Saying No. 21: Surrender to the Divine Will and Its Rewards
Date: January 28, 2005

Ya Ali Madad! Many times our wishes do not come true. Instead of becoming disappointed, it is better to do have a good intention, perform a good deed, and also surrender to the Divine Will as described in the following ayat of the Holy Qur'an and the saying of NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.): "Nay, but whosoever surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good, his reward is with his Lord; and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve." (Holy Qur'an (Pickthall) 002.112) In the following saying, NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) has defined desirable traits which have to be cultivated within each one of us: "Surrender and acceptance to the will of God are best companions; wisdom is the noblest heritage; theoretical and practical knowledge are best marks of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem." (Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Sayings of Hazrat Ali 4, p. 273) On the most auspicious occasion of Idd-e-Gaddir, the first Imamat Day of our first beloved Imam, NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.), let us recite a bouquet of salwats and remind ourselves that we are a global Jamat united by the Light of Ali-Zaman. A'uzu billahi minashaitanir rajim I seek refuge in Allah from the outcast Satan. Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Real audio streams: [33 times| 66 times| 99 times| 198 times| 990 times] Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (1) (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (2) (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (3) (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (4) (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (5) (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (6) (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (7) (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (8) (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (9) (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (10) (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (11) (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds! Follow these links to read an article or a poem on salwat, or hear the recitation of Ayatul Kursi and Salwat. May Mowla enrich you with inspired (given) knowledge (ilm-i laduni). Ameen. Peace, light, barakat, taid and didar, Noorallah

Saying No. 22: How to face physical illness?
Date: February 7, 2005

Ya Ali Madad! The angels carrying the throne of God seek forgiveness for all souls who turn to the Lord in repentance as described in the following ayat of the Holy Qur'an. "Those who sustain the Throne (of God) and those around it Sing Glory and Praise to their Lord; believe in Him; and implore Forgiveness for those who believe: "Our Lord! Thy Reach is over all things, in Mercy and Knowledge. Forgive, then, those who turn in Repentance, and follow Thy Path; and preserve them from the Penalty of the Blazing Fire!" (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 040.007) In the following saying, NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) has described how physical illness can be a mechanism for atoning for sins: "One of the companions of Hazrath fell ill, Hazrath called upon him and thus advised him: "Be thankful to God. He has made this illness a thing to atone for your sins; because a disease in itself has nothing to bring reward to anyone; it merely expiates (compensates) one's sins; so far as reward is concerned one has to earn it with his good words and good deeds. The Almighty Lord grants Heavens to his creatures on account of their piety and sober thinking." (Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Sayings of Hazrat Ali 42, p. 277) Peace, light, barakat, taid and didar, Noorallah

Saying No. 23: Attitude necessary for achieving the Eternal Bliss
Date: February 14, 2005

Ya Ali Madad! The following aya (plural of ayat) describe the strong connection between Divine remembrance and humility. In order to enter the higher realms of one's being, it is necessary to practise the faith with humility. "And do thou (O reader!) Bring thy Lord to remembrance in thy (very) soul, with humility and in reverence, without loudness in words, in the mornings and evenings; and be not thou of those who are unheedful." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 007.205) "Call on your Lord with humility and in private: for God loveth not those who trespass beyond bounds." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 007.055) "They fall down on their faces in tears, and it increases their (earnest) humility." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 017.109) In the following saying, NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) has described the attitude necessary for achieving the Eternal Bliss: "Hazrath's garment was very old and patched. When somebody drew the attention of him towards it he replied, "such dress, when worn by men of status and position, make them submissive to God and kind-hearted towards man, and faithful Muslims can conveniently follow the example. Vicious pleasures of this world and salvation are like two enemies or two roads running in opposite directions, or towards opposite poles, one to the North and the other to the South. Whoever likes to gain the pleasures and pomps of this world will hate austerity in life, which is necessary to gain salvation. Vice versa will be the attitude of a man desirous of achieving Eternal Bliss. One has to adopt one of the two ways of life, as they both cannot be brought together, a man has to choose one of the either." (Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Sayings of Hazrat Ali 103, p. 283) Peace, light, barakat, taid and didar, Noorallah

Saying No. 24: Be Thankful
Date: February 21, 2005

Ya Ali Madad! The following aya (plural of ayat) describe the importance of being thankful: "If ye are thankless, yet Allah is Independent of you, though He is not pleased with thanklessness for His bondmen; and if ye are thankful He is pleased therewith for you. No laden soul will bear another's load. Then unto your Lord is your return; and He will tell you what ye used to do. Lo! He knoweth what is in the breasts (of men)." (Holy Qur'an (Pickthall) 039.007) "And remember! your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): "If ye are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you; But if ye show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 014.007) "And He it is Who hath appointed night and day in succession, for him who desireth to remember, or desireth thankfulness." (Holy Qur'an (Pickthall) 025.062) In the following sayings, NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) teaches us to be thankful: "When few blessings come your way, do not drive them away through thanklessness." (Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Sayings of Hazrat Ali 12, p. 273) "If you get an opportunity and power over your enemy then, in thankfulness to God for this, forgive him." (Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Sayings of Hazrat Ali 10, p. 273) Peace, light, barakat, taid and didar, Noorallah

Saying No. 25: This Life vs. The Life Hereafter
Date: March 11, 2005

Ya Ali Madad! The following aya (plural of ayat) compare this life to the eternal life: "What is the life of this world but play and amusement? But best is the home in the hereafter, for those who are righteous. Will ye not then understand?" (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 006.032) "It is He Who gave you life, will cause you to die, and will again give you life: Truly man is a most ungrateful creature!" (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 022.066) "What is the life of this world but amusement and play? but verily the Home in the Hereafter,- that is life indeed, if they but knew." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 029.064) "O my people! This life of the present is nothing but (temporary) convenience: It is the Hereafter that is the Home that will last." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 040.039) In the following saying, NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) teaches us about death and our condition in this world: "In this world man is a target for the arrow of death, an easy prey of calamities and adversities; here every morsel and every draught is liable to choke one; here one never received a favour until he loses another instead; here every additional day in ones life is a day reduced from the total span of his existence; when death is the natural outcome of life then how can we expect immortality?" (Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Sayings of Hazrat Ali 189, p. 293) Peace, light, barakat, taid and didar, Noorallah

Saying No. 26: Four Great Morals
Date: March 23, 2005

Ya Ali Madad! The following aya (plural of ayat) of the Holy Qur'an teach us about great morals: "We gave (in the past) knowledge to David and Solomon: And they both said: "Praise be to God, Who has favoured us above many of his servants who believe!" (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 027.015) "Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; But turn away from the ignorant." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 007.199) "And when they hear vanity they withdraw from it and say: Unto us our works and unto you your works. Peace be unto you! We desire not the ignorant." (Holy Qur'an (Pickthall) 028.055) "And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity)." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 073.010) In the following saying, NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) teaches us four great morals which can save us from harm: "Hazarath once said to his son Imam Hussain (a.s.): "My son learn four things from me and through them you will learn four more. If you keep them in mind your actions will not bring any harm to you. The greatest wealth is the wealth of wisdom and judgment; The greatest poverty is the poverty of stupidity and ignorance; The worth unsociableness is that of vanity, conceit and self-glorification; The best nobility of descent exhibits itself in politeness and in refinement of culture. The next four things, my son, are: Do not make a friend of a fool, because when he will try to do you good he will do harm; Do not make a miser your friend, he will run away from you at the time of your dire need; Do not make friend of a vicious and wicked person because he will sell you and your friendship at the cheapest cost; and Do not make a friend of a liar because like a mirage he will make you visualize very near the things which lie at great distance and will make you see at great distance the things which are near to you." (Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Sayings of Hazrat Ali 38, p. 276-277) Peace, light, barakat, taid and didar, Noorallah

Saying No. 27: Din Versus Duniya (Awareness)
Date: March 24, 2005

Ya Ali Madad! In light of the recent firmans of NOOR Mowlana Hazir Imam on Din and Duniya, let us reflect on the following ayats of the Holy Qur'an: "These are the people who buy the life of this world at the price of the Hereafter: their penalty shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 002.086) "The life of this world is alluring to those who reject faith, and they scoff at those who believe. But the righteous will be above them on the Day of Resurrection; for God bestows His abundance without measure on whom He will." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 002.212) ""Such as took their religion to be mere amusement and play, and were deceived by the life of the world." That day shall We forget them as they forgot the meeting of this day of theirs, and as they were wont to reject Our signs." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 007.051) "And there are men who say: "Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the Fire!"" (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 002.201) In the following excerpts of a Khutba titled 'Of Life and Its Pleasures', NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) teaches us about din and duniya: "How it is that you have forgotten death and always keep unattainable hopes and desires before your mind's eye? The world has taken a possession of your intellect as to exclude every consideration of the hereafter from your thoughts. Its allurements and attractions are so powerful that they have made you forget of the world to come. You are so much enticed by mortal pleasures that the life to come does not find a place in your imagination."   "What has come to you? You are happy and pleased with the paltry (trivial) and worthless, though easily obtainable pleasures of this world, and the deprivation of immense and abundant bounties of the Heaven does not grieve you. Loss of world possessions, though however contemptible (disgraceful) and mean they may be, make you so sad that even your faces reflect the depth of your sorrow and height of your grief at your disappointments. As if you and this world are both immortals and as if its wealth and pleasures are everlasting." (Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Khutba 116, p. 86) Peace, light, barakat, taid and didar, Noorallah

Saying No. 28: Din Versus Duniya (Comparison)
Date: March 29, 2005

Ya Ali Madad! In light of the recent firmans of NOOR Mowlana Hazir Imam on Din and Duniya, let us reflect on the following ayats of the Holy Qur'an: "But to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, He will give their (due) rewards,- and more, out of His bounty: But those who are disdainful and arrogant, He will punish with a grievous penalty; Nor will they find, besides God, any to protect or help them." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 004.173) "Then give the Glad Tidings to the Believers, that they shall have from God a very great Bounty." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 033.047) "But those will prosper who purify themselves, and glorify the name of their Guardian-Lord, and (lift their hearts) in prayer. Nay (behold), ye prefer the life of this world; But the Hereafter is better and more enduring." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 087.014 to 087.017) In the following excerpts of a Khutba titled 'What is Piety?', NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) teaches us about the relative importance of din and duniya: "There is no punishment worse than the punishment of God and no reward better than His. Worldly things are better heard than seen and heavenly things are better seen than heard. But in this you must be satisfied with what you hear from the Holy Prophet (s.a.s.) about goodness and grandness of heavenly blessings and be contented with the news of hidden bounties, because you cannot see them when alive. Remember it is better to have less in the world and more in the next than to have more in this world and less in heavens, because very few things here are really beneficial and many are ultimately harmful." (Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Khutba 117, p. 87) Peace, light, barakat, taid and didar, Noorallah

Saying No. 29: Din Versus Duniya (The Reality)
Date: April 3, 2005

Ya Ali Madad! In light of the recent firmans of NOOR Mowlana Hazir Imam on Din and Duniya, let us reflect on the following ayats of the Holy Qur'an: "With Him are the keys of the unseen, the treasures that none knoweth but He. He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is (inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can read). " (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 006.059) "It is He who doth take your souls by night, and hath knowledge of all that ye have done by day: by day doth He raise you up again; that a term appointed be fulfilled; In the end unto Him will be your return; then will He show you the truth of all that ye did." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 006.060) "He is the irresistible, (watching) from above over His worshippers, and He sets guardians over you. At length, when death approaches one of you, Our angels take his soul, and they never fail in their duty." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 006.061) In the following excerpts of a Khutba titled 'What is Piety?', NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) teaches us about the reality of din and duniya: "Hear me once again that this world is perishable and destructible, its phases change quickly, often leaving nothing but sad lessons behind them. A proof of mortality of everything in this world is the fact that there is destruction and decay everywhere, calamities attack everyone without missing a chance and sorrows visit without allowing a single chance of escape; here every living being shall have to pass through the doors of death, every healthy person shall have visitations of disease, and every happy individual shall have to face sorrows some time or other. In its desire for destruction, this world behaves like a glutton whose hunger is never-satisfied or like a drunkard whose thirst is never quenched. Of sorrows and unrelenting severeness (harshness), it is enough to visualize that those who amass wealth seldom enjoy it, those who build homes rarely live in them. They always leave this world in such a way that they cannot carry their wealth and property with them. The sharp, sudden and violent changes of circumstances in life are sights to take lessons from. We find have-nots becoming so rich that they are envied, and millionaires turning paupers overnight because of disappearance of wealth and visitation of afflictions. There are enough warnings about us, if only we look carefully around and see persons on the door of success being visited suddenly by death, which neither spares the desirer nor allows the tidings of success to reach him. Glory be to God! How alluring and delusive are the pleasures of this world; how every enhancement and increase in wealth and position here increases greed and avariciousness (immoderate desire for wealth or gain); and how the protection offered here very often ends in punishment and pain; what a place is it where neither death can be averted nor the past can be brought back. Good God! How near are living things to dead because of the fact of approach of death towards them, and how far apart they are from each other because they cannot on their own accord contact those who have ceased to exist." (Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Khutba 117, p. 87) Peace, light, barakat, taid and didar, Noorallah

Saying No. 30: Din Versus Duniya (Ethics/Piety)
Date: April 5, 2005

Ya Ali Madad! In light of the recent firmans of NOOR Mowlana Hazir Imam on Din and Duniya, let us reflect on the following ayats of the Holy Qur'an: "But some of the desert Arabs believe in God and the Last Day, and look on their payments as pious gifts bringing them nearer to God and obtaining the prayers of the Apostle. Aye, indeed they bring them nearer (to Him): soon will God admit them to His Mercy: for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 009.099) "Whoso desires power (should know that) all power belongs to Allah. Unto Him good words ascend, and the pious deed doth He exalt; but those who plot iniquities* theirs will be an awful doom; and the plotting of such (folk) will come to naught." (Holy Qur'an (Yusufali) 035.010) *iniquities means gross immorality or injustice; wickedness In the following excerpts of a Khutba titled 'What is Piety?', NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) teaches us about the reality of din and duniya: "I advise you, O people, to be pious, as piety is the best provision for the next world and the best protection against sin. It is a provision which will help you to the Heaven and it is a shelter which will protect you from the Wrath of God. It is an advice which is the best law giver of God, the Holy Prophet (s.a.s.) has given you and it is accepted and remembered by the best mankind. He was an advisor who has explained everything and those who accepted and followed him succeeded in attaining the Blessings of God. O people! piety prevents good people from indulging in sins and vices, it makes them God fearing, it persuades them to spend their nights in His worship and to pass their days in doing duties towards man and God; and the exertion of prayers and labour of doing their duty gives them pleasure and satisfaction. They always keep their death before their mind's eye, they enhance the quality and quantity of their performances, and keeping their eyes on the next world they regard with indifference the pleasures and profits of this world." (Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Khutba 117, p. 87) Peace, light, barakat, taid and didar, Noorallah

Article by Dr. Noorallah Juma
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