celebration, which I will enumerate below the beautiful poem by Prince Tamim.

March 21st is Imam Hazrat Ali‘s solar birthday anniversary! Please read on the following pages to see how important this New Year celebration is for the Ismailis and the whole Universe, especially since this year it falls during the month of Ramadan when the devotees perform extra spiritual activities, prayers, charity and fasting. Connect with families and friends and rejoice. The New Earth is on its way where we all will realize our divine nature and exalted status as we raise our vibrations and manifest the fifth dimension. Insha’Allah!

Here are the events that took place on this amazing day as enumerated by Imam Jafar as Sadiq, Hazrat Ali’s great grandson, in the summary below, source – Muhammad Bakir Majlisi in his Bihar al-Anwar:

  • God made a covenant with the souls before creation
  • Nowruz marks the first day when the universe started its motion
  • Adam was created
  • Prophet Abraham destroyed the pagan idols that were being worshiped by his father and others
  • The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.), the night of Layla tul Qadr – Night of Power
  • Prophet Muhammad took Hazrat Ali on his shoulders to smash 360 idols in Mecca
  • Prophet Muhammad declared Ali as his legitimate successor at Gadhir-e Khumm
  • Hazrat Ali was born on Navroz (on the solar calendar, the lunar Muslim calendar had not yet been established until the Hijra, the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Medina) in the Kaaba that was built by Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ismael (Ibrahim and Ismail)
  • Hazrat Salman Farsi, Al-Fars (Salman the Persian) converted to Islam on Navroz and used to prepare special sufro (offering of food and sweets) on the day of Navroz for Prophet Muhammad and Hazrat Ali.

“O you who believe! When you consult the Apostle, then offer something in offering (mehmani, sufro) before your consultation; that is better for you and purer; but if you do not find (the means), then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful” – Quran 58.12

Imam Hazrat AliPrince Amir Tamim al-Fatimi was the eldest son of Imam al-Muiz. He was born in 948 CE in Mahdiyya, the first Fatimid capital in North Africa. He was amongst those who accompanied Imam al-Mu’izz on the historic journey to Egypt when the seat of the Fatimid government was transferred to Cairo. He was then twenty five years old. The Prince dedicated himself to literary and cultural pursuits until his premature death at the age of thirty six. In this poem, Prince Tamim shows his immense affection for the Imam and says that the New Year Festival of Nawruz is a blessing from the Imam.

“When I compose a poem in praise of you,
I feel inspired and my speech becomes refined.

But if I wish to praise someone other than you,
I’m tongue-tied and my speech disproves the lie.

Because you are born for grace and eminence,
and such gifts are indeed innate in your nature

Your honour is the dawn, your face a bright star,
and your right hand pours rain upon the creation.

You are the light from which we seek illumination,
the gracious beloved for whom ransom is given.

Through you, our days of tyranny turn to order,
and the indomitable, treacherous time is humbled.

If Nawruz is a festival of joy and delight,
it is through your light that it has come to be so.

So live long! Bring glory and prosperity to the times,
If they do not prosper by you, may they be ruined!

O son of the Prophet, God’s blessings be on you!
you are a time-tested sword to fight life’s sorrows.”

Source: Shimmering Light: An Anthology of Ismaili Poems

Past Navroz Pages

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Navroz Mubarak! Nowruz Blessings 2024!