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"Allah guideth him who seeketh His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bringeth them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guideth them unto a straight path." — Holy Qur'an 5:16
Candle Posts :: Motivational Gems for Higher Spiritual Enlightenment
:: Candle Post #118 :: Spiritual Dimensions of the Alid Tradition ::
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Ya Ali Madad! On the occasion of the birthday commemoration of our first Holy Imam, Amir al-mu'minin, NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (alayhi salaam), please accept our heartfelt felicitations! May Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam grant peace, prosperity, happiness, barakat, higher spiritual enlightenment, spiritual & luminous tayid (help) and empowerment to you, your family, your Jamat and the worldwide Jamat. Ameen.
Introduction
I have conducted further research into the book entitled, 'Peak of Eloquence Nahjul-Balagha' by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib with commentary by Martyr Ayatollah Murtada Mutahhari, edited by Yasin T. Al-Jibouri, Seventh U.S. Edition published in 2009. The LCC # is 2005900698 and the ISBN is: Casebound 978-1-879402-35-5. It is published by Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Inc., Elmhurst, NY.
I started reading the selections from the sayings and sermons of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) and have found some new gems which provide great insights on the following topics:
I hope these sayings will enable us to practise our faith with a greater conviction.
Part 1: Wisdoms of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) on Whether To Trust Health and Riches
"435. Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (a.s.) said: It does not behoove a man to have trust in two things: health and riches, because there are many a man whom you see healthy but he soon falls and many a man whom you see rich but soon turns destitute." (p.919)
Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam has made many firmans on health, wealth and the quality of life but we also have to remember that health and wealth are transitory. Economy and health are taking their toll on human populations and the future is really uncertain.
Part 2: Wisdoms of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) on the Purity of the Heart
"398. Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (a.s.) said: Beware that destitution is a calamity, but worse than destitution is the ailment of the body, while worse than bodily ailment is the disease of the heart. Beware that plenty of wealth is a blessing, but better than plenty of the wealth is the health of the body, while still better than the health of the body is the purity of the heart [soul]." (p.913)
According to the teachings of Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam, the Alid tradition is an intellectual tradition which requires ardent practice of faith and utmost purification of the heart (soul). This is the first time that I have encountered the above mentioned quotation of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) where he has placed the purification of the heart (soul) above health and wealth. Thus, the absolute imperative of the Ismaili Tradition is to nurture and foster the spiritual growth and purification of the soul in addition to looking after wealth and health. In spiritual terms, each action has to be evaluated whether it would bring the salvation of the soul. This golden rule captures the essence of the above quotation.
Part 3: Wisdoms of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) on How To Live in This world?
"In sermon 228, Ali (a.s.) describes the significance attached by this class of devotees to spiritual life — the life of the heart: "They see that the worldly people attach great importance to the death of their bodies, but they themselves attach much greater importance to the death of the hearts of the living"." (p.60)
In order to understand the above quotation, we have to know that there are at least two classes of people:
If someone is completely materialistic, he is dead to the notion of the next world. On the other hand, the one who is spiritually alive has ensured that his heart never dies. This is the key concept of many traditions and particularly the Alid Tradition which emphasized that we all should have pure and powerful souls.
Part 4: Wisdoms of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) on Earnest Souls
"Ali (a.s.) describes the ecstatic eagerness of the earnest souls which impels them to move onwards on the path of spiritual perfection in these words: "They lived in the society and participated in its affairs with their bodies, while their souls rested in the higher spiritual spheres"." (p.60)
The above quotation can be linked to the saying: "Be in the world, but of the world".
Part 5: Wisdoms of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) on the Attainments of the Earnest Souls
"The esoteric knowledge and emanated insight, revealed to the heart of the follower of the spiritual path as a result of self-education and self-refinement, is described [by Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.)] in these words:
"The knowledge that bursts upon them and surrounds them is endowed with absolute certainty, and their soul attains the highest degree of conviction. They easily bear what the easy-going regard as harsh and unbearable. They endear what makes the ignorant recoil with horror." (p.60)
The above quotation describes how the special classes of devotees are blessed with gifted knowledge. This is knowledge and wisdom of the spiritual world which resides in their hearts. From an Alid prospective, these people are spiritually alive in this world and will also be spiritually alive in the next world!
Part 6: Wisdoms of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) on the Rewards for the Earnest Souls
"In the same sermon are explained the various spiritual states and levels attained by worshippers in the course of their devotional pursuit. [Noor Mowlana Murtaza] Ali (a.s.) describes such men in these words:
"The angels have surrounded them and peace is showered upon them. The doors of heaven are opened for them and the abodes of bliss, of which He had informed them, have been prepared for them. He is pleased with their struggle and admires their station. When they call upon Him, they breathe the fragrance of His forgiveness and mercy." (p.57)
Let us pray to advance on the path of the Alid Tradition and be among those souls which have flown to lofty heights and into the abodes of eternal peace, prosperity and existence! Ameen.
Part 7: Wisdoms of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) on the Power of Salwat
"371. Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (a.s.) said: If you have a need from Allah, the Glorified One, then begin by seeking Allah's blessing on His Messenger, may Allah bless him and his descendants, then ask your need, because Allah is too generous to accept one (seeking His blessings on His Messenger) of the two requests made to Him while denying the other." (p.908)
The recitation of angelic salwat tasbi with knowledge, understanding and ardent love leads purification of the soul, spiritual upliftment and enlightenment. It is one of the best ways to demonstrate ardent love to our beloved NOOR Mowlana Hazar Imam. Click here to download a PDF document entitled "Angelic Salwat and Conditions for Harnessing its Full Potential" (14 Questions and Answers).
Let us offer gratitude to the present and living Holy Imam and recite a bouquet of salwats to strengthen our knowledge (ilm) and faith (iman). May NOOR Mowlana increase our conviction to become true Ismaili Muslims! Real Audio and mp3 sound tracks are available for your convenience.
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. |
Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (1) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (2) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (3) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (4) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (5) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (6) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (7) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (8) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (9) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (10) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (11) Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (12) |
Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds! |
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, May 22, 2013
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