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Towards the Inner Vision of the Truth
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"Lo! the righteous verily are in delight, On couches, gazing, Thou wilt know in their faces the radiance of delight." — Holy Qur'an 83:22-24

 

Gem No. 8: Why Should We Perform the "Ya Ali" bandagi?

 

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

 

Ya Ali Madad! This post has five parts.

 

Part 1. Knowledge Section on Bandagi:

Let us reflect on the following teaching of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.)

"Âgâ Alishâh Dâtârê farmân kahyu hatu(n) kê madrâtê "Yâ Ali" ni bandagi karê têmâ jê savâb thashê tê tamâro chhê anê pâp yânê gunâh thâya tê amârâ upar chhê."" (Manjêvdi, 31-12-1893)
 
Literal translation: Imam AliShah Datar made a firman in which he said that anyone who performs the "Ya Ali" bandagi at (and after) midnight will get to keep the full benefit of it and any sins committed during the performance of this bandagi will be forgiven by the Imam.
 
(Source: Gawahrê Rahêmat, p. 32)

The first point of the above-mentioned firman is that the "Yâ Ali" bandagi is prescribed by the Holy Imam. The second point is that this bandagi is performed after midnight. The third point is the current amount allocated to performing bandagi has been reduced from two hours to one hour only. Therefore, anyone who wants to elevate his/her soul should perform the "Ya Ali" unless he is given specific instructions to perform bandagi with ism-i azam (bol).

Now let us examine the benefits of practising bandagi. In his firman to students, NOOR Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.) said:

"Ibadat (Bandagi) reveals our souls. Every student should devote half an hour to ibadat. Ibadat is the only medium through which our soul can be uplifted. It will also give us courage to endure misfortunes, troubles and illness that are bound to come in later years. Though being unaware of such difficulties with Ibadat they can be endured with great joy and without complaint unlike your elders. Moreover Ibadat will always give great confidence and bring success."
 
(Source: Firman made in London Jamatkhana, 11-6-1951)

Please note that the above firman can be found in Precious Pearls under the heading of Batuni Prayer (Zikr). There is a cross reference for this firman in Gawahrê Rahêmat on pages 30 and 31 in which the word 'Ibadat' has been used. The words 'Ibadat' and 'bandagi' are synonyms. Keeping this mind, Mowla is talking about Ibadat (bandagi) and not just any other prayer. I have presented the above firman from Precious Pearls by using the word 'ibadat (bandagi)' instead of 'prayer' so that we can get the precise message of the Holy Imam. The benefits of bandagi are holistic because they cover the physical as well as the spiritual aspects of our lives.

In his firman, NOOR Mowlana Hazar Imam said:

"I remind you once again that you must understand that each one of you has a soul and this soul alone is eternal; and it is the duty and the responsibility of each one of you to remember that you have a soul. For this reason, it is necessary for every individual to attend Jamatkhana regularly and to be regular in your Bandagi and your prayers."
 
(Source: Firman made in Bombay, November 8, 1967)

Please note the clear distinction between bandagi and other prayers in the above firman. Let us pray to NOOR Mowlana Hazar to empower us to practice bandagi and other prayers with strength and enthusiasm. Ameen.

Part 2. Dhikr Section:

On the occasion of the upcoming Darbars in USA, here is a dhikr track to invoke the different attributes of the Light of Eternal Ali which is manifest in our present and living Imam, Noor Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam (a.s.):

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
All Lights are One Light which is in Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam

Recited by Noorallah Juma

Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!

Lyrics

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Ya Ali, Ya Rahim
O the Most High, O the Merciful

Ya Ali, Ya Halim
O the Most High, O the Clement One

Ya Ali, Ya Mumin
O the Most High, O the Infuser of faith

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One


 

Ya Ali, Ya Mujib
O the Most High, O the Responding One

Ya Ali, Ya Hakim
O the Most High, O the Discreet One

Ya Ali, Ya Alim
O the Most High, O the All-Knowing One

Ya Ali, Ya Wali
O the Most High, O the Protecting Associate

Ya Ali, Ya Wali
O the Most High, O the Protecting Associate

Ya Ali, Ya Wali
O the Most High, O the Protecting Associate

Ya Ali, Ya Wali
O the Most High, O the Protecting Associate

Ya Ali, Ya Wali
O the Most High, O the Protecting Associate

Ya Ali, Ya Wali
O the Most High, O the Protecting Associate


 

Ya Ali, Ya Wahhaab
O the Most High, O the Supreme Bestower

Ya Ali, Ya Quddus
O the Most High, O the Most Sacred One

Ya Ali, Ya Salaam
O the Most High, O the Embodiment of Peace

Ya Ali, Ya Ghafuur
O the Most High, O the Great Forgiver

Ya Ali, Ya Ghafuur
O the Most High, O the Great Forgiver

Ya Ali, Ya Ghafuur
O the Most High, O the Great Forgiver

Ya Ali, Ya Ghafuur
O the Most High, O the Great Forgiver

Ya Ali, Ya Ghafuur
O the Most High, O the Great Forgiver

Ya Ali, Ya Ghafuur
O the Most High, O the Great Forgiver


 

Ya Ali, Ya Ali
O the Most High, O the Most High

Ya Ali, Ya Ali
O the Most High, O the Most High

Ya Ali, Ya Ali
O the Most High, O the Most High

Ya Ali, Ya Ali
O the Most High, O the Most High

Ya Ali, Ya Ali
O the Most High, O the Most High

Ya Ali, Ya Ali
O the Most High, O the Most High

Ya Ali, Ya Ali
O the Most High, O the Most High

Ya Ali, Ya Ali
O the Most High, O the Most High

Ya Ali, Ya Ali
O the Most High, O the Most High


 

Ya Ali, Ya Rahim
O the Most High, O the Merciful

Ya Ali, Ya Halim
O the Most High, O the Clement One

Ya Ali, Ya Mumin
O the Most High, O the Infuser of faith

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One

Ya Ali, Ya Karim
O the Most High, O the Bountiful One

Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!

 

Part 3. Anant Nâ Nav Chhugâ Verses (Chhugo Number 4, verses 6 to 10):

Recited by Shafiq Rawji

Āshāji abarā nārini tamē lāj rākhajo
tamē chho ka(n)th sujānaji
nav chhugāni pāghadi lāvyā
tē nāri tamāri niravān
Hari ana(n)t ...................................
6
Oh Lord Retain the honour of this weak wife
You are the Judge of this composition
The turban of nine tassels has been brought (to You)
and it has been brought by the (devoted) wife for certain
Hari You are eternal; ........................
6
Āshāji suāgan karo morā nāth
hu(n) chhu(n) tē tamāri nārji
sahēn lāvi sāmi amanē varjo
sāmi karo amāri vār
Hari ana(n)t ...................................
7
Oh Lord Maintain me in a state of having been married to you
I am Your (devoted) bride
By taking us (me) to Your abode grant us (me)
Your protection as the married wives
Oh Lord be our rescue
Hari You are eternal; ........................
7
Āshāji trandā tamēj mokalyā
dāvi gharni nārji
vaiku(n)thnā tamē chho rājā
hu(n) abara tamāri nār
Hari ana(n)t ...................................
8
Oh Lord It is only You who sent me the three invitations
(the three times of prayer mentioned in Anant Akhaado)
and You invited the (devoted) housewife
You are the King of paradise
and I am Your weak wife
Hari You are eternal; ........................
8
Āshāji nāri tamāri hirakhsu(n) hirakhyā
hirakhēsu(n) karē harsu(n) vātji
vāt sa(m)bharo tamē morā nāthji
jān lāvi chhudāvo aprādh
Hari ana(n)t ...................................
9
Oh Lord Your (devoted) wife is happy for the sake of happiness only
and she talks to the Lord with happiness
Listen to my talk Oh my Lord
having married me, free me from being sinful
Hari You are eternal; ........................
9
Āshāji Pir Hasan Kabirdin hirakhsu(n) vinvē
sāmi kidhi tēni vārji
tē nārinā pāp bhavo bhav tanā
tē todāvyā tēni vār

hari anant anant
hari anantijo swāmi shāh
anantējo ant tuhē jānējē
Hari ana(n)t ...................................

10
Oh Lord Peer Hasan Kabirdin pleads happily
the Lord gave protection to him
That wife's sin of many eras was
immediately pardoned (on receiving the protection)
Hari You are eternal; ........................
10

 

Part 4. Angelic Salwat
Let us recite angelic salwats to invoke Divine grace and mercy.

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad:
O Allah! Bestow Peace on and through Muhammad and his Descendants

33 beads recited by Noorallah Juma

or

101 beads recited by Noorallah Juma

Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!

 

Part 5. Global Prayers and Three Grand Aspirations
Through the barakat of spiritual knowledge, tasbis and angelic salwat by many individuals of the global Jamat, O Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam, bless the global Jamat with:

  1. Spiritual and luminous tayid (help) to advance materially, spiritually and intellectually;
  2. Sunshine in our spiritual hearts and actualization of the inner vision of the Truth;
  3. Empowerment to present a Material Nazrana of time, knowledge and financial resources;
  4. Empowerment to present a Spiritual Nazrana in the form of a pure heart which is in a state of constant dhikr; and
  5. Empowerment to present a Luminous Nazrana in the form of a sound heart (qalb-i salim) which is in a state of constant dhikr and enlightenment.

 

Haizinda — Qayampaya
(Our Present Imam is Living and His NOOR is Eternal)

 

Bandagi Gems: