Salman Spiritual
Towards the Inner Vision of the Truth
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"And as for those whose faces have been whitened, in the mercy of Allah they dwell for ever." — Holy Qur'an 3:107

 

Gem No. 6: Why does Bandagi have a lofty status?

 

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 teachings of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.)

"Ek taraf âkhi duniyâno mâ anê biji taraf ibâdat avu(n) ibâdat no jabaru(n) wajan chhê" (Zanzibar, 6-4-1900).
 
Literal translation: The weight of all materal wealth of this world can be counter balanced with ibadat, such is the lofty status of ibadat (bandagi)
 
(Source: Gawahrê Rahêmat, p. 31)
"Rât khudâvand shâ mâtê pêdâ chhê? Râtno badho wakhat suee rahêvâ nathi, ibâdat mâtâ pan chhê anê ibâdatmâ khushi samâeli chhe." (Vâdhn Camp, 18-10-1903)
 
Literal translation: Why has God created the night? The time of the night is not only for sleeping, it is also for performing ibadat (bandagi) and true happiness is contained in ibadat.
 
(Source: Gawahrê Rahêmat, p. 32)

From the above teachings, it is clear that spiritual wealth generated through bandagi has a much higher status and significance than all the material wealth of this world. However, performing bandagi properly is not an easy matter. Mowlana Hazar Imam has mentioned in his firmans that performing bandagi is difficult and it requires time, effort and conviction. It is quite obvious that those murids who practice bandagi go to bed early so that they can be present and awake at the luminous time to perform it. Peace, happiness and light are all the sweet fruits of bandagi.

Here are a couple of excerpts from the speeches of Mowlana Hazar Imam which I have interpreted in the context of bandagi:

"The day we no longer know how, nor have the time nor the faith to bow in prayer to Allah because the human soul that He has told us is eternal is no longer of sufficient importance to us to be worthy of an hour of our daily working, profit-seeking time, will be a sunless day of despair."
 
Excerpt from the Peshawar University address, Pakistan, November 30, 1967

The above speech was made to a general audience. However, the Holy Imam has prescribed an hour of extra prayers for the elevation of our soul in the small watches of the night. He has given us the method, prescribed the time, bestowed the luminous word of the esoteric faith, and has explained that the soul is eternal. The True Guide wants us to reach the Abode of Peace (Daras-Salaam).

"As the demands on his time increase, every Muslim will find it more difficult to seek for himself the answer to the fundamental question of how he should live his life for it to be truly Muslim. It is men such as you who will have to be practical and realistic in the world of today and tomorrow. Rather than let force of circumstance impose upon us through our default in not having suitably prepared ourselves for the future, ways of life which are not, or should not be ours, we must ourselves design the path we should tread."
 
Excerpt from the Seerat Conference, Karachi, Pakistan, March 12th, 1976

Each one of us has to set priorities. The Holy Imam brought the issue of time management and priorities in 1976. At the present, life is more hectic and the challenge of practising bandagi is enormous. However, the time invested in bandagi has material as well as spiritual benefits. It is a key to our survival and growth!

Part 2. Dhikr Section:

For today's session, let us use the dhikr of Ya Ali, Ya Muhammad, Ya Muhammad, Ya Ali to call on the Lights of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) and NOOR Mawlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.). At present, these Lights are manifested in NOOR Mowlana Hazar Imam.

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

Ya Ali Ya Muhammad, Ya Muhammad Ya Ali
I call upon the Light of Ali and the Light of Muhammad through this prayer

Recited by Noorallah Juma

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

 

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

Recited by Shafiq Rawji

Āshāji mēhēr karinē tamē motā karo
ham nār chhu(n) tam sāmikiji
ās karinē hu(n) nāri āvi
hu(n) nāri chhu(n) tam shāmaki
Hari ana(n)t ...................................
6
Oh Lord Have mercy upon us and raise our status
I am the (devoted) wife of You the Lord
I have come to you with all the hopes and wishes
and I remain a (devoted) wife to You the Lord
Hari You are eternal; ........................
6
Āshāji bhavo bhavki hu(n) kathani ka(n)thu
kēti kahu(n) tēni vātji
vēnti suno tamē muj nārini
hirkhēshu(n) jālo morā hāth
Hari ana(n)t ...................................
7
Oh Lord Oh Lord I am narrating to You about matters of many ages
and am describing to You in many different ways
Listen to my supplications, Your wife
and hold my hands with happiness
Hari You are eternal; ........................
7
Āshāji hu(n) nāri bahu aprādhan chhu(n)
amē āvyā tamārē pāsaji
bē kar jodi amēj āvyā
tamē sa(m)bharo morā nāth
Hari ana(n)t ...................................
8
Oh Lord I am a completely sinful wife
and have come in Your presence
It is only us (me) who have come folding both of our hands
My master listen to us (me)
Hari You are eternal; ........................
8
Āshāji dil bhari amēj āvyā
ubhā tamārē darbārji
hari var tamē ha(n)sājinā rājā
sāmi satiyu(n)ni karjo sār
Hari ana(n)t ...................................
9
Oh Lord It is only us (me) who have come having filled our hearts
(with love) and are standing in your gracious presence
You are the Protector Lord and the king of all souls
Oh Lord perfect the lives of the truthful
Hari You are eternal; ........................
9
Āshāji araj karinē pirji bolyā
amē avyā tamārē pāsaji
Pir Hasan Kabirdin vēnati bolyā
sāmi amnē chhē tamāri ās

hari ana(n)t ana(n)t
hari anatē(n)jo sāmi shāh
anantē(n)jo a(n)t tu(n)hē jānējē
Hari ana(n)t ...................................

10
Oh Lord The respectful Pir spoke having made a request
we have come to Your presence
Pir Hasan Kabirdin uttered these supplications
Oh Lord we have our hopes (upon You)
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: