The onus is on us to have the conviction that higher spiritual enlightenment can guide us in our daily lives.   Peace, light, barakat, tayid and Golden Noorani didar, Noorallah Juma SalmanSpiritual.com January 6, 2009

:: Candle Posting #2 :: Measuring Strength on Siratal-Mustaqeem ::

One of the ways of measuring and monitoring strength on Siratal-Mustaqeem is through the use of the indicators of higher spiritual enlightenment. Continual self assessment is the best way to monitor progress on Siratal-Mustaqeem.   Links: Indicators of Higher Spiritual Enlightenment   Peace, light, barakat, tayid and Golden Noorani didar, Noorallah Juma SalmanSpiritual.com January 7, 2009

:: Candle Posting #3 :: Partnering With Noor Mowlana Hazir Imam in the Spirit World ::

Noor Mowlana Hazir Imam has and is building architectural masterpieces around the world for the benefit of his murids and humanity at large. In the Spirit World, he is also partnering with staunch, obedient murids to build scintillating spiritual houses. Go to the spiritual houses page to see the plan for your house in the spirit world and learn about future expansion plans to make it into a palace!   Links: Spiritual Houses     Peace, light, barakat, tayid and Golden Noorani didar, Noorallah Juma SalmanSpiritual.com January 8, 2009

:: Candle Posting #4 :: Dasond of Lawful Income, Time and Knowledge ::

The submission of dasond from a lawful income purifies the rest of the income, the submission of dasond of time for the sake of the faith (at least three hours per day) purifies one's life, and the submission of dasond of secular and/or religious knowledge purifies one's knowledge. Therefore, submission of all forms of dasond leads to complete purification.   Links on the topic of dasond: 6a, 6b, and 6c.   Peace, light, barakat, tayid and Golden Noorani didar, Noorallah Juma SalmanSpiritual.com January 9, 2009

:: Candle Posting #5 :: A Purified Nazrana is Worth Its Weight in Gold ::

A nazrana submitted from purified wealth, purified time and purified knowledge is worth its weight in gold. Such a nazrana reaches the Huzur Pur Noor of Noor Mowlana Hazir Imam within the twinkle of an eye because it is driven by piety!   Links: Teachings of Imam Mustansir bi'l-laah II (a.s.)     Peace, light, barakat, tayid and Golden Noorani didar, Noorallah Juma SalmanSpiritual.com January 13, 2009

:: Candle Posting #6 :: The Candle, The Path and The Destination ::

"The (real) believer is one who from the Shariat arrives at tariqat, and from the latter to haqqiqat, which is the real inner meaning of Shariat. Shariat may be compared to a candle, tariqat to the path, and haqiqat to the destination. One must strive to walk along the correct path, lit by the candle, and reach the abode of haqqiqat. The foundation of haqqiqat is to recognize the Imam. The purpose of everything is its inner meaning, which forms its (real) substance, its essence and sweetness. Therefore, the ultimate purpose of Shariat introduced by the Prophet was its inner meaning which is haqqiqat, i.e., the recognition of the Imam of the time." — Imam Noor Mowlana Shah Mustansir bi'l-laah II. Pir Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi text, page 2   Links: Teachings of Imam Mustansir bi'l-laah II (a.s.): 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36   Peace, light, barakat, tayid and Golden Noorani didar, Noorallah Juma SalmanSpiritual.com January 14, 2009

:: Candle Posting #7 :: Continuous Dhikr Creates Light and a Smile on a Momin's Face ::

The journey from Shariat to Haqqiqat is directly proportional to the quality and quantity of dhikr, bandagi and performace of all other religious duties by the murid. Initially, the murid first wakes up from the sleep of neglect and starts to perform some dhikr at certain times of day and night and also performs compulsory prayers (i.e., recitation of the Holy Dua three times a day). As the murid progresses along this path, the Holy Dua gets recited on time, dhikr and bandagi first become continual (i.e., a few times during day and night), and then become continuous. The murid's conviction to practice the faith increases and he/she becomes Imam conscious at all times.   Higher spirituality starts manifesting and the face of the practising momin becomes radiant with the Light of NOOR Mowlana Hazir Imam! The inner state manifests as a smile and laughter on the murid's face. This is, as our beloved Mowla has explained, is indeed a blessing of Allah! Please reflect deeply on how a person can create such a happiness in his/her life!   Links: A Momin's Radiant Face as explained by NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.)   Peace, light, barakat, tayid and Golden Noorani didar, Noorallah Juma SalmanSpiritual.com January 15, 2009

:: Candle Posting #8 :: The Blessing of Being Bestowed with Iman (Faith) ::

"The wandering Arabs say: We believe. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Ye believe not, but rather say "We submit," for the faith hath not yet entered into your hearts. Yet, if ye obey Allah and His messenger, He will not withhold from you aught of (the reward of) your deeds. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (Holy Qur'an 49:14 Picktall's translation).   In our tariqah, we continual pray for the security of our faith (Iman ji salamati). However, as decribed in the above ayat of the Holy Qur'an, it is not easy to have staunch faith. Faith is a blessing. In his firman, Noor Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.) has said "Iman is a thing that one can get by pray for it (Iman); for that you have to go to Imam. There is not other way or short cut to it." (Precious Pearls, No. 19, p. 16).   The sixth Divine Name of Allah is Al-Mumin, The Infuser of Faith. Therefore, we can invoke this attribute of Allah with the tasbi of Ya Mumin. I have incorporated this name in the mp3 track titled 'Ya Ali, Ya Karim'. It is important to recite this tasbi everyday because only staunch faith can enable us to face any kind of difficulty. It is the key to advance materially and spiritually.   Also, please reflect deeply on Noor Mowlana Hazir Imam's wish that "... (at) all times you should carry in your hearts light, faith, humility and happiness". (Karachi, December 13, 1964). Note the tight connection between enlightenment, faith, humility and happiness! Al-Hamdulillah!   Links: Ya Ali, Ya Karim page (text and mp3 track)   Peace, light, barakat, tayid and Golden Noorani didar, Noorallah Juma SalmanSpiritual.com January 16, 2009

:: Candle Posting #9 :: What is the Source of Internal Peace? ::

In his Irshad delivered on July 11, 2007 and in his Talika on the occasion of mulakat to Jamati leaders on December 13, 2008, NOOR Mowlana Hazir Imam gave a dua for peace to the global Jamat. Peace can be external and internal. External peace can be easily noticed, e.g., Canada is a peaceful country. Now let us ask a fundamental question: What is the source of internal peace? Before addressing this question, let us first understand the differences between the the personal world of a murid and the personal world of the Holy Imam.   In this regard, the personal world (spiritual house) of the murid is potential, i.e., like a seed. In contrast, the personal world (i.e., spirituality) of the Holy Imam is actual, i.e., like a tree. The tree is a seed which has grown to its full potential and has tremendous capacity to provide seeds, fruits, fiber, shade, shelter, etc. Similarly, peace within a murid is potential while in the Holy Imam it is actual. Here too, there is a difference in capacity. Now let us go to the next step to get an answer for our question.   Ta'wil of the word 'Salaam' (Eternal peace, source of protection) "Gods says in verse (37:130): Peace be upon "Il-Yasin". Regarding "Il-Yasin" there are two readings: One is "Ilyas". In that case it means: There is peace upon Hazrat Ilyas in all personal worlds (since each murid's personal world is present in the spirituality of this prophet). The other is "Ali Ya-Sin", i.e., "Ali Muhammad" (s.a.s.). The ta'wil in the latter case is that there is peace on the progeny of Muhammad (s.a.s.) in every personal world. There is no doubt that Ali Muhammad (s.a.s.) is the manifest Imam as well as the actual personal world (which also contains all the personal worlds of individual murids). Therefore, he (i.e. the Holy Imam) is both peace and the source of peace from God because the Holy Qu'ran says: "And We have vested the knowledge and authority of everything in the manifest Imam" (Holy Qur'an 36:12)." (Source: A Thousand Wisdoms, Ta'wil number 442, page 239).   The personal world (i.e., the spirituality) of the Holy Imam is a living paradise full of treasures of intellect, knowledge, wisdom and internal, spiritual peace. Now let us reflect deeply on the following question: how can we get the bounty of internal, spiritual peace within our spiritual houses (i.e., within ourselves)?   Links: What is a Spiritual House?     Peace, light, barakat, tayid and Golden Noorani didar, Noorallah Juma SalmanSpiritual.com January 19, 2009

:: Candle Posting #10 :: A Most Beautiful Prayer for Eternal Peace ::

Salaam means peace and is one of the attributive names of God. When the word Salaam is used for human beings, it literally means soundness of body and soul which is obtained through special spiritual and intellectual help which is given to the Prophets and faithful followers of God. In the second paragraph of the second part of our Holy Dua, we recite a very special prayer this type of peace. The text and translation of this beautiful prayer is as follows:   Allahumma ya mowlana antas-salaam, wa minkas-salaam, wa ilaika yarjaus-salaam, haiyyina rabbana bis-salaam, wa adkhilna daras-salaam, tabarakta rabbana wa-ta'laita, ya zal jalali wal ikram O God! O our Master! You are eternal life and everlasting peace by Your essence and attributes. The everlasting peace is from You and it returns to You. O our Sustainer! Grant us the life of true peace and usher us into the abode of peace. O Glorious and Bounteous One! You are blessed and sublime.   We first have to know that our journey to be eternally alive in the Spirit world begins from the world of humanity (nasut) and proceeds through the world of spirits (malakut) and the world of Light (Jabrut) and into the world of Oneness (Lahut). The true peace and the house of peace is at the fourth level, Lahut. As all realities become one reality (i.e., monoreality) at the level of Lahut, this is also the place of our origin. Therefore, during our personal search and journey, we seek to merge into the place of our origin (asal me wasil). As this prayer is for such a lofty destination, we should say it with awe, humility and the greatest respect.   Links: Ya Haakim, Ya Wakil, Ya Fattah, Ya Salaam tasbi               (text and streaming audio files)     Peace, light, barakat, tayid and Golden Noorani didar, Noorallah Juma SalmanSpiritual.com January 20, 2009