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"Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things." — Holy Qur'an 24:35

 

Candle Posts :: Motivational Gems for Higher Spiritual Enlightenment

:: Candle Post #111 :: The Connection Between Repentance and Enlightenment ::

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

Ya Ali Madad! The tasbi "Astaghafirullahi Rabbi Wa Atubu Ilayhi (Verily, I sincerely seek forgiveness of Allah, who is my Lord and Sustainer, and I turn to Him in repentance)" has two components. The first one pertains to repentance and the second one is related to returning to our Creator. In this post, we will see the connection of these components. Specifically, we would like to learn on how repentance is related to enlightenment, fanafillah (merging into Allah), entry in the Abode of Eternal Peace (Dar-as-Salaam), and Baqabillah (Eternal Existence). So here are additional gems of knowledge which we can use to enhance our Lail-tul Qadr experience.

Part 1: An Ayat From the Holy Qur'an on the Topic of Sincere Repentance

"O ye who believe! Turn ye (in repentance) unto God with a turning of sincere penitance; happly your Lord will wipe out from you your sins and admit you into gardens 'neath which flow rivers, on the day, God will abase not the Prophet and those who believe with him; their light will run before them and on their right hand; they shall (prayfully) say: 'O' Our Lord! Perfect for us our light, and grant us forgiveness! Verily Thou (O' Our Lord!) over all things, art the All-Powerful (One).'"
Source: Holy Qur'an 66:8 —S. V. Mir Ahmed Ali's translation

Notes on the above ayat from footnote number 2624, pp. 1707-1708, The Holy Qur'an translated by S. V. Mir Ahmed Ali:

  1. "Here again the address is to all disbelievers to repent and turn to their Lord. In turning to God there is His grace and mercy. And the repeated admonitions of the believers to repent and amend their thoughts and deeds indicate God's voluntary offer of His grace and mercy to those who only turn to Him seeking it. There is the encouragement of the promise to wipe out the past sins and admission to heavens."
     
  2. "A sincere repentance naturally earns the grace and mercy of the Lord, in getting all the past sins wiped out as if the individual has not committed any sin at all, which effect of Divine grace, this verse promises."
     
  3. "By 'Those who believe with him' (i.e., the Holy Prophet), could be meant only such ones who in their internal and external purity, would be flawless and perfect as was the Holy Prophet himself and they could naturally be no other than those purified by God Himself as introduced in (Holy Qur'an ayat) 33:33, i.e., the Holy Ahlul-Bait. The quality of those with him, does not and cannot naturally mean the physical vicinity or association but the absolute unity in spirit and body, i.e., those of the same spirit and the same flesh and blood of the Holy Prophet."
     
  4. "The concluding clauses (of this ayat) indicate that the life in the heavens, would be a life of continued progress in spiritual excellence—not by the efforts of individuals by the grace of God, sought by sincere prayers, to remove even the least imperfection and to grant the ever progressive exaltation in the eternal bliss by His unlimited grace and infinite mercy."
     
  5. "It is said the Light of the Divine souls of the Holy Prophet and Holy Imams, would be running before their sincere devotees guiding them to their blissful abode in the heaven."

Part 2: Teaching of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) on How to Supplicate for Forgiveness

Let us learn how to supplicate for forgiveness from Khutba 81 of Amir al-mu'minin, NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.):

  1. Lord! Forgive my sins which Thou know better than I.
     
  2. Lord! If I repeat these sins please let Thy forgiveness cover them again.
     
  3. Lord! I have always promised myself to obey Thy commands and have always broken these promises. Forgive this weakness of mine.
     
  4. Lord! I have always declared that I shall come near Thee but my mind (has) opposed this, forgive this fault of my mind.
     
  5. Lord! Forgive the sins committed by my eyes. Forgive my vicious and sinful utterances, and forgive my inability to resist temptations. (Ameen)

Source: Jafery, Syed Mohammed Askari. Nahjul Balagha: Sermons, letters and saying of Hazrat Ali, Tahrike Tarsile Quran, New York, 1981. Khutba 81, p.46

Part 3: How Does Supplication, i.e., Giryah-u z?ri, Lead to Purification?

Here is a definition and fundamental nature of Giryah-u z?ri (supplication):

Definition:
"Giryah-u zâri is a compound Persian word consisting of giryah and zâri. Literally giryah means weeping and shedding tears and zâri means considering oneself feeble, infirm and weak. Technically it signifies that tasbih-u ibâdat which is performed with utmost humility, tenderness of heart and flowing tears through which Khudâwand's grace is asked for, and help for oneself or for the sake of others in such a state of giryah-u zâri."
Source: Studies in Dream and Spiritualism, p.21

The fundamental nature of Giryah-u zâri:
"It is necessary for every wise mu'min to know that there is no change in the fundamental and essential matters of the true religion (din-i haqq). They always remains the same. This can be observed in the Qur'an with certainty, for there have been certain matters common among all prophets from the beginning to the end, because of their fundamental and essential nature.
 
Among these fundamental and essential matters is giryah-u zâri. It has continued as a pure and pious habit of the prophets and walis (friends of God). There has been no prophet, wali, arif (gnostic) or ashiq (lover) which has not done giryah-u zâri for the sake of the pleasure of God.
 
In the Holy Qur'an, beginning with Hazrat Adam, where there is mention of repentance (tawbah), one should not think that it can be accepted merely with dry words without torrential tears, for the spirit of repentance lies in the utter regret and penitance and that is in giryah-u zâri."
Source: Studies in Dream and Spiritualism, p.21

In the Lail-tul Qadr program, we will be singing Venti Ginans as well as Qasidas to melt our hearts. However, one has to know the meaning of what is being recited and have a proper attitude to participate in this important activity. The door of higher spirituality opens when tears of love and yearning are presented as a mehmani to NOOR Mowlana Hazar Imam.

Part 4: Pir Hasan Kabirdin's (r.a) Moti Venti in MP3 format

The granth 'Moti Venti' consists of 50 verses and was composed by Pir Hasan Kabirdin (r.a.), the son of Pir Sadardin (r.a.). The great Pir Hasan Kabirdin was an extremely humble soul who perfected his art of giriyauzari (shedding tears of love for the Holy Imam of his time). His verses are extremely moving and melt the heart and the soul.

We are pleased to present audio support for this beautiful work in the melodious voice of Shafiq Rawji of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Click here to see all the Moti Venti resources on the SalmanSpiritual.com website.

Please "right click" on the "Download mp3" link and save each track on the desktop or in a folder in order to have the option of burning a CD, loading the tracks to an ipod or just playing the mp3 tracks from your computer.

Moti Venti MP3 Sound Tracks in the Voice of Shafiq Rawji

Item Track Verses Resource
1 mv_01_01_10 1 10 Download MP3
2 mv_02_11_20 11 20 Download MP3
3 mv_03_21_30 21 30 Download MP3
4 mv_04_31_40 31 40 Download MP3
5 mv_05_41_50 41 50 Download MP3

Part 5: Medley of Dhikr Tracks Combining Concepts of Light and Repentance

Recently, I have published two dhikr tracks on the theme of Light and two others on the theme of repentance. I have listed these below so that you have an option of listening to these individually. However, as we are exploring the relationship between Noor (Light) and Tauba (Sincere Repentance), I have created a medley so that we could supplicate directly to the NOOR itself for forgiveness of all our errors, sins and mistakes.

Please "right click" on the "Download mp3" link and save each track on the desktop or in a folder in order to have the option of burning a CD, loading the tracks to an ipod or just playing the mp3 tracks from your computer.

Dhikr MP3 Sound Tracks in the Voice of Noorallah Juma

As our aim is to be in the group of most devoted obedient, spiritual children who will be led into the Abode of Peace by the Light of the Holy Prophet and Holy Imams which will be on our right and in front of us, it is important to internalize, listen or participate in these four dhikrs. The cumulative effect in incredible.

Here are the lyrics of these dhikrs:
  1. Noore Karim Hazar Imam (5 times)
    Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
    In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
    Noore Muhammad, Noore Quran; (1)
    [The Light of Muhammad and the Light of Qur'an (are one)]
    Noore Muhammad, Noore Ali; (2)
    [The Light of Muhammad and Light of Ali (are one)]
    Noore Ali, Noore Karim; (3)
    [The Light of Ali is the Light of Karim Shah (through the Chain of Imamat)]
    Noore Karim, Hazar Imam (4)
    [All the above Lights are One Light which is in Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam]
    Noore Muhammad, Hazar Imam (5)
    [Therefore, the Light of Muhammad is in Hazar Imam] <
    Noore Qur'an, Hazar Imam (6)
    [Also, the Light of the Holy Qur'an is in Hazar Imam]
    Noore Ali, Hazar Imam (7)
    [Also, the Light of Ali is in Hazar Imam]
    Noore Karim, Hazar Imam (8)
    [All the above Lights are One Light which is in Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam]

  2. Astaghafirullahi Rabbi Wa Atubu Ilayhi (33 times)
    Astaghafirullahi Rabbi Wa Atubu Ilayhi
    (Verily, I sincerely seek the forgiveness of Allah, who is my Lord and Sustainer, and I turn to Him in repentance.)

  3. Yâ Ghafuur, Yâ Ghaffâr, Yâ Tawwâb, Yâ Afuw (15 times)
    Yâ Ghafuur, Yâ Ghaffâr, Yâ Tawwâb, Yâ Afuw
    (O Great Forgiver, O Great Forgiver,
     O Ever-Acceptor of Repentance, O Supreme Pardoner)
  4. Noore Ali, Mushkil Kusha; Noore Ali, Hazar Imam (40 times)
    Noore Ali, Mushkil Kusha; Noore Ali, Hazar Imam
    (Light of Ali, the Remover of Calamities; Light of Ali, Hazar Imam)

Part 6: Links:

  1. Sayings of NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (alayhi salaam) with Cross References from the Holy Qur'an
  2. Resources for Holy Ramadan, Lail-tul Qadr & Idd-ul Fitr

Ardent Supplications:
Ya Ali, Ya NOOR Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, create Sunshine in our hearts, light in our foreheads, and bless us all with the inner vision of the Truth!

Ya Ali, Ya NOOR Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, grant the global Jamat luminous (noorani) and spiritual (ruhani) tayid (help) to advance materially, spiritually and intellectually. Ameen.

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

Rakh Mowla je Noor te Yaqeen (Certainly, we trust in Mowla's Light only),
Noorallah Juma
SalmanSpiritual.com
Wednesday, August 8, 2012

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